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Achieve the Potential of Variable Rate Irrigation

Chad Godsey, PhD

Precision Ag Insight Webinar

March 9, 2016

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Webcast Format

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Minimized Controls

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Speakers

PresenterDr. Chad GodseyOwner, Godsey Precision Ag

HostBen GistBusiness Development Analyst, XS Inc

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Overview

VRI Systems and the basics

Case Study

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Registration Question

• Have you or your growers used variable rate irrigation or performed irrigation trials?

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Results –Used VRI?

47%

53%

Yes No

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VRI

• Effectively evaluating variable rate irrigation (VRI) is much more difficult to do when compared to variable rate seeding or fertilizer applications. The complexity comes from trying to include an adequate “check” or reference strip to be able to compare your variable rate irrigation treatments against.

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VRI Systems

• Sector based VRI - Sector VRI is accomplished by segmenting the pivot path into 2 or more pie-like slices. Each unique irrigation amount is usually accomplished by altering the pivot speed at each slice.

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VRI Systems

• Zone VRI - Zone VRI divides the pivot area into 2 or more zones (rings) around the pivot point. When combined with the segmenting sectors, an even higher level of precision is made possible with the use of several thousand individually managed zones.

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VRI Systems

• Nozzle by Nozzle VRI – This approach each nozzle is controlled individually, so irrigation amounts can be varied by nozzle.

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Delineating Zones

• Similar approaches to seeding of N zones

• EC

• EM

• Slope

• Soil Texture

• Multi-year Yield History

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Evaluating Sector based VRI

• To effectively evaluate VRI with sector based control it is best to alternate every 30 degrees. A minimum of 30 percent of the area should be flat-rated to serve as a check.

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Evaluating Zone or Nozzle by Nozzle

• Determine type of file format

• Some systems will accept a shapefile while others will only accept .xml file types.

• Maintain at least 20-30 percent of the area in the field as a check.

• This 20-30 percent should not be contiguous, instead it should be spread out throughout the field.

• Keep in mind that with VRI the application is not as precise as with fertilizer application equipment. The edges of the zones may receive overthrow from neighboring nozzles or runoff so check zones have to relatively large (>2 ac).

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Evaluating Zone or Nozzle by Nozzle

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Other data to collect

• Soil moisture data from as many zones as possible if soil moisture probes are being used to help schedule irrigation.

• Collect irrigation amounts and rainfall from rain gauges if possible.

• Any other observations that may have impacted yield.

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Registration Question

• What percentage of your growers are actively using soil moisture sensors?

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Results –Use soil moisture sensors?

16%

58%

16%

0% 10%

Do not use Less than 15% 15-50% 50-76% 76-100%

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Registration Question

• How do your growers use soil moisture data for management decisions?

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Results –Using soil moisture data

16%

42%

42%

Do not use Occasionally use it throughout the season Rely on it for weekly irrigation

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ExampleSoils Multi-year Yield

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Irrigation ZonesSoils Zones

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AgVeritas Results

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Spatial Effects Map

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Results – Yield by Soil Type

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Results – Yield by Mgt Zone

Mgt Zone Normal Slow

- - - - - - - - - - bu/ac - - - - - - - - - - -

Really Low 155.2 151.2

Low 172.6 167.9

Average 217.5 218.5

High 240.9 245.1

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Results – Profit Analysis

• Crop Price $3.75

• Required Return: 10%

• Irrigation Input

• Normal $1/ac

• Slow Rate $10/ac

• Everything else same as last year

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Results

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Summary

Understand the limitations of the system

Establish Check Strips

Initial Interpretation of Yield Data

Add check plot

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Thank You

Chad Godsey, PhD

Owner, Godsey Precision Ag

Phone: 970-630-7732

Email: chad.godsey@godseyag.com

Web: godseyag.com

Twitter: @godseyag

Post event survey: Your feedback is greatly appreciated!