Irrinet Emilia Romagna – Online Decision Support on...

Irrinet Emilia Irrinet Emilia RomagnaRomagna –– Online Online Decision Support on Decision Support on Irrigation:Irrigation:an example of successful an example of successful dissemination of information dissemination of information in in agrometeorologyagrometeorology

CONSORZIO DI BONIFICA DI SECONDO GRADO PER IL CANALE EMILIANO ROMAGNOLO BOLOGNA

Federica Rossi Federica Rossi -- CNRCNR

Istituto di BiometeorologiaIstituto di Biometeorologia

1.3 M ha agricultural surface

2.2 M ha total estension

14% total national agriculturalproduction

110.000 farms

Promotion based on distinctive features in terms of excellence and healthiness, as well as respect for the environment.

"Traditional products" -consolidated over time- are promoted. In a wider sense, the regulations aim to enhance the agro-food system´s competitiveness, within an integrated plan for the valorization of the local heritage. Sustainable agricultural practices are strongly urged and promoted.An ethical use of water resources is a compelling need.

AMOUNT OF WATER USED INEMILIA ROMAGNA

2020 MILLIONSm3 water are

withdrawn

Civile 440

Industria 460

Agricola 1120

66 % irrigation 11 %

industry

23 % public-domestic

Withdrawal is 130 Mm3

higher than recharge, thus a progressive subsidence is induced

64%

46%

86%

15%

28% 30%

26% 5%

020406080

100120140160180

marzo

aprile

maggiogiu

gnoluglioago

stoset

tem.

ottobre

mm

/mes

e

ET0 rainfall

Annual rainfall 650 mm with a summer drought period. ET0 is higher than rainfall from May, with a maximum drought in July.

In July, average maximum temperature is higher than 30°C.

The peculiarities of soils and climate make irrigation useful but not essential for many crops

The water management must be more efficient than in arid areas, where water is a very limiting factor

The GAP code includes requirements for minimizing negative impacts of agriculture on the environment

Farmers have become much more concerned about sustainable management, but they must be ensured that yield is not affected from irrigation limitation

The transfer of the informationto farmers has been for long time a weakness, criticized for structural inadequacies. An enlarged utilization of the results from research is the best valorisation of the costs of the research itself.

The direct contact between final users (technicians-farmers) and researchers is still considered scarcely profitable, also considering the low ratio experts/farmers.

The complexity of the transfer of modelling applications, sometime complex and characterized by many interactions (water/plant/soil/atmosphere), is still high.

So far, the most reliable opportunity is a service able to calculate and transfer on line technical, personalized, indications.

When and how much to irrigate?

What is the proper irrigation system?

CER is a consortium distributing water and the most important idraulic infrastructure

•It is founded by the local Authoritiesand from the different regional reclamation consortiums

•Through a channel from Po river water is made available over a 3000 Km2

area and the water resources (68m3/s) allow to satisfy the irrigation needs.

•Water is furnished together with the information for its rational and sustainable utilization.

Water balance parameters

FALDA

PIOGGIA

IRRIGAZIONE

TRASPIRAZIONE

EVAPO RAZIONE

RUSCELLAMENTO

Iu = (E T - Pu + F)

During the last 20 years local research worked to identify the parameters for the calculation of water balance for each specific local environment and crop.

Such parameters are enclosed into a water balance model, computing all the inputs and outputs .

The water expenditure is calculated by evaporimetric data from Regional Meteo Service, corrected for Kc and modified according to local direct observations.

An estimation of the reduction of the water absorbance from the soil in relation to crop water stress is kept into account based on the soil relative humidity.

The water dynamic in the soil is described in three reservoirs : surface layer (soil-plant-atmosphere), rooted layer, deep layer.

IRRINET AS A SERVICE IN AGRICULTUREIRRINET AS A SERVICE IN AGRICULTURE

The service is active from 1985, and has allowed to the farmers using this facility to save an average 20 % water.

Telematic applications (videotel, internet) are offering very good results at farm and local level.

IRRINET

WATER

BALANCE

WATER BALANCE IRRINETWATER BALANCE IRRINET

www.www.consorziocerconsorziocer..itit

•input: data on crop type and irrigation plants, meteo data fromSMR and radar

•output: time and amount of irrigation, soilhumidity

The irrigation serviceThe irrigation service-- IRRINETIRRINET

Meteo data Soil data base

Crop parameters

CER

IRRINET – crop module

IRRINET – soil module

The storyThe first applications in 1984 through VideoTel:about 1000 farmers of Emilia Romagna joinedthe service.

