Evaluation of models to estimate the actual evapotranspiration of soybean crop subjected to different water deficit conditions.

Optimization of water use for irrigation will only be possible with the adjustment of management, which is directly related to the correct estimate of the actual evapotranspiration of the crop. The present study aimed to evaluate different mathematical approaches used in estimating the actual evapotranspiration of a new soybean cultivar (BRS 7581RR) subjected to different water deficit conditions. For this, the ETa estimated by the FAO56 Dual, Jensen and Hermann, AquaCrop and Ritchie models was evaluated. The experimental design was randomized with five treatments and four replicates. Irrigation management in the treatments was conducted so as to maintain different levels of water available in the soil (AW). The T1 treatment was performed applying 80 to 100% AW; in T2 treatment, the allowed variation was 60 to 80% AW; in T3 treatment, it was 40 to 60% AW; in T4, from 20 to 40% AW; and in T5, from 0 to 20% AW. The results showed that the FAO56 Dual model showed better performance in soybean ETa estimation for winter conditions in most treatments, with NSE ranging from 0.42 to 0.83. In the summer, the Jensen and Hermann model showed the best results, with NSE ranging from 0.70 to 0.94.