Abstract

In the framework of a specific project supported by the EC-ERDF programme in theApulia Region (Italy), a local consortium of private ICT companies and Researchinstitutions is currently developing and testing a Decision Support System called'HydroTech' (HT-DSS), which aims to integrate the latest scientific knowledge on cropwater requirements and irrigation scheduling with the more advanced technologicalsolutions for the continuous sensor-based monitoring in the soil-plant-atmospheresystem, as well as the remote and automated control of irrigation supply networks. The'core' algorithm of Hydrotech-DSS is based on the well-established FAO-56methodology (Allen et al., 1998), further improved in order to allow the application ofdifferent models for ETo estimation, to apply the heat unit concept for the simulation ofcrop development, to customize irrigation strategies options according to a completeset of priorities (including deficit irrigation), and finally to allow the further improvementof the Kc curve according to crop/variety specific biometric and phenologicalmeasurements. An additional 'multi-plot/crop management module' has been createdfor the real-time simulation of the crop water balance, as well as to simulate a 3 to 7-days projected scenario using the high-resolution weather forecasting data, in order toforward a day-by-day irrigation planning. Then, a 'dynamic optimizer' supports theoptimal setting of the irrigation priorities at the farm scale by taking into account wateravailability at the source (e.g. well, reservoir), the level of water stress reached by eachcrop type and the economic parameters including the cost of applied managementpractices and expected market price. At plot scale, the continuous monitoring of soilwater status by capacitance soil water sensors enables the HT-DSS to further supportthe application of 'closed-loop' irrigation control strategies by setting irrigation timingand amount in order to reach a specific soil moisture content and/or to avoid/controlplant water stress. Finally, HT-DSS integrates a set of flexible solutions for partially orcompletely automated irrigation management, by means of real-time and remotemonitoring in the water supply network (volumes, discharges, pressures, etc.) andcontrol of actuators (at the level of pumping station, hydrants, electro-valves, etc.) tosupport farm operational management, as described in the companion paper (Riezzo etal.,2013; this issue).The preliminary results of the DSS implementation are presented inrelation to the on-going experimental and demonstration activities established indifferent local farms, and an example of application for a peach orchard is brieflyintroduced.

Autore Pugliese

• Cantore Vito

Tutti gli autori

• M. Todorovic; V. Cantore; E.E. Riezzo; M. Zippitelli;A. Gagliano;V. Buono

Titolo volume/Rivista

Non Disponibile

Anno di pubblicazione

2014

ISSN

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ISBN

2-85352-536-8

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

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Numero di citazioni Scopus

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Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

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