Irrigation Recording and Evaluation System (IRES)

Target users

IRES software is intended for use by growers on irrigated horticultural properties with pressurised irrigation systems. It has the potential to be a tool that supports initiatives and targets implemented by irrigation district or community based water management committees and agencies.

Description

IRES software is an Irrigation Recording and Evaluation System that allows irrigators to keep comprehensive irrigation records, analyse the records and evaluate water use efficiency down to the irrigation valve unit level. Records at the irrigation valve unit level can be compiled to produce comprehensive irrigation reports in table and graph formats, for specific crop types, varieties or rootstocks.

IRES enables irrigators to record irrigation management on an event basis, evaluate water use efficiency and review irrigation management with production indices. Detailed crop and irrigation system information is entered for each planting patch and irrigation valve unit. Irrigation dates, irrigation hours and valve units included in each irrigation shift are also entered. Water meter readings are desirable but are optional. The prototype software allows irrigators to track the distribution and volume of irrigation water applied across the property on an event and annual basis. IRES calculates irrigation depth (mm) and kilolitres applied for each irrigation valve unit, planting patch and crop type on an annual basis or for specified time periods. Irrigation volumes calculated from irrigation hours can be reconciled with water meter readings.

IRES allows users to calculate reference crop (ETo) and crop evapotranspiration (ETc) from daily weather data according to FAO 56. Crop evapotranspiration, rainfall and irrigation records are combined to simulate changes in daily soil water content within crop root zones for all irrigation valves and planting patches. Soil water monitoring data can be imported into IRES to validate simulated soil water traces and refine crop coefficients.  Ratios of irrigation depths applied relative to ETo can be generated for any irrigation valve and date range for easy comparison with standard crop coefficients.

Annual water budgets may be specified for each planting patch and irrigation applications progressively monitored against budgets throughout the season at a patch and property level.

Development
IRES development by the Irrigated Crop management Service (ICMS) of Rural Solutions SA is funded by Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA), under that River Murray Improvement Program. IRES development underpins a major component of the Land and Water Management Plan Case Study (LWMPCS) initiatives by the South Australian Murray Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board (SAMDB NRMB).

The prototype software is currently in trial as part of the Land and Water Management Plan Case Study (LWMPCS) projects in the Riverland of South Australia, Murray Mallee and Lower Murray. Technical support by the ICMS to assist on-farm adoption in priority LWMPCS has been funded by the SAMDB MRMB.

The LWMPCS project has enabled development using real property inputs and feedback from approximately 80 growers over the past few years.  IRES development is funded by Primary industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) to promote profitable irrigated agriculture production with efficient use of water resources.

IRES may potentially be an important tool for benchmarking and developing optimal irrigation volumes for specific crop production targets.

Benefits

IRES software enables irrigators to generate comprehensive irrigation reports to review irrigation management and production. Simulated daily water balances enable periods of excessive over watering or stress to be identified. Irrigation applications can be progressively compared with water budgets to comply with annual water allocation and accounting. IRES saves time in producing annual irrigating reports and water use efficiency indicators. It automates complex analysis on irrigation records to generate a range of water use efficiency indicators in a standard or consistent manner. This is essential in facilitating meaningful benchmarking and comparison with peers. Outputs from IRES will assist irrigators provide information required by processors, water management and government agencies.

Applications

• Comprehensive irrigation record analysis and reporting
• Planning irrigation hours and valve unit combinations for desired flow rates, shift areas, irrigation depths, volumes and litres per plant
• Monitoring patch water budgets
• Generating daily ETo and ETc from weather data
• Calculating rations of irrigation applied to ETo
• Comparing simulated daily changes in root zones soil water content with soil water monitoring data
• Developing property specific crop coefficients
• Simulated daily changes in rootzone soil water content
• Forecast crop water use and changes in rootzone soil water content
• Review history to identify periods of optimal or sub-optimal irrigation management 
• Generating annual irrigation reports
• Calculating a suite of water use efficiency indices

Access to IRES

IRES is available for use by irrigators with pressurised irrigation systems within priority Land and Water Management Plan Areas initiated by the South Australian Murray Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board with Lower Murray irrigators initiated by PIRSA. A centre pivot module will be developed during the next 12 months.

Computer Operating System

Windows 98SE or later. Internet access.

Contact

Tony Adams

Program Manager:Irrigated Crop Management Services (ICMS)

Rural Solutions SA,

PIRSA Loxton Centre

Box 411

Loxton  SA  5333

Phone: 08 8595 9142

Email: adams.tony@saugov.sa.gov.au
Website: www.ruralsolutions.sa.gov.au