The performance of the model AMBAV for evapotranspiration and soil moisture on Muncheberg data

A model for the calculation of evapotranspiration and soil moisture, called by the German abbreviation AMBAV, is used within an agrometeorological advisory routine. AMBAV shows realistic soil moisture results compared with the Muncheberg data set of measurements from 1993 to 1998, even though the soil texture, biometric and phenological data are only roughly adjusted. Weather during the vegetation period greatly influences the number of irrigations to a crop: between zero and three or more for the considered years in Muncheberg. The model serves as an agrometeorological tool to find the optimum date for a crop-specific irrigation, in routine use under consideration of forecast rain amounts, too.