Assessing yield, water productivity and farm economic returns of malt barley as influenced by the sowing dates and supplemental irrigation

The previously field calibrated approach of coupling the SIMDualKc soil water balance model with the Stewart’s water-yield model was used to assess the impacts of alternative sowing dates and irrigation schedules upon malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Publican) yields. To properly support modelling, the study was based upon field observations in a farmers’ field during 2012 and 2013 crop seasons, respectively a dry and a wet year. The study...