Application of Sensor-Based Precision Irrigation Methods for Improving Water Use Efficiency of Maize Crop

Abstract

Soil moisture sensors and hydraulic modeling play a vital role in managing surface irrigation systems. Crop water productivity can be improved by managing the inflow cut-off time and optimizing the other field scale measurements. As such, hydraulic modelling and field experiments were carried out at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad-Pakistan. The soil moisture sensor (SEN-13322) and the WinSRFR model were used for this purpose. In total, nineteen treatments including eighteen simulated treatments and one conventional treatment were designed at two levels of discharge (Q1:0.0025 and Q2:0.0035 m3s−1), at three sensor positions (S1:55%, S2:65%, and S3:75%) across the field length, as well as with three different border widths (B1:6.4m, B2:8.5m, and B3:10.7m) after successful sensor and model calibration during the two growing seasons of 2016–2017 and 2017–2018. The results revealed a significant difference between the means and the treatment T10 i.e., Q2S1B1 that were found to be highly efficient and uniform.

Keywords

• cut-off time
• WinSRFR model
• border width
• irrigation science
• crop production