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Assessing the precision irrigation potential for increasing crop yield and water savings through simulation

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Abstract

In regions such as the Brazilian Cerrado where water availability is low and disputes for water resources are increasing, it is important to evaluate technologies that can increase the efficiency of irrigation. In this scenario, precision irrigation has great potential. However, studies that evaluate the real benefits of precision irrigation are necessary. The present work aimed to assess the precision irrigation potential for increasing crop yield and water savings. To evaluate the possible precision irrigation benefits, two center pivots, acting over soils that had different hydro-physical characteristics, were studied. The available water in the soil (AWC) was used as a reference for irrigation management in two conditions, one considering and one disregarding soil spatial variability. In the management under homogeneous soil conditions, the lowest, the average and the highest AWC values were considered. Management under variable conditions was carried out individually for each pixel with a dimension of 25 m2 (5 × 5 m), considering its real AWC value. Also, four soybean crop sowing dates were considered in a rainy and a dry year. A specific precision irrigation module was developed in Python language to carry out the simulations. The results obtained indicated an average water savings potential of 4.5% in a rainy year and 4.3% in a dry year. The average increased yield potential was 6.4% in the rainy year and 4.0% in the dry year.

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Abbreviations

BHBV:

Buriti Vermelho river basin

BHALPA:

Alto Paranapanema river basin

(es–ea):

Vapor saturation deficit, kPa

AWC:

Soil available water capacity, mm cm−1

BD:

Bulk density, g cm−3

CM:

Conventional management

CM1:

Conventional management using as a reference the lowest soil available water capacity value found in the irrigated area

CM2:

Conventional management using as a reference the average soil available water capacity value found in the irrigated area

CM3:

Conventional management using as a reference the highest soil available water capacity value found in the irrigated area

DAS:

Days after sowing

DEM:

Digital elevation model, m

DP:

Total deep percolation, mm

DPRP:

Deep percolation reduction potential

DY:

Dry year

ea:

Partial vapor pressure, kPa

ECa:

Soil apparent electrical conductivity, mS m−1

es:

Vapor saturation pressure, kPa

ETai:

Current daily crop evapotranspiration, mm day−1

ETm:

Maximum total evapotranspiration, mm

ETo:

Reference evapotranspiration, mm day−1

FC:

Field capacity, %

G:

Soil heat flux, MJ m−2 d−1

IAI:

Current irrigation adequacy index

Ieq:

Pixels that received equal irrigation depths than the management deficit, %

Igr:

Pixels that received greater irrigation depths than the management deficit, %

Iri :

Applied irrigation depth, mm

Ism:

Pixels that received smaller irrigation depths than the management deficit, %

ISSM:

Irrigation strategy simulation model

IWPP:

Increased water productivity potential from irrigation, kg m−3

IYP:

Increased yield potential

JD:

Julian days

Kc:

Average crop coefficient

Ke:

Crop evapotranspiration correction coefficient

Ks:

Soil evaporation reduction coefficient

Ky:

Crop response factor to water stress

PI:

Precision irrigation

PivoBHALPA:

Pivot located in the Alto Paranapanema river basin

PivoBHBV:

Pivot located in the Buriti Vermelho River Basin

PWP:

Permanent wilting point, %

Ri :

Effective rainfall, mm

Rn:

Surface radiation balance, MJ m−2 d−1

RY:

Rainy year

SD:

Sowing dates

SD1:

Sowing on September 10th

SD2:

Sowing on October 10th

SD3:

Sowing on November 10th

SD4:

Sowing on December 10th

SDI:

Spatial dependence index

SWDi :

Soil moisture deficit on day i, mm

SWDi-1 :

Soil moisture deficit on day i−1, mm

T:

Average air temperature, °C

Tmax:

Average maximum temperature, °C

Tmin:

Average minimum temperature, °C

U2 :

Wind speed measured at a height of 2 m, m s−1

WP:

Water productivity, kg m−3

WSP:

Water savings potential

Ya :

Current crop yield, kg ha−1

Ym :

Maximum crop yield, kg ha−1

γ*:

Psychrometric constant = 0.063 kPa °C−1

Δ:

Slope of the saturation vapor pressure curve, kPa °C−1

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the data providers: the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA Cerrados) for the soil data collected in the Buriti Vermelho River Watershed and fundamental information for conducting the research; the company Green Resultados em Gestão LTDA for apparent electrical conductivity data; and the owners of Fazenda Pinhalzinho for allowing part of the research to be carried out on the property.

Funding

This study was funded in part by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA Cerrados), the Southwest São Paulo Association of Irrigation and Planting in Straw (ASPIPP), the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq—Case number 132397/2019-6), and by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel—Brazil (CAPES—Financing Code 001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Engineering (DEA), Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Peter Henry Rolfs Avenue, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, MG, 36570-900, Brazil

    Silas Alves Souza, Lineu Neiva Rodrigues & Fernando França da Cunha

  2. Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) Cerrados, BR-020, Km 18, Planaltina, DF, 73310-970, Brazil

    Lineu Neiva Rodrigues

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  1. Silas Alves Souza
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  2. Lineu Neiva Rodrigues
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  3. Fernando França da Cunha
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Contributions

Study design: SAS and LNR. Material preparation, data collection and analysis: SAS and LNR. Writing and elaboration of the original project: SAS and LNR. Review and editing: SAS, LNR, and FFdaC.

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Correspondence to Silas Alves Souza.

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Souza, S.A., Rodrigues, L.N. & da Cunha, F.F. Assessing the precision irrigation potential for increasing crop yield and water savings through simulation. Precision Agric 24, 533–559 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-022-09958-4

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