Assessing irrigation mitigating drought impacts on crop yields with an integrated modeling framework

Irrigation is one of the major adaptation strategies to combat negative impacts drought on crop yields. However, during droughts, water resources are limited and determining exact irrigation amount its response yields crucial. Existing yield simulation models data-intensive a majority these point-based. Therefore, this study presents novel integrated modeling framework by using two parsimonious (CROPWAT, an requirement model; AquaCrop-GIS, spatial model) simulate corn soybean under different application rates years at scale in Mobile River Basin (MRB), Southeast U.S. To for years, first agricultural identified index called Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Soil Moisture Index (SPESMI). The results indicate that basin was affected mild extreme droughts 2008, 2011, 2012, 2016. illustrate potential can be increased from 10% 259% 20% 229% respectively (50%, 75%, 100% requirement) relative rainfed counties MRB years. These findings demonstrate importance overall devising robust management plans drought-affected areas scale. Failure integrating simulations will result erroneous simulations, especially – salient given projections frequent intense globally. Although focused MRB, developed applicable planners managers any region experiences as long farmers have ability adapt their practice socio-economic constraints.