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Macroscopic scale soil moisture dynamics model for a wheat crop

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Summary

A numerical soil moisture dynamics model was developed for; wheat crop using either observed or generated root length densities with root sink incorporating diminishing rate of water uptake by plant roots due to decreasing soil moisture in drying cycles and loss of absorptive power of roots due to ageing. The simulated soil moisture contents were overestimated by 6.0 and 9.6% on an overall basis by the model when observed and generated root length densities were used, respectively, in comparison to observed moisture contents. The model using generated root length densities simulated less water uptake in comparison with the model which utilized observed root length densities.

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Malik, R.K., Murty, V.V.N. & Narda, N.K. Macroscopic scale soil moisture dynamics model for a wheat crop. Irrig Sci 10, 141–151 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00265690

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