System dynamics simulation of soil water resources with data support from the Yucheng Comprehensive Experimental Station, North China

System dynamics (SD) is one of the most suitable methods available to simulate and quantify the behaviour of complex systems due to it non-linear, multivariable, information feedback and temporally changing characteristics. This paper has improved on Khan et al.'s established model (see Khan et al. (2009) 'Analyzing complex behavior of hydrological systems through a system dynamics approach', Environmental Modeling & Software 24, 1363-1372) by adding water production functions for three main crops (winter wheat, summer maize and cotton) based on soil water balance at the field level. Conclusions based on the simulation were as follows. (1) The model could simulate the dynamics of water balance components of winter wheat and summer maize relatively accurately through testing and validation. (2) Two to four irrigations were needed for the water-use requirement for winter wheat and summer maize when irrigation level was 75 mm each time. Cotton did not need to be irrigated except for the addition of 60 mm pre-sowing water. (3) Exploiting groundwater as far as possible and taking measures to reduce soil evaporation and at the same keeping irrigation unchanged was one of the best ways for sustainable utilization of water resources in the upper reaches of the Panzhuang District. (4) Water-use efficiencies were consistent with the regions' measured results showing that the model could simulate the water cycle in the field comparatively accurately.

[1]  Tiange Shi,et al.  Developing effective policies for the sustainable development of ecological agriculture in China: the case study of Jinshan County with a systems dynamics model ☆ , 2005 .

[2]  Pei Dong.  The proportion of the evaporation to evapotranspiration and the measures to reduce the evaporation in North China Plain , 2000 .

[3]  Gerrit Hoogenboom,et al.  Irrigation strategies to improve the water use efficiency of wheat-maize double cropping systems in North China Plain , 2010 .

[4]  Suat Irmak,et al.  Agricultural water management in a humid region: sensitivity to climate, soil and crop parameters , 2004 .

[5]  Slobodan P Simonovic,et al.  World water dynamics: global modeling of water resources. , 2002, Journal of environmental management.

[6]  Yaman Barlas,et al.  Formal aspects of model validity and validation in system dynamics , 1996 .

[7]  Hongyong Sun,et al.  Effects of winter wheat row spacing on evapotranpsiration, grain yield and water use efficiency , 2010 .

[8]  Changming Liu,et al.  Water-saving agriculture in China: An overview , 2002 .

[9]  X. Mo,et al.  Responses of crop yield and water use efficiency to climate change in the North China Plain , 2010 .

[10]  Liwang Ma,et al.  Water resources and water use efficiency in the North China Plain: Current status and agronomic management options , 2010 .

[11]  Yh Yang.  Optimizing irrigation management for wheat to reduce groundwater depletion in the piedmont region of the Taihang Mountains in the North China Plain , 2006 .

[12]  Z. Ouyang,et al.  A stochastic model of soil water regime in the crop root zone , 2007 .

[13]  Yaman Barlas,et al.  A dynamic model of salinization on irrigated lands , 2001 .

[14]  X. Moa,et al.  Prediction of crop yield , water consumption and water use efficiency with a SVAT-crop growth model using remotely sensed data on the North China Plain , 2005 .

[15]  Yi-Bo Luo,et al.  Improvement, validation and application of a field soil water balance model: The case study in the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Panzhuang Irrigation District , 2012 .

[16]  Y. Qiang.  Agricultural Ecosystem Model and High Efficient Utilization of Resources , 2001 .

[17]  Y. Qiang,et al.  Effect of Stra w2mulch during Wheat Stage on Soil Water Dynamic Changes and Yield of Summer Maize , 2004 .

[18]  Tang Deng.  Fundamentals of Agricultural Water Saving , 2000 .

[19]  Liu Shiping,et al.  A large weighing lysimeter for evapotranspiration and soil‐water–groundwater exchange studies , 2000 .

[20]  Wang Jian,et al.  Ratio of soil evaporation to the evapotranspiration for summer maize field , 2007 .

[21]  Yi-Bo Luo,et al.  A consolidated evaluation of the FAO-56 dual crop coefficient approach using the lysimeter data in the North China Plain , 2010 .

[22]  Lu Zhang,et al.  Improving water use efficiency of irrigated crops in the North China Plain : measurements and modelling , 2001 .

[23]  Z. Xi.  Evapotranspiration, Yield and Crop Coefficient of Irrigated Maize under Straw Mulch Conditions , 2002 .