Multicriteria evaluation of the AquaCrop crop model in a hilly rainfed Mediterranean agrosystem

Exploring crop spatial organizations within landscapes is a promising solution for agroecological transitions and climate change adaptation in Mediterranean rainfed hilly agrosystems . A prerequisite to ensure that models can simulate range of agrohydrological processes such agrosystems. The current study deepened the evaluation AquaCrop model by conducting multicriteria (canopy cover CC, dry aboveground biomass AGB, actual evapotranspiration ET , runoff R, soil water content SWC) combinations, contrasted hydroclimatic years northeastern Tunisia. data were collected Kamech catchment (OMERE Observatory) during nine measurement campaigns on predominant soils crops. simulations based field observations parameters from literature. could plant dynamics fluxes years, with slight dependence class significant type. Model moderate quality CC (R 2 0.45, RMSE 0.24 average) acceptable AGB 0.81, 0.85 ton ha −1 average). acceptably simulated transfer across soil–plant continuum 0.62, 0.77 mm day average ; R 0.68, 0.75 R; 0.86, 27.4 SWC). performances satisfactory most cases, p values larger than 5 % Student’s t test linear regressions validation. Our results similar those reported previous studies over flat terrain, including delayed senescence subsequent overestimation observations. Additionally, cracks likely altered ability runoff. Despite these limitations, our support application evaluate productivity • Multicriteria Various combinations crops soils. performance strongly depends type slightly class. are terrains. be used characterize functioning related fluxes.