Development of a predictive irrigation scheduling framework
Adeyemi, O. (2019) Development of a predictive irrigation scheduling framework. Doctoral thesis, Harper Adams University.
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Abstract
Precision irrigation scheduling is critical forimproving irrigation efficiency. However, to realize a robust precision irrigation scheduling workflow, adaptive decision support systems need to be incorporated and enabled as part of the workflow. Furthermore, these adaptive systems should be developed to align with the three key requirements of precision irrigation; measurement, monitoring andmanagement. The overall hypothesis of this research project was that data-driven models which are capable of predicting crop water requirements and the plant response to water supply canaid precision irrigation scheduling. There were three specific objectives which were formulated with the key requirements of precision irrigation in mind.The first objective focusedon the need to ensure the availability of quality data from soil moisture sensors in ordertorealize robust irrigation scheduling decisions. The performance of three dielectric soil moisture sensors was evaluated under varying conditions of soil texture,bulk density, temperature andsalinity. Results indicated that calibration equations developed in the laboratory improved the accuracy of these sensors for all conditions. The second objective focused on the development of data-driven dynamic models to aid the precision irrigation management of greenhouse cultivated lettuce plants. Dynamic models were developed for the prediction of the baseline temperatures and transpiration dynamics. Results indicated that the crop water stress index (CWSI) computed using the predicted baseline temperatures was significantly correlated with the theoretical CWSI and successfully distinguished the water status of lettuce plants receiving fractional irrigation amounts. The information contained in the residuals calculated from the measured and model predicted transpiration was exploited as a means of inferring the plant water status. This method successfully identified plants experiencing a shortage ofwater supply, achieving a sensitivity similar to stomatal conductance measurements. The third objective focused on the development of dynamic neural network models for the prediction of the volumetric soil water content (VWC). The application of the models for predictive irrigation scheduling was also explored. The models successfully generated accurate one-day-ahead predictions of the VWC with minimal input data pre-processing. Using model-based simulations of the potato growing season, it was demonstrated that a water-savingranging between 20 –46% can be achieved when these models are used in a predictive irrigation scheduling system.In conclusion, the study demonstrated the applicability of adaptive data-driven dynamic models for irrigation monitoring and management. The proposed adaptive models can be combined to realize asynergistic sustainable precision irrigation system.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
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| Divisions: | Crop and Environment Sciences (to 31.07.20) |
| Depositing User: | Ms Kath Osborn |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Nov 2019 13:17 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Nov 2019 13:17 |
| URI: | https://hau.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/17470 |
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