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AN IRRIGATION SCHEDULING MODEL WHICH INCORPORATES RAINFALL PREDICTIONS 1
Author(s) -
Rochester Eugene W.,
Busch Charles D.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1972.tb05183.x
Subject(s) - irrigation scheduling , environmental science , irrigation , hydrology (agriculture) , dns root zone , pan evaporation , soil water , water resource management , soil science , agronomy , geology , geotechnical engineering , biology
In humid areas appreciable amounts of rainfall complicate irrigation scheduling. This rainfall tends to give supplemental water application a low priority. As a result irrigation may be delayed until there is not enough time to cover the crop area before some drought damage occurs. To improve the management of irrigation systems, a scheduling model has been developed. The model's water application decisions incorporate climatological records, soil‐plant data, current pan evaporation and rainfall, the number of fields to be irrigated, and 5‐day weather forecasts. The model updates the soil moisture conditions, predicts impending water depletion, and if supplemental water is needed both the field priority and amount to be applied is indicated for each of the next 5 days. Errors introduced through the use of forecasts and long‐term pan evaporation records have been slight because of the tri‐weekly updating. Also natural rains which restore the root zone to maximum water holding capacity prevent long‐term bias.