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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Southeast Watershed Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #205647
Title: Agricultural Water Conservation via Conservation Tillage and Thermal Infrared

Author
item HAWKINS, G - UNIV. OF GEORGIA
item Sullivan, Dana
item BLAND, G - UNIV. OF GEORGIA

Submitted to: Soil and Water Conservation Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/30/2007
Publication Date: 6/30/2007
Citation: Hawkins, G.L., Sullivan, D.G., Bland, G. 2007. Agricultural Water Conservation via Conservation Tillage and Thermal Infrared [abstract]. Soil and Water Conservation Society Conference, Tampa, Florida 07/21/2007.

Interpretive Summary: In Georgia water conservation is an issue that involves all citizens. Within the agricultural row crop community, water is a very important part of producing a harvestable and profitable product. Although irrigation is used only as a supplement to natural rainfall, it can greatly affect crop yield and quality. Because of increasing public and industrial concerns over water quality and quantity, conservation tillage should be promoted more as a sustainable management system that conserves water. The main objective of this study was to evaluate field scale variability in crop response to tillage regime using an unmanned aerial system (UAS). The UAS is equipped with a thermal infrared imager (8-12um) with an approximate spatial resolution of 0.5 –1.0 m. Five treatments were used (new rye, old rye, clover, rye/clover mix and conventional). All plots were strip-tilled. Soil water content (10 –20 cm) and stomatal conductance measurements were collected coincident with each UAS data acquisition. Thermal infrared imagery was validated using hot and cold calibration targets (2 m x 2m each) equipped with thermal couples that were monitored every second and averaged over a one minute span throughout the data acquisition. Analysis of the data shows that the use of rye and any combination of rye had a higher water holding capacity than that of clover or conventional treatments. Overall, the use of a higher cellulose cover crop contributed to a higher volumetric soil moisture that should be available to crops.

Technical Abstract: In Georgia water conservation is an issue that involves all citizens. Within the agricultural row crop community, water is a very important part of producing a harvestable and profitable product. Although irrigation is used only as a supplement to natural rainfall, it can greatly affect crop yield and quality. Because of increasing public and industrial concerns over water quality and quantity, conservation tillage should be promoted more as a sustainable management system that conserves water. The main objective of this study was to evaluate field scale variability in crop response to tillage regime using an unmanned aerial system (UAS). The UAS is equipped with a thermal infrared imager (8-12um) with an approximate spatial resolution of 0.5 –1.0 m. Five treatments were used (new rye, old rye, clover, rye/clover mix and conventional). All plots were strip-tilled. Soil water content (10 –20 cm) and stomatal conductance measurements were collected coincident with each UAS data acquisition. Thermal infrared imagery was validated using hot and cold calibration targets (2 m x 2m each) equipped with thermal couples that were monitored every second and averaged over a one minute span throughout the data acquisition. Analysis of the data shows that the use of rye and any combination of rye had a higher water holding capacity than that of clover or conventional treatments. Overall, the use of a higher cellulose cover crop contributed to a higher volumetric soil moisture that should be available to crops.