Monitoring of Pivot Irrigation Systems

摘要

This work is based on the irrigation monitoring of two plots located in theUpper Guadiana (Ciudad Real, Spain). The plots were irrigated with center pivotsprinkler machines equipped with the latest sprinklers in the market, located at 1.0 y2.6 m above ground level. This sprinkler type is used to reduce the working pressure(70-200 kPa), maintaining a reasonable value of wetted width and looking for a largeproportion of medium-size drops. The aim of this study is to know the effect of type ofsprinkler and the height above ground level with regard to the water distribution andcrop responses. A monitoring of the irrigation management and soil moisture evolutionwas performed using Watermark sensors. The objective was to make its use clear,together with the recommendations of the Irrigation Advisory Service (SIAR) existing inCastilla-la Mancha region, for the planning of the irrigation scheduling used by thefarmer. The results show the utility of Watermark sensors as a good indicator of therelationship between the irrigation scheduling and the soil water availability. For thefour types of sprinklers and the two heights tested, no significant differences in cropyield were found.