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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 #323779
Title: Advantages of using plant feedback systems to manage variable rate irrigation

Author
item Oshaughnessy, Susan
item Evett, Steven
item Colaizzi, Paul
item ANDRADE, MANUEL - Orise Fellow

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/7/2015
Publication Date: 11/9/2015
Citation: .Oshaughnessy, S.A., Evett, S.R., Colaizzi, P.D., Andrade, M.A. 2015. Advantages of using plant feedback systems to manage variable rate irrigation. Entry for China-USA Water Technologies Conference, Long Beach, CA., November 9, 2015.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: When water is scarce, quality water for irrigated agriculture is often the limiting factor for maximizing crop production. One method to increase crop production with limited water is variable rate irrigation (VRI), where irrigation applications are more closely matched to plant needs, which may vary in space and time. Integrating plant feedback systems (meteorological data and ground-based plant sensors) can aid in VRI management. Since the 1990s, ARS scientists at Bushland, Texas have used meteorological data, infrared thermometers and spectral radiometers as part of a plant feedback system to schedule irrigations. Different types and levels of thermal stress indices, e.g. time and temperature, time and a CWSI, and an integrated Crop Water Stress Index were used for irrigation timing, while the amount of water applied was based on peak daily crop water use and the frequency of irrigation events. Research conducted in Bushland has also demonstrated that crop yields and crop water use at higher irrigation treatment levels under plant feedback methods of irrigation scheduling are often similar to or better than crop response using the neutron probe for irrigation management. Supplementary benefits of using a plant feedback system for VRI management are spatial and temporal crop water status monitoring, temperature mapping, control of crop water use efficiency and reduced labor expense. While this outcome is favorable, further work is needed to test the plant feedback system using a wider range of crops in humid climates, and in fields with variable soil textures, as well as to integrate soil water sensing into the system.