ACP SUGAR RESEARCH PROGRAMMEPROJECT 2.4

EFFICIENT CONJUNCTIVE USE OF WATER FOR SUSTAINABLE SUGAR CANE PRODUCTION

ACP SUGAR RESEARCH PROGRAMMEPROJECT 2.4

EFFICIENT CONJUNCTIVE USE OF WATER FOR SUSTAINABLE SUGAR CANE PRODUCTION

Mid-term Review - 2 October 2012Mid-term Review - 2 October 2012

MOTIVATION

- Increased competition for water.

- Need for higher productivity per unit of water applied.

- Integrated approach to water management.

- Use rainfall in conjunction with irrigation to increase water use

efficiency (WUE) and reduce operation costs.

- Develop a decision-making tool for management of different

irrigation systems in a farm.

- Provide a decision support tool for management of water

resources for sugar cane production

- Contribute towards sustainable management of water

resources to optimize sugar cane production

- Improve WUE through rational conjunctive use of rainfall &

irrigation water resources to ensure long-term viability of

sugar industry

OBJECTIVES

PRODUCTSPRODUCTS

Decision-making tool is main product:

IMIS (Irrigation Management Information System).

IMIS:

user-friendly & site-specific irrigation management tool for

ACP countries.

1. MSIRI Team (Project leader, Irrigation & GIS specialists)

2. Consultant

3. IT Specialists:

UoM team

Opda Consulting

4. Corporate planters from Mauritius

5. Sugar estates from Cote d’Ivoire, Swaziland, Tanzania

Multidisciplinary project with multiple inputs:Multidisciplinary project with multiple inputs:

HUMAN RESOURCESHUMAN RESOURCES

Geo

gra

ph

ica

l In

form

atio

n S

yste

m

Irri

gat

ion

pra

ctic

es

Wat

er r

esou

rces

Cropping systems

Crop details

Soil / Crop / Logistical modelling

IMIS

Features of IMIS under development:

GIS-based and integrating biophysical factors related

to irrigation in a farm

provision of standard format for data capture,

storage & manipulation

enable unbiased decision-making in

irrigation

management.

The Soil Moisture Balance (SMB)

Input

Variation du stock d’eau du

sol

Ruissellement

Percolation

ETc Rainfall Irrigation

Run off

Soil moisture reserve

Drainage Capillary rise

Limit of root zone

Output

Modeling the systemModeling the system

The SMB model used

SMDt - SMDt-1 = ETct-1 - Eff Irrt-1 - Eff Raint-1

SMDt = Soil moisture deficit in rootzone at end of given period (mm)

SMDt-1 = Soil moisture deficit at beginning of period (mm)

Eff Irr = effective irrigation (mm)

Eff rain = effective rainfall (mm)

ETc = crop water requirement (mm)

ETc = Epan x pan factor x crop factor

Modeling the systemModeling the system

Effective Rainfall

0.9 x (Total Rainfall – 2) < SMDEff Rain =

Rainfall converted to Effective rainfall as follows:

SMD = Soil Moisture Deficit

Modeling the systemModeling the system

Crop water satisfaction (CWS)

ETa

ETcCWS =

Modeling the systemModeling the system

Water readily availableETa = ETc

Water consumed, soil dried up ETa < ETc

Actual evapotranspiration (ETa)

RAW

TAW

ETa

FC PWP

1.0

0.5

0.0

f

Soil moisture deficit – SMD (mm)

a

b

dxfETa . f = 1 - SMD - RAWTAW - RAW

1

0

SMD < RAW

RAW < SMD < TAW

SMD > TAW

Modeling the systemModeling the system

12:

Crop

Growth stages

Planting &

Harvest dates

Irrigation DevicesC. PivotsDrip

Dragline

Weather

Rainfall

Evaporation

Flow rate supplyConstraints

Water sources

Soil

WaterHolding capacity

Complexities associated with irrigation planning taken on boardComplexities associated with irrigation planning taken on board

Decision making for optimized irrigationDecision making for optimized irrigation

Irrigationapplied

Management

The Entity Relationship

Diagram

The Entity Relationship

Diagram

Prioritization of irrigation application at times of water scarcity based on crop susceptibility to water stress developed.

1st layer of priorityGermination / regrowth

Elongation stage

Tillering stage

Maturity & drying off

Very old ratoons (>7th)

Priority 1 2 3 4 5 2nd layer of priority PC YR OR PC YR OR PC YR OR PC YR OR R E T M

Priority 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Note: Within each of the above 16 orders of priority, always choose the irrigation system with the highest efficiency.

