Theory and Development of a VRI Decision Support System: The USDA-ARS ISSCADA Approach

HighlightsMulti-faceted research efforts converged to an automated irrigation decision support system (DSS).Low-cost, solar-powered, wireless plant abiotic and biotic stress sensors were developed to aid the DSS.Low-cost, accurate TDR soil water sensors and a wireless node and gateway system were developed for the DSS.Sensor systems and research-based algorithms were integrated into an automated irrigation DSS and control system.Abstract. Variable-rate irrigation (VRI) is now possible with every new center pivot irrigation system sold, either using sector (speed) control or both sector and zone (radial along the pipeline) control. However, decision support systems able to generate a prescription for spatially varying irrigation based on crop water need have lagged far behind VRI equipment. Irrigation based on crop water need has been shown to increase both crop water productivity and nutrient use efficiency, meaning that an effective VRI decision support system (DSS) could improve profitability while conserving resources. In this article, we report separately on a VRI DSS using sensor-based plant and soil water feedback as implemented in four U.S. states. This article describes the genesis and development of the Irrigation Scheduling Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (ISSCADA) system, of the integral plant and soil sensors, and of its wireless sensor network subsystems, as well as the role of multi-location research efforts and cooperative research and development agreements in the development of the needed plant and soil sensors and the ISSCADA and wireless sensor network systems. Keywords: Crop water productivity, Decision support system, Product development, Sensors, Variable-rate irrigation, VRI.

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A Model-Based Real-Time Decision Support System for Irrigation Scheduling to Improve Water Productivity

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy9110686 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 686 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Chen ◽

Qi ◽

Gui ◽

Gu ◽

Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Support ◽

Decision Support System ◽

Real Time ◽

Support System ◽

Deficit Irrigation ◽

Water Productivity ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Cotton Field ◽

Crop Water ◽

Significant Difference

A precisely timed irrigation schedule to match crop water demand is vital to improving water use efficiency in arid farmland. In this study, a real-time irrigation-scheduling infrastructure, Decision Support System for Irrigation Scheduling (DSSIS), based on water stresses predicted by an agro-hydrological model, was constructed and evaluated. The DSSIS employed the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2) to predict crop water stresses and soil water content, which were used to trigger irrigation and calculate irrigation amount, respectively, along with forecasted rainfall. The new DSSIS was evaluated through a cotton field experiment in Xinjiang, China in 2016 and 2017. Three irrigation scheduling methods (DSSIS-based (D), soil moisture sensor-based (S), and conventional experience-based (E)), factorially combined with two irrigation rates (full irrigation (FI), and deficit irrigation (DI, 75% of FI)) were compared. The DSSIS significantly increased water productivity (WP) by 26% and 65.7%, compared to sensor-based and experience-based irrigation scheduling methods (p < 0.05), respectively. No significant difference was observed in WP between full and deficit irrigation treatments. In addition, the DSSIS showed economic advantage over sensor- and experience-based methods. Our results suggested that DSSIS is a promising tool for irrigation scheduling.

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Estimatimation of crop water requirements by remote sensing for variable rate applications. operational case in a central pivot of wheat

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-22463 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

maria calera picazo ◽

Carmen Plaza ◽

andres cuesta ◽

vicente bodas ◽

ramon molina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Decision Support ◽

Decision Support System ◽

Support System ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Water Requirement ◽

