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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 #386575
Research Project: Precipitation and Irrigation Management to Optimize Profits from Crop Production

Location: Soil and Water Management Research

Title: Theory and development of a VRI decision support system: The USDA ARS ISSCADA approach

Author
item Evett, Steven - Steve
item Oshaughnessy, Susan
item ANDRADE, MANUEL - University Of Nevada
item Colaizzi, Paul
item Schwartz, Robert
item Schomberg, Harry
item Stone, Kenneth
item Vories, Earl
item Sui, Ruixiu
item LARUE, JAKE - Valmont Industries, Inc

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/2021
Publication Date: 12/6/2021
Citation: Evett, S.R., O'Shaughnessy, S.A., Andrade, M.A., Colaizzi, P.D., Schwartz, R.C., Schomberg, H.H., Stone, K.C., Vories, E.D., Sui, R., Larue, J. 2021. Theory and development of a VRI decision support system: The USDA ARS ISSCADA approach [abstract]. Pre-recorded video presentation, ASABE/IA 6th Decennial National Irrigation Symposium, December 6-10, 2021, San Diego, CA.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Variable rate irrigation (VRI) is now possible with every new center pivot irrigation system sold, either using sector (speed) control or both sector and zone (radial along the pipeline) control. However, decision support systems able to generate a prescription for spatially varying irrigation based on crop water need have lagged far behind the VRI equipment. Irrigation based on crop water need has been shown to increase both crop water productivity and nutrient use efficiency, meaning that an effective VRI decision support system (DSS) could improve profitability while conserving resources. In this proceedings, we report separately on a VRI DSS using sensor-based plant and soil water feedback as implemented in four U.S. States. This paper describes the genesis and development of this Irrigation Scheduling Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (ISSCADA) system, of the integral plant and soil sensors, and of its wireless sensor network subsystems, as well as the role of multi-location research efforts and Cooperative Research and Development Agreements in development of the needed plant and soil sensors and the ISSCADA and wireless sensor network systems.