Method for irrigation scheduling based on soil moisture data acquisition
Date
2009-06
Authors
Bellingham, B. K., author
U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
The water requirements of crops are dependent on evapotranspiration (ET), soil chemistry, and the crop's maximum allowable depletion (MAD). Direct measurements of root zone soil moisture, water application along with published ET values and soil textures, can be used in a soil water balance model that can significantly optimize irrigation efficiency. Over the past five years, advancements in computer microprocessors, memory, and software development tools has improved data acquisition methods and made data acquisition system integration more reliable and more cost effective. We discuss here an irrigation scheduling method based on a volumetric soil moisture balance model and data acquisition.
Description
Presented at Irrigation district sustainability - strategies to meet the challenges: USCID irrigation district specialty conference held on June 3-6, 2009 in Reno, Nevada.