ISHS Acta Horticulturae 278: Symposium on Scheduling of Irrigation for Vegetable Crops under Field Condition
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES OF OPERATING A FARM IRRIGATION SCHEDULING SERVICE IN ENGLAND |
| Author: | T.M. Hess |
| Abstract:
Irrigation Management Services provides a weekly irrigation scheduling advisory service to farmers in Eastern England using a combination of computer water balance modelling and in-field monitoring with a neutron probe. Forecast advice is given once a week as to when and how much irrigation will be required in the forthcoming ten days. The experience of the last five years has shown the limitations of computer models when used with real farm data. In particular the models are sensitive to errors in the rainfall and irrigation applications recorded by the farmer. The neutron probe is therefore used to check and correct the model during the season. The successful operation of the service relies on efficient communication systems between farmers, advisors and meteorological stations. | |
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