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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 #354842
Research Project: Precipitation and Irrigation Management to Optimize Profits from Crop Production

Location: Soil and Water Management Research

Title: Modern irrigation management: Forget Nostradamus; Tesla had it right!

Author
item Colaizzi, Paul
item Oshaughnessy, Susan

Submitted to: Irrigation Today
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2018
Publication Date: 7/20/2018
Citation: Colaizzi, P.D., O'Shaughnessy, S.A. 2018. Modern irrigation management: Forget Nostradamus; Tesla had it right. Irrigation Today. 3(1)21:22.

Interpretive Summary: As water for irrigation from the Ogallala Aquifer decreases, farmers will need to better match crop water needs with supply. 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. 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.