Variable Rate ◽

Crop Water ◽

Water Requirements ◽

Crop Water Requirements

In Mediterranean areas, where water scarcity is the main limiting factor, applying good practices in the use of water for irrigation is crucial in order to maximize benefits for farmers and protect the resource. Furthermore, energy costs derived from water pumping from groundwater is one of the most important expenses for farmers in our study area, the South-East of Spain. Variable Rate Irrigation is a promising technique to apply the required water, but VRI faces the challenge to know accurately the crop water requirement distribution in space and time.The objective of this work is twofold: Firstly, to demonstrate through a practical case the optimization of the irrigation water in an operativity level managing the variability of the plot using time series of free satellite images currently in orbit. Secondly, to put into practice the technology (SicoP system) developed by ACOEMAN that allows the pivot to apply variable rate at medium cost for farmers.The case study was carried out in a commercial wheat plot of 60ha, irrigated by a central pivot endowed with the SicoP technology, during the campaign of 2018-2019. &#160;The SicoP pivot technology allows to implement a variable angular speed for each sector. The pivot circle was divided into 36 sectors of 10 degrees each. Every Thursday during the growing cycle the crop water requirements were estimated per sector by means of remote sensing and meteorological data by the decision support system developed by AgriSat Iberia as consultant company. Thus, the system applied the irrigation water requirement per sector, calculated through a simplified soil water balance.The estimation of the actual crop water requirements spatially distributed at 30x30 meter (3x3 pixel) resolution has been based on NDVI-Kc forecasting methodology. The high temporal and spatial resolution provided by free images from satellites Sentinel 2A and Sentinel 2B combined with Landsat 8 images allows the implementation of a remote sensing-based operational approach for this variable rate decision support system.This paper includes a comparative analysis of the differences between the water volume applied by homogeneous rate, 1 per plot and week, and the variable rate irrigation, 36 rates per plot and week, using the same EO-based methodology. A yield map was obtained by using a yield-monitoring device implemented into the combine harvester.First promising results regarding the optimization of the use of water have been demonstrated going from 1 irrigation decision in 60ha per week, to 36 irrigation decision per week, one per 1.6ha sector. Modest savings in water volumes at the end of the growing cycle have been observed. This map shows no additional increase of yield spatial variability due to the use of VIR.&#160; Some problems were encountered when the climate conditions were not appropriate for irrigation, mainly high wind speed. The system has reached a high operativity level ready for adoption by farmers.&#160;

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A Variable-Rate Irrigation Decision Support System for Corn in the U.S. Eastern Coastal Plain

Transactions of the ASABE ◽

10.13031/trans.13965 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (5) ◽

pp. 1295-1303

Author(s):

Kenneth C. Stone ◽

Phil J. Bauer ◽

Susan O’Shaughnessy ◽

Alejandro Andrade-Rodriguez ◽

Steven Evett

Keyword(s):

Decision Support ◽

Decision Support System ◽

Soil Water ◽

Support System ◽

Coastal Plain ◽

Variable Rate ◽

Crop Water ◽

Irrigation Treatments ◽

The U.S ◽

Variable Rate Irrigation

HighlightsA decision support system using the USDA-ARS Irrigation Scheduling and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (ISSCADA) system was evaluated for spatially managing corn irrigation in the U.S. Eastern Coastal Plain.The ISSCADA system was compared to traditional scheduling methods based on measured soil water potentials.The ISSCADA system with feedback on allowable soil water depletion shows potential as a tool for growers for managing variable-rate irrigation systems.Abstract. Variable-rate irrigation (VRI) systems are capable of applying different water depths both in the direction of travel and along the length of the irrigation system. VRI systems maybe useful for improving crop water management and efficiency. Although VRI technology is available and has high grower interest, it has had limited adoption. To address this, researchers have developed a decision support system that uses remote sensing of plant, soil, and microclimate to schedule VRI irrigations. In this research, we evaluated the use of the USDA-ARS Irrigation Scheduling and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (ISSCADA) system for spatially managing corn irrigation in the U.S. Eastern Coastal Plain. The ISSCADA system consists of center pivot mounted infrared thermometers (IRT) to measure crop canopy temperatures and in situ soil water sensors. An integrated crop water stress index (iCWSI) was calculated from the canopy temperatures. The ISSCADA system analyzes the iCWSI and soil water measurements to provide an irrigation recommendation. The ISSCADA system was evaluated using (1) iCWSI values and (2) a hybrid ISSCADA system that incorporated both iCWSI values and soil water depletion criteria. These ISSCADA treatments were compared to traditional irrigation management using measured soil water potentials. The ISSCADA system was evaluated for four years. In 2016 and 2017, corn yields and water use efficiency were not significantly different between the irrigation treatments due to adequate rainfall during the growing season. In 2018 and 2019, mid-season drought conditions and sporadic rainfall patterns required frequent irrigations. In both years, the irrigation treatment corn yields were not significantly different from each other but were greater than the rainfed yields. In 2018, the irrigation treatments produced corn yields of 10.7, 10.4, and 10.1 Mg ha-1 for the hybrid, ISSCADA, and SWP treatments, respectively. Over the four-year study, the water use efficiencies of the irrigation treatments were not significantly different from each other or the rainfed treatment and ranged from 16.6 to 22.7 kg ha-1 mm-1. In the two years that the hybrid ISSCADA system was used for managing irrigations, it produced higher corn yields and required less irrigation than the standard ISSCADA treatments. Results from this experiment will help to evaluate and refine the ISSCADA system to provide a tool for growers to use in managing spatial irrigation with VRI systems. Keywords: Crop water stress, Decision support system, Variable rate irrigation.

