Evaluation of Soil Salinity and Wheat Yield Using the SALTMED Model (Case Study: Bukan Plain)

The Bukan plain with its largest wheat production in the province is referred as the West Azerbaijan grain storehouse. Water and soil salinity can cause crop redution. In this research, a computer model of SALTMED was used to simulate wheat yield under different salinity conditions of irrigation water. Field experiments were conducted for five irrigation water treatments with salinities of 3.5, 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5 dS m-1 and a control treatment (Simineh Rood water with 2 dS m-1 salinity) in a completely randomized blocks design. R2, NMRSE, CRM and ME values ​​were calculated at different soil depths for different treatments. The results showed that the SALTMED model had a high accuracy in simulation of the soil moisture and salinity as well as the crop yield. The coefficient of determination for simulating soil moisture was 0.87, soil salinity 0.85 and crop yield 0.92. According to the results, with increasing salinity level of irrigation water, the model accuracy in simulation of the soil moisture was increased, but the model error was decreased in simulating of the crop yield. The simulation results of the SALTMED model showed that the accuracy of the model for crop yields was better than that of soil moisture and for soil moisture was better than that of soil salinity.