using technology to make irrigation scheduling easier
TRANSCRIPT
Using Technology to
Make Irrigation
Scheduling Easier
Aaron Nygren and Laura Dotterer UNL - Extension
ET Calculations
• ET Gage Change _______ in inches
• Multiplied by crop coefficient from
chart ______
• = ______ inches of crop water use in last week
Watermark Calculations
• Soil texture of plot__________________
• Average of sensor readings down to 3 feet _______
• Trigger point for soil type _________
• Should we be irrigating?
Easier Ways to Do Calculations
Readily available soil water left at 50% of the field capacity
• East 100 % plot
• 1 foot = ________ inches
• 2 foot = ________ inches
• 3 foot = ________ inches
• Total Water depleted = ________ inches
• Percent depleted down to 3 feet =
• ________ percent of field capacity
CropWater app: Still
under development, but should be release this
year
Predicting the Last Irrigation of the Season
• If the plot was at R5, ½ milk line – Full dent, would we have enough water to finish the crop?
• Water use to maturity from R5, ½ milk line = ________ inches
• Percent remaining available water when drying soil down to 60 percent of field capacity = 60 percent minus ________ percent depleted down to 3 feet (from above) = ________ percent remaining
• Then multiply percent remaining times ________ inches of water available at field capacity per foot = ________ inches remaining
• Then subtract water use to maturity from inches remaining = ________ inches needed to finish crop
Worksheet in Nebguide
Remote Access Options
The Profiler
• Cost: $1995 to purchase control box, brackets, solar panel, and 3 sensors. Additional sensor is available for $119.50 and the rain bucket can be added for $149.50. After the first year there is an annual modem/web fee of $250.
• Signal: Cellular
• Sensor: Uses Watermark soil water sensors
• Website: http://theprofileronline.com
AquaCheck • Cost: Standard package with 40” probe, tipping
bucket rain gauge, install/extract is $4500 for 3 years, but local dealer pricing may vary. At the end of 3 years, customer owns the hardware and would pay a $495 modem/web fee plus local dealer service cost for install/extract unless customers do installation themselves, which should be possible with proper training.
• Signal: Cellular or satellite for a higher fee
• Sensor: Standard probe has 6 capacitance sensors and temperature sensor with depth to 40”.
• Websites: http://www.aquachecktech.com/
Aqua Spy • Cost: Lease with no ownership, maintenance, or
other fees for 1 probe, 1 telemetry system with installation, extraction, service, and agronomic training is $2200 for first year, and $1700 for second year. Discounts are available for early buy and volume pricing, which brings the average customer cost down to $1400 in the second year.
• Signal: Cellular
• Sensor: Standard probe is 40” deep with 10 capacitance sensors space every 4” apart. Also has a temperature probe at 4” depth.
• Website: http://www.aquaspy.com/
Adcon
• Sensor: Capacitance sensor with one sensor every 10 cm.
• Website: http://www.adcon.com/
Other Companies - Irrometer
John Deere Water System
Other Useful Websites
NeRain • http://nerain.dnr.ne.gov
• Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network with updated daily rain gage rainfall amounts from weather watchers
Spatial Rainfall Consulting
• http://www.spatialrainfallconsulting.com/nexradrainbeta.html
• Nexrad radar precipitation maps showing rainfall amounts for 2.5 by 2.5 mile grids
• http://www.spatialrainfallconsulting.com/nexradrain.html
• Nexrad radar precipitation graph showing rainfall amounts for 2.5 by 2.5 mile grids over user defined time period
