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Research Project: ECOLOGICALLY-SOUND PEST, WATER, AND SOIL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS CROPPING SYSTEMS

Location: Agricultural Systems Research Unit

Title: Evaluation of closed-loop site-specific irrigation with wireless sensor network

Authors
item Kim, Yunseop
item Evans, Robert
item Iversen, William

Submitted to: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: October 31, 2008
Publication Date: January 1, 2009
Repository URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10113/34348
Citation: Kim, Y., Evans, R.G., Iversen, W.M. 2009. Evaluation of closed-loop site-specific irrigation with wireless sensor network. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering. 135(1): 25-31.

Interpretive Summary: Irrigation is critical in a cropping system and efficient water management is required to maximize productivity and minimize environmental impact. A sensor-based irrigation system was developed to automate site-specific irrigation. Variable-rate water application was wirelessly controlled at a remote to operate individual group of sprinkler nozzles. Decision making for variable-rate irrigation was determined by feedback of in-field sensors that were distributed across the field and measured soil water conditions at each soil zone. Irrigation was site-specifically applied and actual water distribution accurately followed the rate planned by computer. The benefit of the closed-loop control for a site-specific irrigation system with wireless sensor network will extend to automation of agrochemical applications.

Technical Abstract: Automated site-specific sprinkler irrigation system can save water and maximize productivity, but implementing automated irrigation is challenging in system integration and decision making. A controllable irrigation system was integrated into a closed-loop control with a distributed wireless in-field sensor network for automated variable-rate irrigation. An experimental field was configured into five soil zones based on soil electrical conductivity. In-field soil sensors were installed on each zone of the distributed wireless sensor network and remotely monitored by a base station for decision making. Soil water sensors were calibrated with a neutron probe and individually identified for their response ranges at each zone. Irrigation decisions were site-specifically made based on feedback of soil water conditions from distributed in-field sensor stations. Variable-rate water application was remotely controlled by the base station to actuate solenoids to regulate the amount of time an individual group of sprinkler nozzles was irrigating in a 60-sec time period. The performance of the system was evaluated with the measurement of water usage and soil water status throughout the growing season. Variable water distribution collected in catch cans highly matched to the rate assigned by computer with r2=0.96.

   

 
Project Team
Sainju, Upendra
Jabro, Jalal "jay"
Stevens, William - Bart
Allen, Brett
Caesar, Thecan
Lartey, Robert
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Integrated Farming Systems (207)
  Water Availability and Water Management (211)
 
 
Last Modified: 05/21/2013
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