Software for on-farm irrigation scheduling of stone fruit orchards under water limitations

This paper presents a real-time, on-farm irrigation scheduling software (RIDECO). The software was been designed for stone fruit orchards in the semiarid conditions of Spain. The characterization of stone fruit crop water requirements for the local conditions and under different irrigation strategie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Computers and electronics in agriculture 2012-10, Vol.88, p.52-62
Main Authors: Zapata, N, Chalgaf, I, Nerilli, E, Latorre, B, López, C, Martínez-Cob, A, Girona, J, Playán, E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural and forest climatology and meteorology. Irrigation. Drainage
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Biological and medical sciences
computer software
Crop stages
deficit irrigation
Fruit growth
Fruit trees
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General agronomy. Plant production
Growing degree-days
heat sums
irrigation scheduling
Irrigation scheduling software
irrigation water
Irrigation. Drainage
managers
meteorological data
orchards
planning
Regulated deficit irrigation
semiarid zones
water requirement
water resources
weather stations
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Summary:This paper presents a real-time, on-farm irrigation scheduling software (RIDECO). The software was been designed for stone fruit orchards in the semiarid conditions of Spain. The characterization of stone fruit crop water requirements for the local conditions and under different irrigation strategies is presented. Meteorological data in the study area is collected daily from the SIAR public network of weather stations in an automated fashion. Subsequently, values of cumulative degree-days are computed to identify the stages of fruit growth and crop development. The software allows performing weekly irrigation schedules under standard, regulated deficit irrigation and water restriction conditions. The irrigation scheduling software stands as a valuable tool for on-farm water resources allocation planning. It can be used to forecast the irrigation water required to meet seasonal meteorological, agronomical and managerial scenarios in stone fruit orchards. RIDECO can also be used to plan deficit irrigation strategies in cases of severe water restrictions. The software can be parameterized to adjust to specific varieties and local farming conditions. A variety of graphs assist irrigation managers in their decisions.
ISSN:0168-1699
1872-7107
DOI:10.1016/j.compag.2012.07.001