Print
PDF
Item ID: 631
Scientific Irrigation Scheduling
Irrigation Scheduling: Scientific vs. Soil and Plant Observations
An irrigation approach that uses soil moisture measurements, real-time weather information, and evapotranspiration modeling to minimize water applications while ensuring adequate irrigation for optimum crop production.
Synopsis:
Scientific Irrigation Scheduling (SIS, also known as Irrigation Water Management) helps irrigators know when and how much to irrigate crops through use of weather and soil moisture data. The existing AgriMet network of automated satellite-based weather stations provides weather data useful for irrigators conducting crop evapotranspiration modeling, frost protection, fertilizer management, and pest management.
SIS benefits include water savings, an energy use reduction for irrigation pumping, reduced fertilizer requirements and leaching, and improvements in crop yield and quality. A 2003 study found SIS was practiced at 25% of the surveyed farms (BPA, 2010). Farms not using SIS accounted for only about 57% of the irrigated acreage, indicating that the smaller growers were not using SIS practices.
A Quantec study in 2005 monitored 19 farms in an SIS treatment group and a control group of 19 farms. They concluded that potential water savings of 10% to 12% are possible with SIS. The Regional Technical Forum approved the use of a data collection Standard Protocol (revised in 2015) and an SIS Calculator (approved in 2006) to convert water savings into electrical energy savings. A 2010 Navigant study identified growers representing about 250,000 acres using SIS as of 2009. The RTF SIS Calculator indicates an annual energy savings of about 199 kWh/acre (Navigant, 2013).
This is a technology that is cost-effective for the region even though it is not always cost effective for an end user without a utility incentive. BPA plans to reanalyze the SIS water reduction percentage in 2015. A research plan intends to enroll 285 random sample sites that are geographically dispersed and represent both low/medium and high water management irrigators. Water applied and water requirements will be determined for both the SIS practitioners and a control group (BPA, 2015).
Energy Savings: 17%
Energy Savings Rating: Not rated.
What's this?
Level | Status | Description |
1 | Concept not validated | Claims of energy savings may not be credible due to lack of documentation or validation by unbiased experts. |
2 | Concept validated: | An unbiased expert has validated efficiency concepts through technical review and calculations based on engineering principles. |
3 | Limited assessment | An unbiased expert has measured technology characteristics and factors of energy use through one or more tests in typical applications with a clear baseline. |
4 | Extensive assessment | Additional testing in relevant applications and environments has increased knowledge of performance across a broad range of products, applications, and system conditions. |
5 | Comprehensive analysis | Results of lab and field tests have been used to develop methods for reliable prediction of performance across the range of intended applications. |
6 | Approved measure | Protocols for technology application are established and approved. |