Advanced Technologies for Irrigated Cropping Systems

Available supplies of water for irrigation and other uses are becoming more limited around the world, and this trend is accelerating. Emerging computerized precision irrigation technologies will enable growers to apply water and agrochemicals more precisely and site-specifically to match the status and needs of soil and plants as determined by the analysis of data from a variety of sensor networks, wireless communications systems and decision support systems. Speed control and zone control options for site-specific variable rate irritation (SS-VRI) system are currently available, with speed control the most common. Site-specific variable rate sprinkler irrigation systems are wonderful research tools that can provide maximum amounts of information from relatively small areas. A self-propelled SS-VRI sprinkler system has been developed for agricultural research applications and 5 of these systems are now in use. This fully functional research machine has been used from 2005 to 2012 and has been very reliable. These SS-VRI systems offer many benefits for research and they have tremendous potential for a greater use in sprinkler irrigation systems worldwide for both in research and general practice to conserve water, fertilizer and energy.