Biochar amendment has been widely investigated, in both laboratory and field experiments and reported to improve some soil quality parameters, with consequent net positive effect on crop growth and yield. However, the use of modelling techniques to predict maize growth and yields in soils individually or co-applied with biochar and inorganic fertiliser is scanty. In this study, we used field obtained data for two growing seasons, to calibrate and validate AquaCrop model for the prediction of canopy cover (CC), grain yield and total biomass yield of maize grown in biochar amended soil and the unamended control. Treatments consist of biochar application at two rates, 0 and 20 Mg ha−1, in combination with inorganic fertiliser at two rates, 0 and 300 kg ha−1, under different irrigation water managements. The simulation results replicated with good accuracy the field-measured soil water, CC, grain yield and total biomass yield, increasing in this order: F0B0 (Control) 0.88 in all treatments for grain yield and total biomass yields, indicating a good predictive ability. Therefore, modelling approach with the use of AquaCrop predicted the suppressed negative impact of drought on crop productivity in soil treated with biochar and inorganic fertiliser.

中文翻译：

---

缺水灌溉条件下水生作物的玉米生长和产量建模 生物炭和无机肥单独和联合施用

生物炭改良剂已在实验室和田间试验中得到广泛研究，据报道可改善一些土壤质量参数，从而对作物生长和产量产生净积极影响。然而，使用建模技术单独或与生物炭和无机肥料共同应用来预测土壤中玉米的生长和产量的情况很少。在这项研究中，我们使用田间获得的两个生长季节的数据，校准和验证 AquaCrop 模型，用于预测在生物炭改良土壤和未改良对照中种植的玉米的冠层覆盖度 (CC)、谷物产量和总生物量产量。处理包括在不同的灌溉水管理下以两种比率施用生物炭，0 和 20 Mg ha-1，结合两种比率的无机肥料，0 和 300 kg ha-1。模拟结果很好地复制了现场测量的土壤水分、CC、粮食产量和总生物量产量，依次增加：F0B0（对照）在粮食产量和总生物量产量的所有处理中均为 0.88，表明具有良好的预测能力。因此，使用 AquaCrop 的建模方法预测了干旱对用生物炭和无机肥料处理的土壤中作物生产力的负面影响。