Water management for cucumber: Greenhouse experiment in Saudi Arabia and modeling study using SALTMED model

Abstract

A successful water management scheme for irrigated crops needs a holistic approach that considers water, crop, soil, and field management. Models can be very useful tools in this respect. Not only can they help in calculating crop water requirements and irrigation scheduling, but they can also be used to predict yields and soil salinization under different management scenarios. The SALTMED model has been developed for such an integrated management approach. To investigate how much water can be saved with minimum yield reduction, a controlled greenhouse experiment was established. Different water amounts were applied to cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) ranging from 100% to 30% irrigation requirement. The SALTMED model has been employed using the observed data of soil water, soil salinity, and yield. The model was successfully calibrated using 100% crop evapotranspiration (ETc), soil water, and salinity data. This was followed by successful model validation using the other deficit irrigation treatments (80%, 60%, 40%, and 30% ETc). The results of calibration and validation of the SALTMED model showed that the model can simulate adequately soil water content, soil salinity, and final cucumber yield.