Selection of alfalfa water and nitrogen management regimes based on the DSSAT model
Abstract Forage crop production globally faces challenges of low water and nitrogen use efficiency alongside increased environmental pressures, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The Hetao Irrigation District, a representative area of such regions, is characterized by limited rainfall, high...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92058-w |
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| author | Mingzi Lv Delong Tian Guoshuai Wang Ting Fan Weiping Li Chenli Hou Jie Zhou Xianyang Miao |
| author_facet | Mingzi Lv Delong Tian Guoshuai Wang Ting Fan Weiping Li Chenli Hou Jie Zhou Xianyang Miao |
| author_sort | Mingzi Lv |
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| description | Abstract Forage crop production globally faces challenges of low water and nitrogen use efficiency alongside increased environmental pressures, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The Hetao Irrigation District, a representative area of such regions, is characterized by limited rainfall, high evaporation, insufficient water, and severe soil salinization, which significantly hinder agricultural development. The findings from this study not only address local challenges but also provide insights applicable to other regions facing similar climatic and environmental constraints. This study aimed to optimize water and nitrogen management strategies for alfalfa production in the Hetao Irrigation District by calibrating and validating the DSSAT-FORAGES-Alfalfa model using field experimental data collected during 2022–2023. The calibration involved adjusting key parameters to minimize discrepancies between simulated and observed values, and validation was performed using an independent dataset, evaluated based on metrics such as MAE, RMSE, and R2. The novelty of this research lies in its comprehensive calibration and validation process, which provides a robust framework for simulating alfalfa growth under diverse management scenarios. Various management scenarios were simulated, including six nitrogen application rates (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 kg ha−1) and seven irrigation levels (45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95, and 105 mm), to comprehensively evaluate their impacts on alfalfa yield and quality. These scenarios were designed to cover a wide range of practices, from deficit to excessive irrigation and fertilization, providing a robust assessment of optimal management strategies. Results indicated high predictive accuracy, with all performance metrics (e.g., MAE, RMSE, and R2) demonstrating the model’s reliability in simulating alfalfa growth under varying management conditions. Specifically, the normalized RMSE was below 10%, and the coefficient of determination (R2) exceeded 0.9, confirming the model’s robustness. Optimal management involving 260–340 mm of irrigation and 100–150 kg ha−1 nitrogen application over the full growth cycle not only maximizes water use efficiency, but also achieves over 9% water saving and more than 25% reduction in nitrogen fertilizer application, compared to traditional local practices. These findings demonstrate the potential of optimized management strategies to significantly reduce ecological pressures while maintaining high crop productivity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e1f00a9d64d2459eb597f36642889a47 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e1f00a9d64d2459eb597f36642889a472025-08-20T02:12:06ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-92058-wSelection of alfalfa water and nitrogen management regimes based on the DSSAT modelMingzi Lv0Delong Tian1Guoshuai Wang2Ting Fan3Weiping Li4Chenli Hou5Jie Zhou6Xianyang Miao7Yinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-Hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of WaterResources and Hydropower ResearchYinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-Hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of WaterResources and Hydropower ResearchYinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-Hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of WaterResources and Hydropower ResearchYinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-Hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of WaterResources and Hydropower ResearchSchool of Energy and Environment, Inner Mongolia University of Science and TechnologySchool of Energy and Environment, Inner Mongolia University of Science and TechnologyYinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-Hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of WaterResources and Hydropower ResearchYinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-Hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of WaterResources and Hydropower ResearchAbstract Forage crop production globally faces challenges of low water and nitrogen use efficiency alongside increased environmental pressures, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The Hetao Irrigation District, a representative area of such regions, is characterized by limited rainfall, high evaporation, insufficient water, and severe soil salinization, which significantly hinder agricultural development. The findings from this study not only address local challenges but also provide insights applicable to other regions facing similar climatic and environmental constraints. This study aimed to optimize water and nitrogen management strategies for alfalfa production in the Hetao Irrigation District by calibrating and validating the DSSAT-FORAGES-Alfalfa model using field experimental data collected during 2022–2023. The calibration involved adjusting key parameters to minimize discrepancies between simulated and observed values, and validation was performed using an independent dataset, evaluated based on metrics such as MAE, RMSE, and R2. The novelty of this research lies in its comprehensive calibration and validation process, which provides a robust framework for simulating alfalfa growth under diverse management scenarios. Various management scenarios were simulated, including six nitrogen application rates (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 kg ha−1) and seven irrigation levels (45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95, and 105 mm), to comprehensively evaluate their impacts on alfalfa yield and quality. These scenarios were designed to cover a wide range of practices, from deficit to excessive irrigation and fertilization, providing a robust assessment of optimal management strategies. Results indicated high predictive accuracy, with all performance metrics (e.g., MAE, RMSE, and R2) demonstrating the model’s reliability in simulating alfalfa growth under varying management conditions. Specifically, the normalized RMSE was below 10%, and the coefficient of determination (R2) exceeded 0.9, confirming the model’s robustness. Optimal management involving 260–340 mm of irrigation and 100–150 kg ha−1 nitrogen application over the full growth cycle not only maximizes water use efficiency, but also achieves over 9% water saving and more than 25% reduction in nitrogen fertilizer application, compared to traditional local practices. These findings demonstrate the potential of optimized management strategies to significantly reduce ecological pressures while maintaining high crop productivity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92058-wDSSAT modelAlfalfaWater and nitrogen management |
| spellingShingle | Mingzi Lv Delong Tian Guoshuai Wang Ting Fan Weiping Li Chenli Hou Jie Zhou Xianyang Miao Selection of alfalfa water and nitrogen management regimes based on the DSSAT model Scientific Reports DSSAT model Alfalfa Water and nitrogen management |
| title | Selection of alfalfa water and nitrogen management regimes based on the DSSAT model |
| title_full | Selection of alfalfa water and nitrogen management regimes based on the DSSAT model |
| title_fullStr | Selection of alfalfa water and nitrogen management regimes based on the DSSAT model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Selection of alfalfa water and nitrogen management regimes based on the DSSAT model |
| title_short | Selection of alfalfa water and nitrogen management regimes based on the DSSAT model |
| title_sort | selection of alfalfa water and nitrogen management regimes based on the dssat model |
| topic | DSSAT model Alfalfa Water and nitrogen management |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92058-w |
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