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Compendium on methods and tools to evaluate impacts of, and vulnerability and adaptation to, climate
change
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CROPWAT
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Description
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CROPWAT is a DOS or Windows based decision support system designed as a tool to help
agro-meteorologists, agronomists, and irrigation engineers carry out standard calculations for
evapotranspiration and crop water use studies, particularly the design and management of irrigation
schemes. It allows the development of recommendations for improved irrigation practices, the
planning of irrigation schedules under varying water supply conditions, and the assessment of
production under rainfed conditions or deficit irrigation.
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Appropriate Use
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As a tool for testing the efficiency of different irrigation strategies (e.g., irrigation scheduling,
improved irrigation efficiency) under climate change. Does not have the capacity of simulating the
direct effects of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations on crop water use.
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Scope
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All locations; agricultural sector; site-specific.
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Key Output
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Reference evapotranspiration, crop water requirements, and crop irrigation requirements.
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Key Input
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Climatic and crop data (CLIMWAT database, included with the program) for calculations of crop water
requirements and irrigation requirements. The development of irrigation schedules and the valuation
of rainfed and irrigation practices are based on a daily soil-water balance using various options for
water supply and irrigation management conditions.
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Ease of Use
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Relatively easy to use for qualified experts with appropriate background.
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Training Required
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Intended for use by agricultural professionals because it requires background and training in
agricultural modeling. Using the manual, an expert can learn how to use this tool within 1-2 days.
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Training Available
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No formal training currently offered beyond the training manual.
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Computer Requirements
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IBM-compatible PC 486 with 4k of RAM and 80MB supporting DOS or Windows. CROPWAT version 5.7, issued
in 1992, is written in BASIC and runs in the DOS environment. The program is available in English,
French and Spanish. The English version of CROPWAT 5.7 has since been replaced by CROPWAT version
7.0. CROPWAT for Windows contains a CROPWAT version in Visual Basic to operate in the Windows
environment.
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Documentation
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CROPWAT for Windows and its manual are available in Acrobat format and can be downloaded from
http://www.fao.org/nr/water/infores_databases_cropwat.html.
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Applications
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The CROPWAT database contains data for six continental regions and 144 countries. It has been used
to develop irrigation schedules under various management conditions to evaluate rainfed production
and drought effects and efficiency of irrigation practices.
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Contacts for Framework, Documentation, Technical Assistance
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Martin Smith
Senior Irrigation Management Officer, Water Resources, Development, and Management Service, FAO,
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy; Tel: 39.06.57053818; Fax: 39.06.57056275;
e-mail: martin.smith@fao.org.
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Cost
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No cost to obtain model documentation or software.
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References
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Doria, R., C.A. Madramootoo and B.B. Mehdi. 2006. Estimation of Future Crop Water Requirements for
2020 and 2050, Using Cropwat. EIC Climate Change Technology, 2006 IEEE pp 1-6.
FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 46. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome.
FAO. 1992. CROPWAT — A Computer Program for Irrigation Planning and Management.
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