Modelling net irrigation water requirements using FAO-CROPWAT 8.0 and CLIMWAT 2.0: a case study of Tina Plain and East South ElKantara regions, North Sinai, Egypt.

The present study aims at estimating net and gross water requirements of eight major irrigated crops in the agro-ecological regions Tina Plain (AER 1), and East South ELKantara (AER 2) in Egypt using FAO-CROPWAT 8.0 and its attached meteorological parameters CLIMWAT 2.0 model. Historical weather data at Ismailia and Port Said stations for 40 years (1975 to 2014) were recalled from the CLIMWAT 2.0. The net irrigation requirements for berseem clover, barley and cotton in AER 1 were computed at 612 mm, 283 mm and 901 mm, respectively, while, in AER 2, the corresponding values were 738 mm, 287 mm and 1113 mm showing a 19% increase. District water balance scenarios show for crop pattern with maximum net and gross irrigation water requirement, and irrigation efficiencies 40% and 60% in AER 1 and AER 2, respectively, indicates 22.1% increase above the licensed water limit, crop pattern with minimum net and gross irrigation requirements indicates 23.1% saving of allocation water limit, and the current crop pattern indicates 8.1% saving. Therefore, better water management should be adapted to focus on improving irrigation efficiency and cultivating crops with lower water need, such as green beans, wheat, barely, sugar beet, and tomato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]