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A Cotton High-Efficiency Water-Fertilizer Control System Using Wireless Sensor Network for Precision Agriculture

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr9101693 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 1693

Author(s):

Chanchan Du ◽

Lixin Zhang ◽

Xiao Ma ◽

Xiaokang Lou ◽

Yongchao Shan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Control System ◽

Decision Support ◽

Wireless Sensor Network ◽

Decision Support System ◽

Sensor Network ◽

Support System ◽

Precision Agriculture ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Wireless Sensor ◽

Sensors And Actuators

Scientific researchers have applied newly developed technologies, such as sensors and actuators, to different fields, including environmental monitoring, traffic management, and precision agriculture. Using agricultural technology to assist crop fertilization is an important research innovation that can not only reduce the workload of farmers, but also reduce resource waste and soil pollution. This paper describes the design and development of a water-fertilizer control system based on the soil conductivity threshold. The system uses a low-cost wireless sensor network as a data collection and transmission tool and transmits the data to the decision support system. The decision support system considers the change in soil electrical conductivity (EC) and moisture content to guide the application of water-fertilizer, and then improves the fertilization accuracy of the water-fertilizer control system. In the experiment, the proposed water-fertilizer control system was tested, and it was concluded that, compared with the existing traditional water-fertilizer integration control system, the amount of fertilizer used by the system was reduced by 10.89% on average, and it could save 0.76–0.87 tons of fertilizer throughout the whole growth period of cotton.

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A decision support approach to designing the inland logistics network in China

Journal of Transportation Management ◽

10.22237/jotm/1175385960 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 56-79

Author(s):

Hokey Min ◽

Hyun-Jeung Ko ◽

Chin-Soo Lin

Keyword(s):

Decision Support ◽

Decision Support System ◽

Support System ◽

Multinational Firms ◽

Low Cost ◽

Path Model ◽

Multinational Firm ◽

Real Problem ◽

Chinese Market ◽

Model Based

With the unprecedented growth of international trade, a growing number of multinational firms have coped with logistical challenges of shipping products to and from unfamiliar territories in many countries. These logistical challenges include the cross-border transportation of products originated from inland port to another inland port isolated from major waterways. In particular, the lack of access to major waterways would not only constrain the intermodal transportation option, but also make door-to-door, containerized delivery services nearly impossible. Such a limited option would eventually lead to increased transportation costs and transit time, and thereby offset low-cost global sourcing advantages. To aid multinational firms in addressing the problem of determining the optimal supply chain link between inland origin and destinations ports, this article proposes a shortest-path model based decision support system. The usefulness of the proposed model-based decision support system was validated by its application to a real problem encountered by a multinational firm that would like to strengthen its foothold in the Chinese market.

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