Hortau’s Irrigation Management Technology
Background of Hortau’s Irrigation Management Technology
In order to increase the productivity of their crops, growers must rely on systems that enable them to better manage inputs and processes. Water, fertilizers and pesticides are important inputs in agricultural production. Among them, water is a crucial element that directly affects quality, quantity and production times.
Improved water management increases productivity in many ways:
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More plant growth in a shorter production period;
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Less use of fertilizers and pesticides;
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Less water loss due to soil leaching;
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Less risk of fungal diseases.
Optimal irrigation management begins with selecting the best irrigation time and duration to prevent the plants from suffering water stress. The soil or growth medium, which acts as a container to store water, is able to retain this water against the nature pull of gravity, a phenomenon generally called soil-moisture tension (which is itself a negative pressure). As the soil dries, the tension exerted by the soil increases, and the plant must make an additional effort to extract the water from the soil. When the pressure exerted by the soil exceeds the plant's maximum effort to extract the water, the plant stops growing and wilts. If this situation lasts, the plant dies.
The volume of water contained in the soil when a plant stops growing varies from one soil to another. Although the soil may contain a high volume of water, it may be unavailable to the plants. Measuring a plant’s ability to extract water from the soil (measuring soil tension) provides precise information about the plant’s water needs.
In irrigation management, it is important to know that soil tension measurement is much more accurate than any form of water content measurement, as the latter only determines the amount of water in the soil without indicating whether this water is available to the plants. Soil tension is therefore the gold standard of soil water measurement.
The products available on the market for irrigation management can be divided into four categories:
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Tensiometers
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Water content sensors
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Weather stations (evapotranspiration)
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Timers
ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT
| Estimation of Plant Water Needs | Integration (PC or Datalogger) | Measurement in the root zone | Direct Water Availability Measurement | Accuracy | Simplicity | 100% Wireless Integration | |
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| Evapotranspiration (ETp) — Weather Stations |  |
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| Water Content | |
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| Tension | |
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| Hortau - Irrolis Solution | |
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Hortau Soil Tension Probes Surpasses Leading Technology
The Hortau Irrigation Management System comprises Irrolis™ Sense, a soil tension measuring tool that pushes past the bounds of existing technology. The main advantages of the Irrolis™ irrigation management system are that it is easy to use, requires no calibration, is low maintenance and is more reliable than any other product currently on the market.
Do you want to know more about the Irrolis™ Irrigation Management System?
- Go to the Irrolis™ Solution section for more information »»
