Abstract

CASTRO POPOCA, Martiniano et al. Automated irrigation system in real-time with water balance, soil moisture measurement and lysimeter. Agric. Téc. Méx [online]. 2008, vol.34, n.4, pp.459-470. ISSN 0568-2517.

The aim of this research was to develop an automated irrigation system in real-time to determine the right moment and quantity of irrigation, monitored through information technologies (IT). The study was carried out at the Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Montecillo, from June 10 to September 11 of 2006. The system is composed of a microcomputer software and a control device (datalogger CR10X Campbell Scientific). The system considers three irrigation strategies which were tested. In the first irrigation strategy a weight lysimeter was utilized, in the second the volumetric soil water content was measured with a TRIME TDR sensor and for the third a climatic water balance method based on the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) (Penman-Monteith) was used. The general operation of the irrigation system was evaluated and monitored through internet and mobile devices through a central computer configured as server (Web and WAP). The yield of the test crop pumpkin zucchini grey (cucurbita spp.) was calculated, as well as water consumption of each irrigation strategy and water productivity. The results indicated that is possible to automatize and control the water application according to the irrigation strategies considering an irrigation program, a control unit and using information technologies.

Keywords : information technologies; irrigation automation; Penman-Monteith model; pumpkin.

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