Automation of a Center Pivot Using the Temperature-Time-Threshold Method of Irrigation Scheduling

Abstract

A center pivot was completely automated using the temperature-time-threshold method of irrigation scheduling. An array of infrared thermometers was mounted on the center pivot, and these were used to remotely determine the crop leaf temperature as an indicator of crop water stress. We describe methods used to automatically collect and analyze the canopy temperature data and control the moving irrigation system based on the data analysis. Automatic irrigation treatments were compared with manually scheduled irrigation treatments under the same center pivot during the growing seasons of 2004 and 2005. Manual irrigations were scheduled on a weekly basis using the neutron probe to determine the profile water content and the amount of water needed to replenish the profile to field capacity. In both years, there was no significant difference between manual and automatic treatments in soybean water use efficiency or irrigation water use efficiency. The automatic irrigation system has the potential to simplify management, while maintaining the yields of intensely managed irrigation.