Kati Migliaccio, PhD PE Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Transcription

1 Kati Migliaccio, PhD PE Agricultural and Biological Engineering 1

2 Some claim that J. Lessler of Buffalo, New York was the first to be awarded the patent in 1891, while others that inventor J.H. Smith completed the first rotary lawn sprinkler in 1897 In 1932 California fruit farmer Orton Englehardt invented the first prototype of the impact sprinkler, that the sprinkler took off and became available to the general public Automated irrigation systems Rain sensors Soil water sensors and ET measurements Measurement and control using soil water and ET Wireless signaling and more! 2

3 Automation of residential irrigation increase water volumes applied due to the set and forget mentality that developed Miami-Dade County water restrictions: 2 day a week watering; no watering allowed between 10am and 4pm Credits: Michael Gutierrez 3

4 Use some type of soil water sensor or soil moisture sensor to allow or bypass irrigation events (measurement and control) The sensor acts as a switch Different types exists but generally use a sensor with TDT or TDR technology 4

5 Signal based Receive weather data from remote source on daily basis to update irrigation schedule (measurement and control) Annual fee for data, more accurate ET estimation On-site weather based or stand-alone Uses an on-site sensor to estimate ET and update irrigation schedule (measurement and control) No annual fee for data, less accurate ET estimation 5

6 Cardenas-Lailhacar et al Rain sensor resulted in 34% less water applied than that without the rain sensor Most soil water based irrigation systems recorded water savings ranging from 69 to 92% for three of four systems tested 6

7 McCready et al Reductions in irrigation applied were as follows: 7 30% for rain sensor based treatments, 0 74% for soil water-based treatments, and 25 62% for ET-based treatments Medium threshold setting (approximately field capacity) soil water based treatment resulted in good turf grass quality while reducing irrigation water use compared to set schedule by 11 53% 7

8 Cardenas-Lailhacar et al Tested different soil water sensor smart controllers and rainfall sensors 13-24% less water applied with rain sensors than without a rain sensor 16 to 83% water savings with smart controllers compared to no rain sensor depending on the time of year and controller 8

9 Wiring Check and double check with manufacturers' instructions Sensor placement Root zone of irrigated plant Not close to obstacles that could hinder reading Consider differences in the landscape want to make sure nothing goes dry Lightning Check after any storm breakers, reset buttons, and fried equipment 9

10 Longevity of the company and equipment Sensor performance has been tested by a reliable and impartial source Workable in the system Environmental characteristics Maintenance 10

11 Davis et al. 2009; Tested 3 different ET controllers. ET controllers averaged 43% savings compared to a set schedule treatment without a rain sensor and were twice as effective at reducing irrigation compared to a rain sensor Water conservation potential of controllers in landscapes will depend on irrigator habits and preferences; need real world evaluation 11

12 Davis and Dukes 2010 Two controller program settings impacted results: crop coefficients and soil type Incorporation of site specific rainfall measurements necessary (rain sensor) 12

13 Romero and Dukes 2009 Crop coefficients are dependent on ET equation used, location, and crop 13

14 Clay, sand, silt, loam 14

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16 The method used (or equation used) to estimate ET Crop coefficients Signal-based vs. on-site weather Site limitations Longevity of company and equipment Performance has been tested by a reliable source for your area consider ET equations used Maintenance 16

17 Currently have 15 soil water sensor and 2 ET smart controller research study sites installed through project funded by Miami- Dade County Water and Sewer Average savings are currently 34% for SWS and? for ET controller 17

18 Are smart technologies worth the time/effort/money? (handout) What have we learned that might be helpful to others? (handout) Resources Mary McCready and UCU Dr. Dukes web site and virtual field days

19 Miami-Dade County Extension Service Mary McCready Miami-Dade County Water & Sewer Michael Gutierrez, Nicole Dobbs Disclaimer: The equipment presented in this presentation are examples should not be viewed as recommendations by UF. Contact: Kati Migliaccio 19