The Development of Estimation Model (AFKAE0.5) for Water Balance and Soil Water Content Using Daily Weather Data

As the area of upland crops increase, it is become more important for farmers to understand status of soil water at their own fields due to key role of proper irrigation. In order to estimate daily water balance and soil water content with simple weather data and irrigation records, we have developed the model for estimating water balance and soil water content, called AFKAE0.5, and verified its simulated results comparing with daily change of soil water content observed by soil profile moisture sensors. AFKAE0.5 has two hypothesis before establishing its system. The first is the soil in the model has 300 mm in depth with soil texture. And the second is to simplify water movement between the subjected soil and beneath soil dividing 3 categories which is defined by soil water potential. AFKAE0.5 characterized with determining the amount of upward and downward water between the subjected soil and beneath soil. As a result of simulation of AFKAE0.5 at Gongju region with red pepper cultivation in 2005, the water balance with input minus output is recorded as - 88 mm. the amount of input water as precipitation, irrigation, and upward water is annually 1,043, 0, and 207 mm, on the other, output as evapotranspiration, run-off, and percolation is 831, 309, and 161 mm, respectively.