Assessing agroecological irrigation strategies for sugar beet under drought risk in semi-arid Morocco: A modelling approach using CropWat

In the province of Sidi Bennour, Morocco, sugar beet production faces increasing water scarcity and recurrent droughts. Conventional irrigation systems are reaching their limits under climate variability. This study explores whether agroecological practices, inspired by permaculture principles, can be translated into measurable irrigation water savings.

A comparative modelling approach is developed using the FAO CropWat model. Historical climate data (1981-2025) were compiled from multiple sources: precipitation from CHIRPS, temperatures, wind speed, humidity, and solar radiation from NASA POWER, and sunshine hours calculated following FAO 56 guidelines. Two scenarios were simulated and compared: a conventional sugar beet system with standard parameters and a "resilient" scenario integrating mulching (reduced soil evaporation), soil organic matter enhancement (increased available water capacity), and runoff reduction.

The results show a significant reduction in net irrigation requirements in the resilient scenario, particularly during dry years. For the driest years identified in the series, the resilient scenario reduced irrigation needs by approximately 15-25% compared to the conventional system while maintaining similar crop water productivity. Water use efficiency improved noticeably under water-limited conditions.

This research provides a quantitative, science-based assessment of agroecological practices for climate-smart irrigation planning in water-limited agricultural systems. Our approach demonstrates that permaculture-inspired principles can be effectively parameterized and evaluated using standard hydrological models, bridging the gap between conceptual agroecology and engineering practice. Future work will incorporate climate change projections (SSP scenarios) to assess the long-term resilience of the proposed system under evolving climatic conditions.