Variable-rate irrigation management using an expert system in the eastern coastal plain

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. C. Stone ◽  
P. J. Bauer ◽  
W. J. Busscher ◽  
J. A. Millen ◽  
D. E. Evans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Expert System ◽  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Variable Rate Irrigation

Variable-Rate Irrigation Management for Peanut in the Eastern Coastal Plain

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth C Stone ◽  
Philip J Bauer ◽  
Warren J Busscher ◽  
Joseph A Millen ◽  
Dean E Evans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Variable Rate Irrigation

Variable Rate Irrigation Management for Humid Climates Using a Conventional Center Pivot System

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen L Thompson ◽  
Kenneth A Sudduth ◽  
Joseph C Henggeler ◽  
Earl D Vories ◽  
Andrew D Rackers
Keyword(s):  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Center Pivot ◽  
Variable Rate Irrigation

scholarly journals Potential Water Conservation Using Site-Specific Variable Rate Irrigation

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 881-888
Author(s):  
Kenneth C Stone ◽  
Philip J Bauer ◽  
Gilbert C Sigua
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Water Usage ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Management Zones ◽  
Water Holding ◽  
Variable Rate Irrigation

Abstract. Site-specific variable-rate irrigation (VRI) systems can be used to spatially manage irrigation within sub-field-sized zones and optimize spatial water use efficiency. The goal of the research is to provide farmers and consultants a tool to evaluate the potential benefits of implementing VRI. The specific objective of this research is to evaluate the potential water savings using VRI management compared with uniform irrigation management to maintain soil water holding capacity above 50% depletion using two irrigation scenarios: 1) a standard 12.5 mm irrigation per application; and 2) an application to refill the soil profile to field capacity. A 21-year simulation study was carried out on a selected field with varying degrees of soil and topographic variability. The simulated field had 12 soil mapping units with water holding capacities in the top 0.30-m ranging from 42 to 70 mm. The 21-year simulation covering all weather conditions for each soil produced only two significantly different irrigation management zones for scenario 1, and for scenario 2 only one management zone. However, when the 21-year period was divided into periods with different ratios of rainfall to reference evapotranspiration, the simulations identified 1 to 5 management zones with significantly different irrigation requirements. These results indicate that variable rate irrigation system design and management should not be solely based on long term average weather conditions. Years with differing weather conditions should be used for potentially identifying management zones for VRI systems. Irrigation application depths between management zones ranged from 17 to 38 mm. However, when the actual soil areas of the study field were utilized to calculate the total volume of irrigation water applied, it resulted in an increase in water usage in the 2 and 4 management zones ranging from -1.2% to 5.8%. Water usage with VRI over uniform irrigation was greater by -1.6% to 6.8% in the 12.5 mm irrigations and by -1.2% to 2.2% for the field capacity irrigations Keywords: Management zones, Precision farming, Variable-rate irrigation, Water conservation.

Field Study of Variable Rate Irrigation Management in Humid Climates

2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruixiu Sui ◽  
Haijun Yan
Keyword(s):  
Field Study ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Variable Rate Irrigation

scholarly journals Mapping Management Zones Based on Soil Apparent Electrical Conductivity and Remote Sensing for Implementation of Variable Rate Irrigation—Case Study of Corn under a Center Pivot

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3427
Author(s):  
João Serrano ◽  
Shakib Shahidian ◽  
José Marques da Silva ◽  
Luís Paixão ◽  
Francisco Moral ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Travel Speed ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Management Zones ◽  
Variable Rate Irrigation

Climate change, especially the trend towards global warming, will significantly affect the global hydrological cycle, leading to a general reduction of the water available for agriculture. In this scenario, it is essential that research should focus on the development of ‘water saving’ techniques and technologies. This work summarizes the methodology followed in a project for large scale implementation of variable rate irrigation (VRI) systems using center pivots in corn crop. This is based on technologies for monitoring (i) soil electrical conductivity (ECa) and altimetry, (ii) soil moisture content, (iii) vegetation indices (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI) obtained from satellite images, and automatic pivot travel speed control technologies. ECa maps were the basis for the definition of first homogeneous management zones (HMZ) in an experimental corn field of 28 ha. NDVI time-series were used to establish the subsequent HMZ and the respective dynamic prescription irrigation maps. The main result of this study was the reduction of spatial yield variability with the VRI management in 2017 compared to the conventional irrigation management. This study demonstrates how a relatively simple approach could be designed and implemented on a large scale, which represents an important and sustainable contribution to the resolution of practical farmer issues.

The Variable Rate Irrigation Management Challenge

2018 ◽  
pp. 724-738
Author(s):  
James Lowenberg-DeBoer
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Sprinkler Irrigation ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Scarce Water ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Management Challenge ◽  
Variable Rate Irrigation

The potential for variable rate irrigation (VRI) is an approach to making better use of scarce water. Intuitively it makes sense to apply irrigation water when and where it will provide the most benefit, but implementing that simple insight is complicated because water control is costly. Experience with mechanically movable sprinklers suggests that current VRI technology can allocate water accurately in time and space, but knowledge of how to profitably manage such systems is lacking. The variable rate fertilizer experience suggests that farmers, public sector researchers, and the irrigation equipment industry should collaborate in on-farm trials that would determine profitable management with current technology and the improvements needed to make VRI standard practice for irrigators. Simultaneous with the on-farm analysis of VRI profitability on sprinkler irrigation in the industrialized countries, research should start on adapting VRI technology to smallholder farmers in the developing world.

scholarly journals Identifying Advantages and Disadvantages of Variable Rate Irrigation: An Updated Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 837-852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan A O’Shaughnessy ◽  
Steven R. Evett ◽  
Paul D. Colaizzi ◽  
Manuel A Andrade ◽  
Thomas H. Marek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Sprinkler Irrigation ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Economic Returns ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Variable Rate Irrigation

Abstract. Variable rate irrigation (VRI) sprinklers on mechanical move irrigation systems (center pivot or lateral move) have been commercially available since 2004. Although the number of VRI, zone or individual sprinkler, systems adopted to date is lower than expected there is a continued interest to harness this technology, especially when climate variability, regulatory nutrient management, water conservation policies, and declining water for agriculture compound the challenges involved for irrigated crop production. This article reviews the potential advantages and potential disadvantages of VRI technology for moving sprinklers, provides updated examples on such aspects, suggests a protocol for designing and implementing VRI technology and reports on the recent advancements. The advantages of VRI technology are demonstrated in the areas of agronomic improvement, greater economic returns, environmental protection and risk management, while the main drawbacks to VRI technology include the complexity to successfully implement the technology and the lack of evidence that it assures better performance in net profit or water savings. Although advances have been made in VRI technologies, its penetration into the market will continue to depend on tangible and perceived benefits by producers. Keywords: Center pivots, Crop water use efficiency, Irrigation, Management zones, Moving sprinkler irrigation systems, Precision irrigation, Sensor based systems.

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