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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 #350146
Research Project: Precipitation and Irrigation Management to Optimize Profits from Crop Production

Location: Soil and Water Management Research

Title: Web/smart phone based control and feedback systems for irrigation systems

Author
item Colaizzi, Paul
item Oshaughnessy, Susan

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Central Plains Irrigation Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/2/2018
Publication Date: 2/21/2018
Citation: Colaizzi, P.D., O'Shaughnessy, S.A. 2018. Web/smart phone based control and feedback systems for irrigation systems. In: Proceedings of the 30th Annual Central Plains Irrigation Conference, February 20-21, 2018, Colby, Kansas. p. 199-208.

Interpretive Summary: Crops need certain amounts of water to make the most yield. Modern irrigation systems can apply precise amounts of water anywhere in a farmer’s field. This can save water and make it available for other uses. However, farmers need to know where and when water is needed, and where and when water was applied. High speed internet and cellular phone coverage are now available in many rural locations, and mobile devices such as smart phones are powerful and easy to use. Therefore, farmers are now adopting the internet and smart phones to manage their irrigation systems.

Technical Abstract: The role of the internet and mobile devices in the control and feedback of irrigation systems is reviewed. This role is placed in the larger context of four distinct components required for irrigation management, including 1. the control panel; 2. remote control; 3. soil, plant, and weather (SPW) sensors and feedback; and 4. analytics. Numerous products and software are now commercially available that include one or more of these components, and these can be built into a custom system that can be changed and expanded according to management needs. Ongoing research and development is making advances in all four component areas, but the most rapid advances and growth in commercial products are anticipated for sensors and analytics.