English abstract
Because wheat is considered as one of the main meals of people and because of the deficiency of wheat production in the Sultanate of Oman compared to the consumption rate, intensive studies were done to improve wheat situation in Oman. The main objective of this study was to delineate (map) the best locations of wheat production in Oman through linking Wheat Simulation Model with Numerical Weather Prediction Model (NWPM) in Geographic Information System (GIS). This project helps in improving wheat production in Oman through the ability to predict the percentage of wheat emergence in a specific area based on main and governing factors. The emergence of the wheat is affected by climatic conditions, soil properties and plating depth. Time and percentage can be predicted by a wheat simulation model that is based on planting depth, soil temperature and soil water potential. To validate the model's result, four field trials, over two seasons have been conducted at agricultural extension station at Sultan Qaboos University. The experiment was factorial in a randomize complete block design with three replicates of two varieties (Coli and KW1) * two planting depth (2.5 and 5 cm) * Two planting date (1st December 2013 and 22 January 2014 ). The results showed that there is a good agreement between findings of field experiment and predicted outcome from the model. When water potential was -0.015 MPa, soil temperature was 22°C and planting depth was 2.5 cm, emergence started after day four from planting and maximum emergence percentage was 74% after day 11 from the planting date. The model result shows that, emergence started after day 5 from planting and maximum emergence percentage was 67% achieved after day seven from the planting date. Also field experiment showed, two planting depth (2.5 and 5 cm) has no effect in the physical characteristics of wheat. However, planting time has effect on physical characteristics of wheat.
The model gave very good results when it was tested using data obtained from the computational models and comparing the results with field experimental data. Four field trials, over two seasons, have validated positively the linkage of the developed model with the geographic information system. The developed model can be promoted as a tool of improving wheat cultivation through making the most of available water in wheat production and increasing the growing acreage of wheat in arid regions like Oman
