Crop water requirements under present and future weather conditions

Περίληψη

The present research work investigates the effects of climate change on crop water requirements in relation to soil water balance of the Pinios delta (Thessaly-Greece) in the frame of the 11SYN_3_1913/AGROCLIMA research project. In this deltaic plain, the dominant activities are related to irrigated agriculture, whose sustainability is depended upon the available surface water resources and the quality of coastal aquifers. Presently, the main cultivations of the area are kiwi and olive tree plantations, maize, alfalfa, sunflowers and cotton. Pinios deltaic plain is part of the NATURA network and is expected to be very sensitive to climate variations and its sustainability will depend on how fresh water supplies meet crop water needs. Therefore, crop water requirements are evaluated utilizing rainfall data, evapotranspiration estimates and soil water balance equations. For the evaluation of evapotranspiration rates the modified FAO 56 Penman-Monteith formula is applied, based on daily meteorological data (temperature, humidity, wind speed, solar radiation), from the recently installed weather station at Palaeopyrgos village. Furthermore, future simulations of crop water requirements are estimated utilizing the essential crop and climatic data sets derived by the simulations of the RAMCO-2 (KNMI) regional climate model from the ENSEMBLES project, concerning the near future 2021-2050 and the far future 2071-2100 with respect to the reference period 1961-1990 are presented and analyzed. The results of the present study are expected to contribute to sustainable development strategies and mitigate the consequences of climate change.