scholarly journals Evaluation of a Decision Support System for Variable-Rate Irrigation in a Humid Region

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 1207-1215
Author(s):  
Ruixiu Sui ◽  
Susan A. O’Shaughnessy ◽  
Steven R. Evett ◽  
Alejandro Andrade-Rodriguez ◽  
Jonnie Baggard
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Canopy Temperature ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Soil Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Irrigation Water Use ◽  
Variable Rate Irrigation

HighlightsAn Irrigation Scheduling Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (ISSCADA) system was tested against a soil electrical conductivity (EC) based method for variable-rate irrigation (VRI).Soil EC was used to create irrigation prescription in EC-based VRI.ISSCADA generated VRI prescriptions using canopy temperature, soil water content, and weather data.ISSCADA-based VRI reduced irrigation water use and increased irrigation water productivity.Abstract. Use of variable-rate irrigation (VRI) technology has the potential to improve irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE). VRI hardware is commercially available and can be implemented in any center pivot or lateral move irrigation system. However, practical methods and algorithms for creating VRI prescriptions have become the bottleneck in accelerating the adoption of VRI. An Irrigation Scheduling Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (ISSCADA) system for VRI was evaluated for two years in a humid region in the Mississippi Delta. The ISSCADA system was used to manage irrigation of soybeans for two seasons. In field practice, the ISSCADA system scanned the field for canopy temperature and collected soil water data from time domain reflectometers and weather data from a nearby weather station. The ISSCADA system automatically generated VRI prescription maps. The maps were modified to include plots managed using soil electrical conductivity (EC) based VRI prescriptions. Test results indicated that there was no difference in crop yield between EC-based VRI and ISSCADA-based VRI management. However, ISSCADA-based VRI management reduced irrigation water use and increased irrigation water productivity in comparison with EC-based VRI. There is great potential for the use of ISSCADA for VRI in humid regions. Keywords: Canopy temperature, Soil electrical conductivity, Soil moisture sensor, Soil water sensor, Soybean, Variable rate irrigation.

Development and Evaluation of a Variable-Rate Irrigation Management Method in the Mississippi Delta

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 287-298
Author(s):  
Ruixiu Sui ◽  
Jonnie Baggard
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Mississippi Delta ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Irrigation Water Use ◽  
Irrigation Water Productivity ◽  
Variable Rate Irrigation

HighlightsWe developed and evaluated a variable-rate irrigation (VRI) management method for five crop years in the Mississippi Delta.VRI management significantly reduced irrigation water use in comparison with uniform-rate irrigation (URI). There was no significant difference in grain yield and irrigation water productivity between VRI and URI management.Soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) was used to delineate irrigation management zones and generate VRI prescriptions.Sensor-measured soil water content was used in irrigation scheduling.Abstract. Variable-rate irrigation (VRI) allows producers to site-specifically apply irrigation water at variable rates within a field to account for the temporal and spatial variability in soil and plant characteristics. Developing practical VRI methods and documenting the benefits of VRI application are critical to accelerate the adoption of VRI technologies. Using apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa) and soil moisture sensors, a VRI method was developed and evaluated with corn and soybean for five crop years in the Mississippi Delta. Soil ECa of the study fields was mapped and used to delineate VRI management zones and create VRI prescriptions. Irrigation was scheduled using soil volumetric water content measured by soil moisture sensors. A center pivot VRI system was employed to deliver irrigation water according to the VRI prescription. Grain yield, irrigation water use, and irrigation water productivity in the VRI treatment were determined and compared with that in a uniform-rate irrigation (URI) treatment. Results showed that the grain yield and irrigation water productivity between the VRI and URI treatments were not statistically different with both corn and soybean crops. The VRI management significantly reduced the amount of irrigation water by 22% in corn and by 11% in soybean (p = 0.05). Adoption of VRI management could improve irrigation water use efficiency in the Mississippi Delta. Keywords: Soil electrical conductivity, Soil moisture sensor, Variable rate irrigation, Water management.

scholarly journals Identifying Within-Field Spatial and Temporal Crop Water Stress to Conserve Irrigation Resources with Variable-Rate Irrigation

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1377
Author(s):  
Jeffrey D. Svedin ◽  
Ruth Kerry ◽  
Neil C. Hansen ◽  
Bryan G. Hopkins
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Water Stress ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Soil Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Soil Water Depletion ◽  
Crop Water ◽  
Water Depletion ◽  
Crop Water Stress ◽  
Variable Rate Irrigation

