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- Title
Evaluating irrigation applied and nitrogen leached using different smart irrigation technologies on bahiagrass ( Paspalum notatum).
- Authors
Dobbs, Nicole; Migliaccio, Kati; Li, Yuncong; Dukes, Michael; Morgan, Kelly
- Abstract
Irrigation technologies [i.e., automatic timer, automatic timer with rain sensor, automatic timer with soil water sensor (SWS), and evapotranspiration (ET) controller] were compared in a bahiagrass plot study by measuring irrigation applied, water volumes drained, and NO-N and NH-N leached. All irrigation technologies were scheduled to irrigate on Sunday and Thursday. Three different irrigation depths were evaluated with the automatic timer: 15, 19, and 32 mm. SWS treatment allowed scheduled irrigation if soil water content was estimated to be below 70 % of water holding capacity, while the ET treatment allowed scheduled irrigation if soil water content was estimated to be below 50 % of plant available water. The rain sensor, SWS, and ET controller treatments applied significantly less water ( p < 0.05) than the automatic timer treatment (which irrigates on specific days and times without regard to system conditions), reducing water by 17-49, 64-75, and 66-70 %, respectively. NO-N and NH-N were only significantly different after the second fertilizer application, which coincided with the 32 mm per event irrigation rate for the automatic timer treatment. Under these conditions, the automatic timer treatment had significantly greater NO-N and NH-N leachate than other treatments due to greater occurrence of soil water content exceeding water holding capacity, which resulted in drainage. Findings suggest that water can be saved using rain sensors, SWSs, or ET controllers and that leachate NO-N and NH-N can be reduced using rain sensors, SWSs, or ET controllers.
- Subjects
IRRIGATION; NITROGEN; BAHIA grass; POLLUTANTS; DETECTORS; AUTOMATIC timers; IRRIGATION water
- Publication
Irrigation Science, 2014, Vol 32, Issue 3, p193
- ISSN
0342-7188
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00271-013-0421-1