TECH CORNER
By Vivek Sharma,
PhD; Sandra Guzmán, PhD; Haimanote Bayabil, PhD; Kati Migliaccio, George Vellidis, PhD
E
Technological advances in the last two decades allow growers and water managers to adopt computer- and smartphone- based solutions to optimize irrigation scheduling.
ffective irrigation management requires reliable, easy-to-use and affordable techniques to support real-time scheduling
to achieve optimal plant growth and yield while ensuring efficient use of freshwater resources and reducing agricultural environmental challenges. Technological advances in the last two decades allow growers and water managers to adopt computer- and smartphone-based solutions to optimize irrigation scheduling. Several web- based irrigation scheduling tools have been developed for multiple cropping systems and irrigation systems by integrating near real-time and projected weather data with crop information for crop water use (e.g., crop evapotranspiration, ETc) and using the water balance model for irrigation scheduling. Although the web-based irrigation scheduling tools provide valuable sources of information with an attractive interface, their adoption has been limited due to less user-tool interaction where the users require periodic use of a desktop or laptop to manage irrigation. Contrary to that, smartphone-based irrigation scheduling apps provide greater flexibility, offer continuous user-tool interaction, an intuitive interface, and provide near real-time irrigation information on the go.
SMART IRRIGATION APPS IN THE SOUTHEAST
For the last decade, a team of researchers from the University of Florida and the University of Georgia has been leading the development, testing, validation and implementation of a suite
of easy-to-use smart irrigation apps for different crops including citrus, strawberry, cotton, avocado, vegetables, blueberry and soybean with field and sweet corn and peach apps currently being under development (see fig. 1). These apps were developed with the central goal of providing real-time irrigation scheduling recommendations for users. The apps are freely available for use and can be downloaded through the iOS and Android stores. A full suite of smart irrigation apps is available online at
smartirrigationapps.org. These apps leverage the available networks of weather stations through the Florida Automated Weather Network and the Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network.
KEY FEATURES OF THE IRRIGATION SCHEDULING APPS
Figure 1. Growers have access to a full suite of mobile smart irrigation
apps for different crops, available for download through the iOS and Android stores.
32 Irrigation TODAY | Summer 2022
Most of the commercially available irrigation scheduling apps were designed to use with minimum input from the users. For example, most of the smart irrigation apps developed for field crops require inputs including location selection using a map or list interface, basic crop and irrigation system information including planting date and expected harvest date, and irrigation system efficiency. Many apps allow automatic selection of the nearest automated weather station and soil information based on the area of interest and location selection. Other apps allow the selection of only automated weather stations as selectable options. Once these options are selected, the app automatically uses the climate data for ETc calculation and populates with the default value of crop information (e.g., crop coefficient, rooting depth) and soil water- holding characteristics. These inputs are further used to track and display the soil water content and soil water deficit using different graphical interfaces including conceptual bucket diagrams and gas gauges. Many apps use notifications via text message or email to alert users to promote irrigation scheduling changes that reflect plant water needs on a real-time basis.
irrigationtoday.org
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