Addressing within-field and within-season variability of crop water stress is critical for spatially variable irrigation. This study measures interactions between spatially variable soil properties and temporally variable crop water dynamics; and whether modelling soil water depletion is an effective approach to guide variable-rate irrigation (VRI). Energy and water balance equations were used to model crop water stress at 85 locations within a 22 ha field of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under uniform and spatially variable irrigation. Significant within-field variability of soil water holding capacity (SWHC; 145–360 mm 1.2 m−1), soil electrical conductivity (0.22–49 mS m−1), spring soil water (314–471 mm 1.2 m−1), and the onset of crop water stress were observed. Topographic features and modelled onset of crop water stress were significant predictors of crop yield while soil moisture at spring green-up, elevation, and soil electrical conductivity were significant predictors of the onset of crop water stress. These results show that modelling soil water depletion can be an effective scheduling tool in VRI. Irrigation zones and scheduling efforts should consider expanding to include temporally dynamic factors, including spring soil water content and the onset of crop water stress.

scholarly journals Optimization of irrigation water in South Africa for sustainable and beneficial use

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Akinola Mayowa Ikudayisi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Optimization Algorithm ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Crop Water ◽  
Land Area ◽  
Water Requirements ◽  
Irrigation Water Use

Water is an essential natural resource for human existence and survival on the earth. South Africa, a water stressed country, allocates a high percentage of its available consumptive water use to irrigation. Therefore, it is necessary that we optimize water use in order to enhance food security. This study presents the development of mathematical models for irrigation scheduling of crops, optimal irrigation water release and crop yields in Vaal Harts irrigation scheme (VIS) of South Africa. For efficient irrigation water management, an accurate estimation of reference evapotranspiration (ETₒ) should be carried out. However, due to non-availability of enough historical data for the study area, mathematical models were developed to estimate ETₒ. A 20-year monthly meteorological data was collected and analysed using two data–driven modeling techniques namely principal component analysis (PCA) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS). Furthermore, an artificial neural network (ANN) model was developed for real time prediction of future ETₒ for the study area. The real time irrigation scheduling of potatoes was developed using a crop growth simulation model called CROPWAT. It was used to determine the crop water productivity (CWP), which is a determinant of the relationship between water applied and crop yield. Finally, a new and novel evolutionary multi-objective optimization algorithm called combined Pareto multi-objective differential evolution (CPMDE) was applied to optimize irrigation water use and crop yield on the VIS farmland. The net irrigation benefit, land area and irrigation water use of maize, potatoes and groundnut were optimized. Results obtained show that ETₒ increases with temperature and windspeed. Other variables such as rainfall and relative humidity have less significance on the value of ETₒ. Also, ANN models with one hidden layer showed better predictive performance compared with other considered configurations. A 5-day time step irrigation schedule data and graphs showing the crop water requirements and irrigation water requirements was generated. This would enable farmers know when, where, and how much water to apply to a given farmland. Finally, the employed CPMDE optimization algorithm produced a set of non-dominated Pareto optimal solutions. The best solution suggests that maize, groundnut and potatoes should be planted on 403543.44 m2, 181542.00 m2 and 352876.05 m2areas of land respectively. This solution generates a total net benefit of ZAR 767,961.49, total planting area of 937961.49 m2 and irrigation water volume of 391,061.52 m3. Among the three crops optimized, maize has the greatest land area, followed by potatoes and groundnut. This shows that maize is more profitable than potatoes and groundnut with respect to crop yield and water use in the study area.

scholarly journals Potential and Actual Water Savings through Improved Irrigation Scheduling in Small-Scale Vegetable Production

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Studer ◽  
Simon Spoehel
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Usual Practice ◽  
Irrigation Water Use ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

