Confirmation of Candidature - Candidate : Suhaib Ababneh

Climate change with increased climate variability and extremes is posing more challenges for water management in agriculture. This research proposal aims to develop a simulation-optimization framework for real-time irrigation scheduling in sugarcane crops using weather and seasonal climate forecast, better adapting to climate extremes from timely increased irrigation during agricultural droughts including dry spells to no irrigation in wet conditions due to high intensity rainfall events. The framework will be the first integrating the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) for sugarcane growth simulation and stochastic optimization employing real time weather and seasonal climate forecast. 

The proposed approach will be tested in two sugarcane-growing regions, Burdekin, and Bundaberg, located in northern Queensland, Australia. Short-term weather forecast data obtained from The Australian Digital Forecast Database and seasonal climate forecast data obtained from The European multi-system seasonal forecast service will be used in the proposed model. The expected outcome of this research is to provide sugarcane growers with a decision-support tool that utilizes state-of-the-art weather and seasonal climate forecast data for real-time irrigation scheduling. The proposed approach has the potential to increase sugarcane yield, as well as save water and energy, leading to higher profitability for growers while reducing CO2 emission. The research will contribute to improved irrigation water management for Australian sugarcane sector in response to weather and climate variability, leading to more sustainable and efficient sugarcane industry.

For more information, please email the Graduate Research School or phone 0746 311 088.