Citrograph May-June 2010 - Citrus Research Board

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Eyes under the soil Carl T. Gwilliam Citrus growers know the importance of using irrigation water effectively and efficiently. But many growers are wondering how to make the most of every drop. Central Valley growers are finding soil moisture monitoring units just may be the answer. Irrigating tends to be a guessing game, but smart irrigation decisions come from knowing the status of your soil moisture at all times. Water and energy could be saved by knowing the exact amount of time it takes for water to reach the root zone. Water could be applied directly to the roots, and waste of our precious resource would be kept to a minimum. Soil moisture monitoring units are used for this purpose. They give you “eyes under the soil” allowing you to see the depth and amount of irrigation water in your soil. This knowledge can be used not only to improve irrigation efficiency, but also to prevent plant CropSense ® in the field. The system can be installed in all variety of plants – trees, vines, and row crops. stress and disease that comes from under- or over-watered roots. It also aids in fertilizer placement, by guiding growers in applying water run fertilizers directly into the root zone, reducing leaching and waste. Many of these systems use capacitance sensors at multiple depths (4”, 8”, 12”, 36”, 48” and 60”) to give a more accurate reading of your soil water content and location. One of the most time-tested soil moisture monitoring systems is John Deere Water’s CropSense ® . Growers like these units because they communicate via satellite, so all the data is automatically transmitted to a password protected website and never has to be downloaded from the field. Satellite transmission works everywhere with no problem areas within the continental U.S. The data is recorded 24-7, and is transmitted every two hours, to a userfriendly, web-based account where growers and irrigation managers can access real-time Line Graph—Shows water and water usage at all depths. Flat lines indicate no water is reaching 36”. Since roots activity level slows significantly at 20” (shown by the almost flat line) little to no water is needed at these levels and no water is being wasted. Stair stepping indicates roots taking up water. This graph shows roots pulling water at 4”, 8”, and 12”. Irrigation Started Irrigation Stopped 10 Citrograph May/June 2010
information anywhere internet service is available. All data is password protected, and access is controlled by the grower. Because CropSense ® is owned by John Deere Water, growers know that the best technology and support will be available to them for the long-term. The information transmitted by the CropSense ® unit is retained so that growers can compare year to year. This gives them a convenient place to record and analyze previous irrigation practices and water usage. With the current water situation in California, the Sum Graph—Shows average soil moisture at all depths. Flat line indicates water has reached saturation. Any additional water added is wasted. Irrigation Stopped. Approximately 3 hours of water was wasted. possibility of water usage reporting to the government may be just around the corner. The data from soil moisture monitoring units allow growers to show that not only are they using their water to maximum efficiency, but also provides a record of the exact amount of water applied through the season for optimum production. This information can be invaluable in justifying annual water needs. Installing soil moisture monitoring units is a simple process, and they are effective in all types of crops, soils and irrigation systems. With each unit they install, a CropSense ® agronomist works with the grower to learn how to navigate the website, read the soil moisture charts, and improve their irrigation efficiency. Ongoing assistance is always available, but many growers have found that the data is extremely easy to understand when compared to the data of other soil moisture monitoring systems. Growers are optimistic about soil moisture monitoring units being a solution to managing their limited water resources, and costly fertilizer inputs. For more information on these units and how they work, visit www. IrrigationMatters.com. CROPSENSE ® is a registered trademark of John Deere Water. l Irrigation Started—Soils have become dry and need to be refilled. Line Graph—Shows water and water usage at all depths. Carl Gwilliam is a certified agronomist and the proprietor of Tulare Ag Products, Irrigation Matters, and the other TAP family of oompanies. Stair stepping indicates water is being taken up by the roots at all depths, except the 36” level. Grower has achieved efficient irrigation, and no water is leaching past the root zone. Irrigation started; water reaching all depths except the 36”. May/June 2010 Citrograph 11
Page 1: Citrograph May/June 2010 Citrograph
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