Simulating Maize Productivity under Selected Climate Smart Agriculture Practices Using AquaCrop Model in a Sub-humid Environment

Crop models are crucial in assessing the reliability and sustainability of soil water conservation practices. The AquaCrop model was tested validated for maize productivity under selected climate smart agriculture (CSA) practices rainfed production systems. using final biomass (B) grain yield (GY) data from field experiments involving seven CSA (halfmoon pits, 2 cm thick mulch, 4 6 20 deep permanent planting basins (PPB), 30 deep) control (conventional practice) where no applied. Statistics coefficient determination (R2), Percent bias (Pbias), Nash–Sutcliffe (E) B GY indicate that robust to predict crop as illustrated by value R2 > 0.80, Pbias −1.52–1.25% E 0.68 all studied. relative changes between actual simulated use efficiency (WUE) observed most However, measured WUE seemingly better indicating a potential saving improvement. Therefore, is recommended reliable tool effectiveness sustainable improved production; although, limitations severely low moisture conditions stressed environments should be further investigated considering variations agroecological zones.