Evaluating irrigation applied and nitrogen leached using different smart irrigation technologies on bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum)

• Published in: Irrigation science Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 193 - 203
• Main Authors: Dobbs, Nicole A, Kati W. Migliaccio, Yuncong Li, Michael D. Dukes, Kelly T. Morgan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01-05-2014; Springer Berlin Heidelberg; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; ammonium nitrogen; Aquatic Pollution; Automation; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Climate Change; Controllers; drainage; Environment; Evapotranspiration; Fertilizer application; Grasses; Irrigation; irrigation rates; irrigation scheduling; Irrigation water; Leachates; Life Sciences; Moisture content; Monitoring systems; nitrate nitrogen; nitrogen; Original Paper; Paspalum notatum; plant available water; Rain; Sensors; Soil (material); Soil water; soil water content; Soils; Sustainable Development; Timing devices; Waste Water Technology; Water content; water holding capacity; Water Industry/Water Technologies; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Irrigation Treatment; Soil Water Balance; Rainfall Threshold; Soil Water Content; Irrigation Event
• ISSN: 0342-7188; 1432-1319
• DOI: 10.1007/s00271-013-0421-1

Irrigation technologies [i.e., automatic timer, automatic timer with rain sensor, automatic timer with soil water sensor (SWS), and evapotranspiration (ET) controller] were compared in a bahiagrass plot study by measuring irrigation applied, water volumes drained, and NO₃–N and NH₄–N leached. All irrigation technologies were scheduled to irrigate on Sunday and Thursday. Three different irrigation depths were evaluated with the automatic timer: 15, 19, and 32 mm. SWS treatment allowed scheduled irrigation if soil water content was estimated to be below 70 % of water holding capacity, while the ET treatment allowed scheduled irrigation if soil water content was estimated to be below 50 % of plant available water. The rain sensor, SWS, and ET controller treatments applied significantly less water (p