Appropriate irrigation scheduling for efficient water use is often a challenge for small-scale farmers using drip irrigation. In a trial with 12 farmers in Sébaco, Nicaragua, two tools to facilitate irrigation scheduling were tested: the Water Chart (a table indicating required irrigation doses) and tensiometers. The study aimed at evaluating if and to what extent simple tools can reduce irrigation water use and improve water productivity in drip-irrigated vegetable (beetroot; Beta vulgaris L.) production compared with the farmers’ usual practice. Irrigation water use was substantially reduced (around 20%) when farmers irrigated according to the tools. However, farmers did not fully adhere to the tool guidance, probably because they feared that their crop would not get sufficient water. Thus they still over-irrigated their crop: between 38% and 88% more water than recommended was used during the treatment period, resulting in 91% to 139% higher water use than required over the entire growing cycle. Water productivity of beetroot production was, therefore, much lower (around 3 kg/m3) than what can be achieved under comparable conditions, although yields were decent. Differences in crop yield and water productivity among treatments were not significant. The simplified Water Chart was not sufficiently understandable to farmers (and technicians), whereas tensiometers were better perceived, although they do not provide any indication on how much water to apply. We conclude that innovations such as drip irrigation or improved irrigation scheduling have to be appropriately introduced, e.g., by taking sufficient time to co-produce a common understanding about the technologies and their possible usefulness, and by ensuring adequate follow-up support.

scholarly journals Assessment of Irrigation Water Use Patterns Using Remote Sensing Data in Mexico’s Northeast

10.29007/qz1w ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saul Arciniega ◽  
Jose A. Breña-Naranjo ◽  
Adrián Pedrozo-Acuña ◽  
Antonio Hernández-Espriú
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Functional Model ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Sensing Data ◽  
Irrigation Water Use

Irrigation water use (IWU) or withdrawal is a key component for the water management of a region since it tends to exceed the crops consumptive water use, especially in water-stressed regions where groundwater is the main source of water. Nevertheless, temporal IWU information is missing in many irrigation areas. Remote sensing (RS) data is commonly used for crop water requirements estimations in areas with lack of data, however, IWU is more complex to approach since it also depends on water use efficiency, irrigation system type, irrigation scheduling, and water availability, among others. This work explores the use of remote sensing data (TRMM, MODIS) and land surface hydrological products (GLDAS 2 and MERRA 2) to obtain insights about the space-time annual IWU patterns across croplands located within Mexico’s northeast region. Reported IWU in three irrigation districts (Don Martín, Región Lagunera and Bajo Río Bravo) was used to obtain a functional model using satellite data derived. Results suggest strong relationship between reported IWU with soil moisture content from GLDAS and the maximum annual EVI from MODIS, where a potential regression shown statistical correlations of 0.83 and 0.77, respectively.

scholarly journals TRANSITION FROM SURFACE TO DRIP IRRIGATION IN MOROCCO: ANALYSIS THROUGH THE MULTI-LEVEL PERSPECTIVE

AGROFOR ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oumaima ASSOULI ◽  
Hamid EL BILALI ◽  
Aziz ABOUABDILLAH ◽  
Rachid HARBOUZE ◽  
Nabil El JAOUHARI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Water Saving ◽  
Surface Irrigation ◽  
Irrigation Water Use ◽  
Multi Level

Agriculture uses more than 80% of water resources in Morocco. The sector isinefficient in terms of water use due to the dominance of surface irrigation. Toaddress this issue, there have been efforts in Moroccan strategies to convert surfaceirrigation to localized one. This paper analyses the dynamics of conversion fromsurface irrigation to drip irrigation in Fez-Meknes region (north-eastern Morocco)through the lens of the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) on socio-technicaltransitions. MLP framework suggests that transitions are the results of dialecticinteractions among a niche (cf. novelty of drip irrigation), a regime (cf. traditionalsystem of surface irrigation) and the socio-technical landscape (e.g. policies). MLPwas complemented with a multi-capital approach to better assess transitionimpacts. Results show that the area equipped with drip irrigation in Fez-Meknesregion increased from 2174 ha in 2008 to 39290 ha in 2016. Different programshave been implemented in the framework of the Green Morocco Plan to fosterirrigation transition e.g. the National Irrigation Water Saving Program (PNEEI),launched in 2007, aims to convert 550,000 ha to localized irrigation (e.g. dripirrigation) in 15 years. Thanks to these programs, financial and technical supporthas been provided to farmers to promote the adoption of water-saving irrigationtechniques and practices. Farm-level results show that transition to localizedirrigation decreases irrigation water use, increases yields and profitability (cf. grossmargin per ha), and improves water productivity. Despite an enabling policylandscape and positive transition impacts, surface irrigation is still maintained inthe region and farmers are reluctant to change for many reasons (e.g. age andeducation level, unclear land tenure, financial and administrative difficulties).Efforts are still needed to train farmers on irrigation scheduling and on the use ofsmart irrigation techniques to save water. Further research is required to betterunderstand current bottlenecks in the irrigation transition process and designappropriate and context-specific transition governance strategies.

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