Presentation on simple tools that make irrigation scheduling easier.

1. Using Technology to
Make Irrigation
Scheduling Easier
Aaron Nygren and Laura Dotterer
UNL - Extension

2. ET Calculations
• ET Gage Change _______ in inches
• Multiplied by crop coefficient from
chart ______
• = ______ inches of crop water use in last
week

4. Watermark Calculations
• Soil texture of plot__________________
• Average of sensor readings down to 3 feet
_______
• Trigger point for soil type _________
• Should we be irrigating?

6. Easier Ways to Do Calculations

7. Soywater.unl.edu

8. Readily available soil water left at
50% of the field capacity
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
East 100 % plot
1 foot = ________ inches
2 foot = ________ inches
3 foot = ________ inches
Total Water depleted = ________ inches
Percent depleted down to 3 feet =
________ percent of field capacity

9. CropWater
app: Still
under
development,
but should be
release this
year

10. Predicting the Last Irrigation of the
Season
• If the plot was at R5, ½ milk line – Full dent,
would we have enough water to finish the
crop?

12. • Water use to
maturity from
R5, ½ milk line =
________
inches

13. • Percent remaining available water when
drying soil down to 60 percent of field
capacity = 60 percent minus ________
percent depleted down to 3 feet (from
above) = ________ percent remaining

14. • Then multiply percent remaining times
________ inches of water available at field
capacity per foot = ________ inches
remaining
• Then subtract water use to maturity from
inches remaining = ________ inches needed
to finish crop

15. Worksheet
in Nebguide

16. Remote Access Options

20. The Profiler
• Cost: $1995 to purchase control box,
brackets, solar panel, and 3 sensors.
Additional sensor is available for $119.50
and the rain bucket can be added for
$149.50. After the first year there is an
annual modem/web fee of $250.
• Signal: Cellular
• Sensor: Uses Watermark soil water sensors
• Website: http://theprofileronline.com

23. AquaCheck
• Cost: Standard package with 40” probe, tipping
bucket rain gauge, install/extract is $4500 for 3
years, but local dealer pricing may vary. At the
end of 3 years, customer owns the hardware and
would pay a $495 modem/web fee plus local
dealer service cost for install/extract unless
customers do installation themselves, which
should be possible with proper training.
• Signal: Cellular or satellite for a higher fee
• Sensor: Standard probe has 6 capacitance sensors
and temperature sensor with depth to 40”.
• Websites: http://www.aquachecktech.com/

26. Aqua Spy
• Cost: Lease with no ownership, maintenance, or
other fees for 1 probe, 1 telemetry system with
installation, extraction, service, and agronomic
training is $2200 for first year, and $1700 for
second year. Discounts are available for early buy
and volume pricing, which brings the average
customer cost down to $1400 in the second year.
• Signal: Cellular
• Sensor: Standard probe is 40” deep with 10
capacitance sensors space every 4” apart. Also has
a temperature probe at 4” depth.
• Website: http://www.aquaspy.com/

29. Adcon
• Sensor: Capacitance sensor with one sensor
every 10 cm.
• Website: http://www.adcon.com/

32. Other Companies - Irrometer

33. John Deere Water System

34. Other Useful Websites

35. NeRain
• http://nerain.dnr.ne.gov
• Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and
Information Network with updated
daily rain gage rainfall amounts from
weather watchers

36. Spatial Rainfall Consulting
• http://www.spatialrainfallconsulting.com/
nexradrainbeta.html
• Nexrad radar precipitation maps showing
rainfall amounts for 2.5 by 2.5 mile grids
• http://www.spatialrainfallconsulting.com/n
exradrain.html
• Nexrad radar precipitation graph showing
rainfall amounts for 2.5 by 2.5 mile grids
over user defined time period

37. Water.unl.edu website