Photos: courtesy of JAS
SMART IRRIGATION
Use your own background and expertise to find the right technologies to start working with. Smart irrigation isn’t a single system or technology, but a combination of practices that work together for efficient water use.
for constant supervision and laborious manual intervention. Irrigation systems can provide detailed insights
and predictive analytics, enabling proactive management of water resources. Technological integration enhances decision-making, leading to more consistent and reliable irrigation practices.
Think of smart irrigation as a modular system where you select the components you need to construct your ideal solution.
Imagine the water savings from just the most basic remote monitoring and control use. The hours saved or eliminated with the ability to remotely control a single center pivot or groups of center pivots during weather events like wind or rain. There is no need to jump in the pickup and visit every pivot on your farm.
2 Build on existing foundations Depending on your starting point, certain
technologies may offer built-in advantages. For example, if you receive funding from programs like those available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, you might be required to implement soil moisture probes and pressure sensors. These tools meet funding requirements and provide valuable data and additional benefits.
Think of smart irrigation as a modular system where you select the components you need
22 Irrigation TODAY | Summer 2024
to construct your ideal solution. Each grower’s requirements are unique, and the versatility of smart irrigation enables you to tailor your approach to suit your specific needs.
One common entry point for many growers is satellite technology. Because it provides valuable data without requiring hardware installation in the field, it can be a lower-risk investment.
3 Combine technologies for maximum benefit
While starting with satellite technology can be beneficial, combining it with other monitoring tools can provide even greater insights. For example, using soil moisture probes alongside satellite data can offer a more comprehensive view of your irrigation needs, ensuring precision and efficiency. Growers receive a broad view from the satellite and precise, on-the-ground data from the probes.
A typical hose-end nozzle flows at 5 gallons per minute. A typical sports field zone flows at 105 gallons per minute. A typical center pivot flows at 800 gallons per minute. If we can reduce an annual watering schedule by a minute each day, it significantly impacts the world’s water consumption. Smart watering reduces consumption by considering rainfall, watering only to the depth of the plant’s roots, watering only when soil moisture is depleted, timing the
irrigationtoday.org
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
