We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Assessing the financial and environmental impacts of precision irrigation in a humid climate.
- Authors
EL CHAMI, DANIEL; KNOX, JERRY W.; DACCACHE, ANDRÉ; WEATHERHEAD, EDWARD KEITH
- Abstract
Precision agriculture is increasingly used where in-field spatial variability exists; however, the benefits of its use in humid climates are less apparent. This paper reports on a cost-benefit assessment of precision irrigation with variable rate technique (VRI) versus conventional irrigation, both compared to rainfed production, using a travelling hose-reel irrigator fitted with a boom on onions in eastern England. Selected environmental outcomes including water savings and CO2e emissions are evaluated. The modelled precision irrigation system, which responds to soil variability, generates better environmental outcomes than the conventional system in terms of water savings and reduced CO2e emissions (22.6% and 23.0% lower, respectively). There is also an increase in the 'added value' of the irrigation water used (£3.02/m³ versus £2.36/m³). Although precision irrigation leads to significant financial benefits from water and energy savings, these alone do not justify the additional equipment investment costs. However, any changes in yield or quality benefits, equipment costs or greater soil variability than on this site would make investment in precision irrigation more viable.
- Subjects
ENGLAND; ONIONS; IRRIGATION; IRRIGATION water; PRECISION farming; WATER use
- Publication
Horticultural Science, 2019, Vol 46, Issue 1, p43
- ISSN
0862-867X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.17221/116/2017-HORTSCI