Farmers communicated phenological phases, depth of the water table and rains (pluviometers had been distributed to each farmer) and had as a feedback the personalized advice (x cv. , rootstock)18/7/1985: a traffic of 12.000 informations was registered

……in the list of the visited sites, the Videotel service for advices in irrigation rated the second position …

irrigation

The evolution of the service

Registered Registered usersusers: farm, soil, : farm, soil, crop data are crop data are kept in memory kept in memory and used from and used from the programthe program..

Unregistered Unregistered usersusers: users can : users can interrogate by interrogate by selecting crop selecting crop and finding the and finding the farm locationfarm location

Output page (after the interrogation)

• Effective evapotranspiration expected

• Cumulated water deficit

• Date of the next irrigation

• Volume of water to distribute

Message from CER: your PEACH orchard must be irrigated today for 3 h 20 minutes

IrrinetIrrinet--smssms

The sms service uses IRRINET data to send personalized messages. This opportunity allowed to greatly increase the number of users

IRRISMS service:IRRISMS service:

Up to now, 116 farmers in Emilia Romagnahave joined the IRRISMS service, receiving a total of 2431Sms

your PEACH orchard must be irrigated today for 3 h 20 minutes, MAIZE on May 5th with 25 mm

Data file Data file

RequestRequests.m.s.s.m.s.

An example: Coprob – an association of sugar beet producers. 200 users

Consorzio di Bonifica Parmigiana Moglia

The feed rationing of dairy cows is based on the use of local forage (at least 50% of forage dry matter must be provided by hay).

At least 35% of dry matter must be supplied by forage produced on the farm and at least 75% by forage coming from the region of origin.

This consortium through a Call Center operates to book and to distribute water (also directly opening the bulkheads of channels) , indicating to each farm how much water isneeded. The service is consulted 5000 times a year

Tradition-high value → optimal irrigation strategies

•Aziende registrate n.4•bilanci anonimi n. 1500•pagine tecnirriconsultate 170

•Aziende registrate n3•bilanci anonimi n. 1770• pagine tecnirri consultate 300

•Aziende registrate n.8•bilanci anonimi n. 2000•pagine tecnirriconsultate 350

•Aziende registrate n.60•bilanci anonimi n. 400•pagine tecnirriconsultate 1000•SMS inviati 1500

•Aziende registrate n.5•bilanci anonimi n. 343•pagine tecnirriconsultate 70

•Aziende registrate n.22•bilanci anonimi n. 390•pagine tecnirriconsultate 490

•Aziende registrate n.12•bilanci anonimi n. 100•pagine tecnirriconsultate 600•utenti chiamata esterna n.4500

•Aziende registrate n.26•bilanci anonimi n. 500•pagine tecnirriconsultate 510• utenti chiamata esterna n.100

•Aziende registrate n.6•bilanci anonimi n.300•pagine tecnirriconsultate 410

•Aziende registrate n.10•bilanci anonimi n. 600•pagine tecnirriconsultate 750

•Aziende registrate n.10•bilanci anonimi n. 500•pagine tecnirriconsultate 550•utenti chiamata esterna n.100

•Aziende registrate n.17•bilanci anonimi n. 770•pagine tecnirriconsultate 630

•Aziende registrate n.26•bilanci anonimi n. 1350•pagine tecnirriconsultate 1140• SMS inviati 930

•Aziende registrate n.15•bilanci anonimi n. 640•pagine tecnirriconsultate 1000

•bilanci anonimi n.515•pagine tecnirriconsultate 900

districts

To support environmental sustainable production,Emilia Romagna, as other Italian regions, has developed the rules for Integrated Production in accordance to Reg. CE 1257/99 (period 2000-2006).

Farmers meeting such rules , water saving included, are supported with granted direct aids.

