Precision Irrigation By : Matthew Gassen BAE 4213

Irrigation in the US  55.3 million acres irrigated in 2002  Application rate has decreased  160 million acre-feet of water withdrawn

Sources of irrigation  Ground Water 41% withdrawals at 32 million acres 41% withdrawals at 32 million acres Increased from 37% in 1960 Increased from 37% in 1960  Surface Water 59% of withdrawals 59% of withdrawals Groundwater flow times usgs cir1139

Cost of Irrigation  Range from $7/acre in MD, $92/acre in AZ, $79/acre in CA, and $175/acre in HI  US average $40/acre  Total of $1.2 billion DLJ Multi-Jet Water Meter

Types of Irrigation  Flood (furrow) irrigation  Center Pivot Irrigation (CPI)  Linear-move (side roll, wheel line)irrigation (side roll, wheel line)irrigation  Drip microirrigation  Sprinkler and Gravity Jisl: dripperwithdrop UNL extension USDA natural resources conservation service

Constant before Variable  Constant water rate before variable  Raise efficiency of system Linear move covers 30% more of field than CPI Linear move covers 30% more of field than CPI Low Energy Precision Application (LEPA) Low Energy Precision Application (LEPA) 90% of water used by crop compared to 35%90% of water used by crop compared to 35% USDA natural resources conservation service

Scheduling  Checkbook method  Soil moisture  Input = output based on precipitation, and evaporation  Crop moisture requirements

Variable Rate Based on Temp  Sensors Infrared Thermo-Couples (IRT) Red Band Wave (RED) Near Infrared Band (NIR)  Remote: Satellites, and Aircraft  Real time: handheld or on system

Variable rate based on location  Soil type  Topography  Field shape  Mulitple crops  Irregularly shaped fields  All linked to GPS The groundwater foundation

Questions??