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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Soil and Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #193569
Title: IRRIGATION SCHEDULING

Author
item Howell, Terry
item MERON, MOSHE - MIGAL-GALILEE TECH CTR

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/7/2006
Publication Date: 10/23/2006
Citation: Howell, T.A., Meron, M. 2006. Irrigation scheduling. In: Lamm, F.R., Ayars, J.E., Nakayama, F.S., editors. Microirrigation for Crop Production. Design, Operation, and Management. 1st edition. The Netherlands: Elsevier. p. 61-130.

Interpretive Summary: Irrigation scheduling generally determines the time of the next irrigation event and the amount of water to apply. For microirrigation, this is the decision of when to start an irrigation cycle and how long to irrigate the zone or set. Scheduling microirrigation is inherently different from other irrigation methods because the application amount per irrigation is small and the applications are typically more frequent. This chapter covers principles and application techniques applicable to microirrigation systems. It discusses soil water balance (crop water use), methods, and direct techniques that measure soil and/or plant water status directly. The direct measurement methods can often be automated to electronically control microirrigation systems.

Technical Abstract: Irrigation scheduling is critical to the proper management and operation of microirrigation systems since they are typically designed to apply small irrigation volumes frequently. Irrigation scheduling can be based on a soil water balance or by direct measurement of soil or plant water status. The latter can often be automated to electronically control microirrigation systems. This chapter reviews irrigation scheduling technologies and their applications to microirrigation systems and the basic theories behind the basic scheduling methods. It summarizes irrigation scheduling techniques that can be useful to microirrigation system managers.