Irrinet is also an important tool to comply with the DISCIPLINARI di PRODUZIONE INTEGRATA (DPI)

What the farmers must do to follow a correct water scheduling

•Each farmer must know date and amount of the rainy water in his own farm.•Each farm must irrigate at defined times in relation tothe type of crop and to its specific needs. •The water volumes, per each irrigation, must not behigher than those indicated.•The observance of the rules above must be documented.•Two kind of indication can be obtained, according to the “technologic level of knowledge” of the farmer

Basic methodBasic method- Irrigation based on fixed schedule- communicated via fax-mail

For each crop a table of water expenditure

Not admitted-16.th leafAdmitted 4,112.th leafAdmitted2,48.th leaf Not admitted1,26.th leaf Not admitted0,6Sowing

Irrigation Expendituremm/day

Phenological phase

Basic methodBasic method- Irrigation based on fixed schedule (PREDIRRI)

For each crop a table of maximum water volume per each irrigation is indicated to keep into account the soil type

A R G I L L A % 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 0 42 42 42 42 41 41 40 40 40 39 39 S 5 41 41 41 41 40 40 40 39 39 38 38 A 10 40 40 40 40 39 39 39 39 38 37 37 B 15 39 39 39 38 38 38 38 38 37 37 37 B 20 38 38 37 37 37 37 37 37 36 36 36 I 25 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 35 35 35 A 30 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 34 34 34 35 33 33 33 34 34 34 33 33 33 33 33 % 40 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 45 30 30 34 31 31 31 31 31 31 - -

36

In this example: 25% - 35%, the volume is 36 mm or 360 m3/ha.

The volume is obtained by interpolating the % values of sand and clay

The suggestion is given on the basis of water balance based on the average climatic data of the area, on crop characteristics and on the irrigation system adopted

and a personalizedsuggestion for each orchard is offered fordifferent irrigation systems

drip

sprinkler

Advanced method: Advanced method: on line support

To the farms is required :

• To schedule the irrigation according to the dates indicated fromIRIINET

• To apply water amounts applied not exceeding those indicated by the service.

• Each farm must keep evidence by saving the irrigation records, that in case of SMS service, are automatically compiled by the service.

• The farmer has not to provide rain data (service based on pluviometry monitored by the Meteorological Service).

IRRINET

Other on-line services

F er t ir r iger e V1.14

A. Bat t ilaniP. BussieresY. D umas

FINEFINE

M ETEO

INPUT

IRRIGERE

FERTIL

Advices for fertirrigation to substitutethe static schemes of somministration

Advices for fertirrigation given to Advices for fertirrigation given to substitutesubstitute the the static scheme static scheme of of somministrationsomministration

•• Rossi Giovanni - anno 2000

Data Num. Num. N P2O5 K2OSettimana Settimana Kg ha Kg ha Kg haTrap-emerg Fertirrigazione

20-apr 127-apr 24-mag 3 1 5 0 9

11-mag 4 2 7 0 918-mag 5 3 9 0 13.425-mag 6 4 13.5 0 17.9

1-giu 7 5 13.5 0 17.98-giu 8 6 13.5 0 26.9

15-giu 9 7 13.5 0 33.622-giu 10 8 8.5 0 33.629-giu 11 9 8.5 0 33.66-lug 12 10 8 0 17.9

13-lug 13 11 11.220-lug 14 1227-lug 15 13

1 settimanaNitrato di potassio kg ha 19.6Nitrato ammonico kg ha 7.2Solfato di potassio kg ha 0.02 settimanaNitrato di potassio kg ha 19.6Nitrato ammonico kg ha 13.1Solfato di potassio kg ha 0.03 settimanaNitrato di potassio kg ha 29.1Nitrato ammonico kg ha 15.3Solfato di potassio kg ha 0.04 settimanaNitrato di potassio kg ha 38.9Nitrato ammonico kg ha 24.8Solfato di potassio kg ha 0.0

Date Virr Stress Stop Irr IRR Pluie Etr VOL IRR RZ AWcc Slimite AW Ajust. Ajust. Rain RZ Aw

Ajustementsdate Virr Stress Stop Irr IRR PluieRain Etr VOL IRR RZ AWcc Slimite AW RZ AW

d values at the d day beginning decided values during the day d values at the d day end at the d-1 day endmm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm H2O%