PC = Plant cane R = Regrowth

YR = Young Ratoons (1st R to 3rd R) E = Elongation

OR = Old Ratoons (4th R to 7th R) T = Tillering M = Maturity & drying off

15

TIME TABLE OF ACTIVITIESTIME TABLE OF ACTIVITIESProject duration: 4 yearsProject duration: 4 years

*: weight of activity in terms of man month per quarter*: weight of activity in terms of man month per quarter

Activities

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

Collection of data * * ** * * ** * **

Development of models ** ** ** * * * * *

Development of IMIS ** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ** ** * * * *

Evaluation of IMIS * * * * * * * *

Updating of IMIS * * * *** ** ** * ** **

Creation of users' guide * * * *

Promotion campaign * * *

Training of IMIS users ***

Project management & reporting * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

16

TIME TABLE OF ACTIVITIESTIME TABLE OF ACTIVITIESProject duration: 4 yearsProject duration: 4 years

*: weight of activity in terms of man month per quarter*: weight of activity in terms of man month per quarter

Activities

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

Collection of data * * ** * * ** * **

Development of models ** ** ** * * * * *

Development of IMIS ** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ** ** * * * *

Evaluation of IMIS * * * * * * * *

Updating of IMIS * * * *** ** ** * ** **

Creation of users' guide * * * *

Promotion campaign * * *

Training of IMIS users ***

Project management & reporting * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

17

PROJECT STATUSPROJECT STATUS

Still work in progressStill work in progress

A first working prototype will soon be completed A first working prototype will soon be completed

Continuous testing & interaction with IT specialistsContinuous testing & interaction with IT specialists

Aim to maximize user-friendlinessAim to maximize user-friendliness

Data collection & development of models completedData collection & development of models completed

Software initialization: Administrator

Software initialization: loading the shape file

Initial data input: detailed soil information

Initial data input: water sources

Initial data input: irrigation devices

Initial data input: raingauges and evaporation pans

Initial data input: detailed field data

Initial data input: Irrigation Management Units

Daily data input by user: rainfall, Epan & irrigation

9

0

20

0

0

Output: GIS display of Irrigation Management UnitsOutput: GIS display of Irrigation Management Units

- GIS based

- Standardized irrigation datasets

- Display degree of SMD

Comfort zone

Stress zone

Output: Graphical report on rainfall, irrigation & SMD data 0

7/0

4

07

/04

08

/04

08

/04

09

/04

09

/04

10

/04

10

/04

11

/04

11

/04

12

/04

12

/04

13

/04

13

/04

14

/04

14

/04

15

/04

15

/04

16

/04

16

/04

17

/04

17

/04

18

/04

18

/04

19

/04

19

/04

20

/04

20

/04

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Soil Moisture Content

Depl. RAW NRAW Irr Rain LS FC

Date

So

il m

ois

ture

co

nte

nt

(mm

)

- What to do after a rainfall event?

- Is rainfall enough to skip an irrigation?

- When to resume irrigation?

Must answer the following questions:

- Which system & which sequence to favour?

Features currently under development

for irrigation management

Features currently under development

for irrigation management

Output: Software to provide guidelines

30

PROMOTION CAMPAIGN & TRAINING COMPONENTPROMOTION CAMPAIGN & TRAINING COMPONENTThe objectives, principles and status of the project have been presented at the 2012 ISSCT Agronomy/ Agricultural Engineering workshop in Australia

The objectives, principles and status of the project have been presented at the 2012 ISSCT Agronomy/ Agricultural Engineering workshop in Australia

31

PROMOTION CAMPAIGN & TRAINING COMPONENTPROMOTION CAMPAIGN & TRAINING COMPONENT

A training component for prospective IMIS users is also scheduled for final part of the projectA training component for prospective IMIS users is also scheduled for final part of the project

Aim to train 15 persons from at least 10 other ACP countriesAim to train 15 persons from at least 10 other ACP countries

Training to be carried out at MSIRITraining to be carried out at MSIRI

Ronald Ng Cheong

Mohan Teeluck

Maryse Chung

Daniel Ah Koon

Oveeyen Moonian & colleagues from UoM

David Tin from Opda Consulting

PROJECT STAFFPROJECT STAFF

33

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

Work in progress:

Prototype to be tested in 4 ACP countries prior to distribution.

Work in progress:

Prototype to be tested in 4 ACP countries prior to distribution.

- Flexible & user-friendly software for irrigation of whole farm

- Easy visualization of SMD for different IMUs

- Flexible & user-friendly software for irrigation of whole farm

- Easy visualization of SMD for different IMUs

- Functional linkage among ACP institutions- Functional linkage among ACP institutions

Benefits to ACP member countries:Benefits to ACP member countries:

Thank you