Articles
Implementation and evaluation of a simplified irrigation model in soil-bound butterhead lettuce cultivation
Article number
1253_23
Pages
169 – 176
Language
English
Abstract
An adequate irrigation schedule is necessary to optimize water-use efficiency, prevent nutrient leaching and maintain optimal growing conditions in soil-bound lettuce production.
As Flemish growers base their strategy mainly on experience and basic soil sampling, the implementation of a decision support system (DSS) could improve their irrigation management.
We simplified an already adapted Penman-Monteith model for calculation of actual water demand of lettuce crops, by reducing the amount of essential input variables from five to three namely irradiation (Rs), ambient temperature (Ta) and relative humidity (RH). Data collection was facilitated using the climate computer or a custom developed sensor module.
To promote implementation in practice, a user-friendly web application was developed.
The irrigation management decision support tool (IMDST), referring to the combination of sensor module and web-application, was introduced in 12 Flemish greenhouses.
Four growers validated the tool in 16 plantings, comparing model irrigation (MI) with their personal irrigation (PI) strategy.
In half of them, no differences in irrigation amount nor crop yield were observed.
In four, heavier crops were obtained following MI and in two lighter crops.
In only one planting, MI yielded water savings of more than 10%, without adverse effects on yield.
In two other plantings, MI required at least 10% more water compared to PI, without providing any gain in yield or quality.
The remaining eight growers applied the tool as DSS in over 30 plantings divided over different seasons.
The use of the IMDST in those plantings revealed that for light soil textures, like sand, the model generally advised less water than growers normally would apply.
On loamy soils, growers rapidly gained confidence in the tool, as calculations closely resembled their own strategy.
By deploying the IMDST on professional horticultural production sites, growers acquired hands-on experience and learned how the tool contributes to a smarter, more sustainable, irrigation management.
Growers confirmed usefulness of the IMDST, providing that recommendations should be interpreted according to PI strategies.
As Flemish growers base their strategy mainly on experience and basic soil sampling, the implementation of a decision support system (DSS) could improve their irrigation management.
We simplified an already adapted Penman-Monteith model for calculation of actual water demand of lettuce crops, by reducing the amount of essential input variables from five to three namely irradiation (Rs), ambient temperature (Ta) and relative humidity (RH). Data collection was facilitated using the climate computer or a custom developed sensor module.
To promote implementation in practice, a user-friendly web application was developed.
The irrigation management decision support tool (IMDST), referring to the combination of sensor module and web-application, was introduced in 12 Flemish greenhouses.
Four growers validated the tool in 16 plantings, comparing model irrigation (MI) with their personal irrigation (PI) strategy.
In half of them, no differences in irrigation amount nor crop yield were observed.
In four, heavier crops were obtained following MI and in two lighter crops.
In only one planting, MI yielded water savings of more than 10%, without adverse effects on yield.
In two other plantings, MI required at least 10% more water compared to PI, without providing any gain in yield or quality.
The remaining eight growers applied the tool as DSS in over 30 plantings divided over different seasons.
The use of the IMDST in those plantings revealed that for light soil textures, like sand, the model generally advised less water than growers normally would apply.
On loamy soils, growers rapidly gained confidence in the tool, as calculations closely resembled their own strategy.
By deploying the IMDST on professional horticultural production sites, growers acquired hands-on experience and learned how the tool contributes to a smarter, more sustainable, irrigation management.
Growers confirmed usefulness of the IMDST, providing that recommendations should be interpreted according to PI strategies.
Authors
S. Craeye, S. Crappé, I. Vandevelde, S. Fabri, P. Bleyaert
Keywords
Lactuca sativa, DSS, irrigation management
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