TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENTS
What benefits can utilizing satellite data provide?
• compliance — fact-based with data backup
• productivity — better yield as irrigation/fertilization is optimized
Figure 4. This soil map shows that the southeast part of the field has a higher infiltration rate (0.054-0.057 inches/hour), which is a moderately high infiltration rate.
Similarly, the two fields shown in figure 3 were right next to each other and looked exactly the same to the trained human eye, but they have different nonuniformities in their ETc demand that can be seen spectrally by the satellites.
Step 2. Calculate the frequency and irrigation schedule – By using a first- order soil (field-specific) pedotransfer function (aka saturated hydraulic conductivity or Ksat), a grower can get their field’s infiltration rate that provides a spatial contour map of infiltration as shown in figure 4.
This map shows the southeast part of the field has a higher infiltration rate (0.054- 0.057 inches/hour), which is a moderately
high infiltration rate. This means that for a consumption of 2.1 inches for the previous week (or an average of 0.3 inches/day), it is advisable to calculate daily irrigation as follows:
0.3
1.35 5.3
DU of 0.9
Perhaps the choice is made to “top-it-off” for a 6-hour set. Anything more than that, and the water would not be optimally used. Important note: This can be done intentionally to account for recharge or deficit irrigation, but in that case, it should be properly accounted for as such.
Irrigation informatics makes it easier and simpler for the grower to realize these economic benefits.
14 Irrigation TODAY | Summer 2021 = 0.22 × 24 hours = 5.3 = 5.9-hour irrigation set
• cost savings — less waste on inputs
As the demand for food increases around the world, so, too, will the demand for in- creased water use. Satellite-based informat- ics and ag technology are rapidly advanc- ing. Globally, growers play a pivotal role and by adopting these types of ag technology, we will be able to achieve an acceptable level of sustainability.
Azadeh Alizadeh, PhD, is an irrigation specialist with Agralogics and currently focused on irrigation and nutrient management in the agricultural industry.
Sumer S. Johal, is the CEO of Agralogics, a company he founded in 2013 to enable data- driven insights for the agricultural industry at a global scale.
Jeff Tuel is the executive vice president of Jain Distribution Holdings where he provides leadership to Jain’s monitoring and control division.
The views expressed in this article are meant to provide general and practical use of data products for irrigation for practitioners through the use of examples and illustrations of products familiar to the author.
irrigationtoday.org
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