Real-time, web-enabled adaptive control and monitoring of surface and overhead irrigation systems

The National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture (NCEA) is investigating the use and field implementation of real-time adaptive control of irrigation application and timing to improve irrigation management, particularly for surface irrigation systems, through projects funded by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation. These irrigation control systems spatially adapt irrigation application using: (i) in-field sensors for irrigation application, soil-water and/or crop response; (ii) automated computer processor to determine irrigation application using real-time sensor data; and (iii) infield actuators to automatically adjust irrigation. Three real-time, irrigation decision-making frameworks that are being developed and evaluated at the NCEA are 'SISCO', 'AutoFurrow' and 'VARIwise'. The NCEA has evaluated automated control strategies on bay irrigated dairy fields in Victoria, surface irrigated cotton farms in Dalby, Jondaryan and St George, and centre pivot irrigated cotton in Jondaryan.