TECH CORNER Ali Mohammed, PhD Derek Heeren, PhD, PE
farm staff and agronomist. Also, a third- party product was used for the remaining group, which irrigated based on its sensor recommendations. Each treatment was replicated three times.
Neutron probe access tubes were installed in all replications of each irrigation treatment to monitor soil water content in a 1.52-meter (5-foot) soil profile beginning June 7, 2022. Soil water readings were periodically recorded at the midpoint of each 12-inch increment throughout the growing season until mid-September 2022, using a neutron probe. A catch can uniformity test was performed on the system in mid-June 2022 to evaluate system performance before any irrigation applications occurred.
Eric Wilkening
The maize under the IrrigaNet irrigation scheduling application received 80 mm (3.14 in.) and 53 mm (2.1 in.) less than the third-party product and control group, respectively (see fig. 2). The analyzed maize grain yield was similar across all irrigation scheduling applications (i.e., IrrigaNet and third-party product) and control irrigation scheduling indicated that there were no significant differences due to the irrigation scheduling (see fig. 3).
This application can have a considerable impact in using limited water supplies more effectively and increase yield per unit applied of irrigation water and sustain agricultural productivity.
Today, these technologies facilitate irrigation scheduling for producers
more than was available a decade ago. Overall, the use of irrigation scheduling applications in limited-water regions in semi-arid and arid climates has the potential to revolutionize the way of scheduling irrigation. It can be used to optimize the utilization of water resources and predict the accurate amount and time of irrigation water that is required for crops. These applications can help producers make optimal irrigation decisions at the optimal time. As these applications continue to develop, they will likely be utilized increasingly commonly and will play a significant role in assisting producers to feed the world’s rapidly growing population.
Ali Mohammed, PhD, is a post-doctoral re- search associate of biological systems engineer- ing at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Derek Heeren, PhD, PE, is an associate professor of biological systems engineering at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Eric Wilkening is a graduate research assistant of biological systems engineering at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
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