Validation and Integration of Wheat Seed Emergence Prediction Model with GIS and Numerical Weather Prediction Models

The main factors affecting wheat emergence are climatic condition, soil properties and planting depth. Time and percentage of the wheat emergence depend on the interaction between above factors which can be predicted by using wheat simulation model (WSM). WSM is based on three main factors which are soil water potential, soil temperature and planting depth. The general objective of this study was to delineate the best location for wheat production in arid regions such as Oman through linking Wheat Simulation Model (WSM) with Numeric Weather Prediction Model (NWPM) in the platform of the Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Soil temperature and water potential raster layers which were obtained from NWPM were analyzed using spatial analysis tools in ESRI ArcGIS software. Four field trials, over two seasons, have validated positively the linkage of the developed WSM with GIS. The developed model can be promoted as a tool for decision makers to delineate the best location for wheat production in arid regions.