RIEMPIRE SOLO LE CASELLE BLU o GIALLE

VOLUME IRRIGUO ESPRESSO IN ORE E MINUTI

Home

30-lug 0,00 0,0 5,45 0,0 750 92,8 46,4 41,631-lug 4,76 4,8 2,0 3,60 4,8 750 92,8 46,4 44,801-ago 0,00 0,0 4,55 0,0 750 92,8 46,4 40,302-ago 6,15 6,2 0,0 5,25 6,2 750 92,8 46,4 41,203-ago 5,25 Leggero stress 0,0 4,08 0,0 750 92,8 46,4 37,104-ago 9,32 Leggero stress 0,0 3,93 0,0 750 92,9 46,4 33,205-ago 13,25 Stress 13,3 0,0 5,56 13,3 750 92,9 46,4 40,906-ago 5,55 8,1 2,63 0,0 750 92,9 46,4 46,307-ago 0,00 0,0 7,63 0,0 750 92,9 46,4 38,708-ago 7,71 Stress 0,0 3,88 0,0 750 92,9 46,4 34,809-ago 11,59 Leggero stress 0,0 2,78 0,0 750 92,9 46,4 32,110-ago 14,37 Leggero stress 0,0 1,31 0,0 750 92,9 46,4 30,811-ago 15,68 25,4 2,30 0,0 750 92,9 46,4 53,912-ago 0,00 STOP 0,0 0,00 0,0 750 92,9 #DIV/0!

Help on line forconversion factors

or to define the parameters

Virr as a function of crop characteristic

Two stress levelsas a warning signal Optimal data to stop

the irrigation

The irrigation volume is indicated daily

Start 20-apr Tbase= 12.8 TGmax = 26.7 Superficie mq = 10000 GDDcum 850

KNfert 0.9 KPfert 0.4464 KKfert 0.8056 KCafert 0.4104 KMgfert 0.5833

DATA Tmax Tmin Tmed GDD gddcum QN Distrib Da Dare QP2O5 Distrib Da Dare QK2O Distrib Da Dare20-apr 31.9 15.2 23.535 10.735 10.735 0.90 0.902 0.92 0.922 2.06 2.05921-apr 34.5 22.6 28.545 13.9 24.635 1.17 2.069 1.19 2.116 2.67 4.72522-apr 31.0 19.2 25.115 12.315 36.95 1.03 3.104 1.06 3.173 2.36 7.08723-apr 32.1 16.9 24.49 11.69 48.64 0.98 4.086 1.00 4.177 2.24 9.33024-apr 34.2 17.1 25.61 12.81 61.45 1.08 5.162 1.10 5.277 2.46 11.78725-apr 36.7 17.9 27.295 13.9 75.35 1.17 6.329 1.19 6.471 2.67 14.45326-apr 33.3 18.7 25.985 13.185 88.535 1.11 7.437 1.13 7.603 2.53 16.98227-apr 32.6 18.9 25.785 12.985 101.52 1.09 8.528 1.12 8.718 2.49 19.47328-apr 32.7 15.2 23.915 11.115 112.64 0.93 9.461 0.95 9.673 2.13 21.60529-apr 34.5 23.2 28.89 13.9 126.54 1.17 10.629 1.19 10.866 2.67 24.271

AZOTO FOSFORO POTASSIO

N to be distributed

P to be distributed K to be

distributed

Growing degree days

FERTIRRIGERE is still experimentalnot on-line but downloadable from URL

www.consorziocer.it/servizi.html

A web-service of technical assistance in selecting irrigationsystems

It helps to choose on line the type, the size of irrigation devices to optimize the application efficiencies and the uniformity of water distribution.

http://www.consorziocer.it/Tecnirri/Home.asp

Type of irrigator- indicating the quality of each commercially available type

Number and spatial disposition of the irrigators based on the orchard and soil

Filters

Dimensions of pipes

Converter of units of t

Pluviometry

TECNIRRI: the choice of a efficient device may allow to optimise the homogeneity of

water distribution and to save water

TECNIRRI: the choice of appropriate tube diameters may allow an uniform pressure

through the entire irrigation line

TECNIRRI: the number and the position of sprinklers or drips is suggested according to the

soil-orchard characteristics

From February to October (8 months) the total requests to the service were 9380, i.e. 37 interrogations / day.

General consideration on the basis of the local experience:

-information transferred must be simple and immediately understandable

-complex models are difficult to be transferred, it is better to loose a bit in accuracy and offer a service that is perceived as “a real benefit” (custom- tailored information)

-the farmer must be “fascinated” and kept faithful. His involvement is fundamental, he must feel important and participator.

The messages must be personalized

Thank you