Irrigation & Soil Moisture Monitoring of Forage

CropsRad Yager

Irrigation Permits

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

G.W. Burton, Tifton (Cutting #) Bermudagrass Yield #'s/ A

Dryland

Irrigated

1966

19671968

20-25General Observations

• 20-25% increase in LT yield• Increased fertilizer efficiency

• More consistent yield & quality• More forage crop options

Moisture SensorsCheckbook UGA Easy Pan

Irrigation Scheduling Methods

http://www.irrometer.com/sensors.html#wm

1st Watermark Sensors

Sensor Types

• Neutron • Capacitance (FDR)• TDR• Electrical Resistance

$$$

Sensor Arrangements

• Sensors, Data Logger & Communication Equipment

• Sensors & Data Logger• Sensors Manually Read

$$$

• Records • Training • Confidence • Better Yield/ Quality• Environmentally Sound

Why use Moisture Sensors

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Daily Water Use Detected by Sensors

Managed Irrigation Zone

http://www.caes.uga.edu/publications/

Publication # B974

2nd Checkbook Method

Soil Water Holding Capacity

http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm

PAW2.20”1.95”

PD

Evapotranspiration

http://www.griffin.uga.edu/aemn/*******

Google- Georgia automated weather

Pan Evaporation

2.0% 6.0% 1.5%

Reduction in yield potential per drought day

Soil Infiltration Rate

http://www.irrigation.org/

Irrigation Losses & Uniformity

http://www.caes.uga.edu/publications/

Publication # C965

Daily Crop Water Needs

http://www.caes.uga.edu/publications/

Publication # B1201

3rd UGA EASY Pan Method

Forage SDISwine WastewaterNorth Carolina2003-2005

Thank You! Questions?