Online Irrigation Platform Helps Farmers Improve Crop Water Management
Irrigation technology continues to become more important for corn and soybean production as farmers work to improve water management and reduce production costs. Increasing energy expenses, labor challenges, and concerns about water conservation are encouraging producers to adopt digital tools that support better irrigation decisions.
Haishun Yang, associate professor in the University of Nebrasa-Lincoln (UNL) Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, discussed the advantages of CropSmart irrigation scheduling technology and explained how the service helps producers improve irrigation management while supporting crop productivity.
CropSmart is a digital irrigation scheduling service developed to improve irrigation management using science-based technology and real-time field information. The system was created through support from the National Science Foundation with leadership from George Mason University and contributions from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Traditional irrigation scheduling methods often depend on field scouting, personal experience, and regular monitoring to estimate crop water needs. These methods may require extra time and create challenges for producers with limited irrigation management experience. CropSmart simplifies irrigation planning by combining digital field models with weather and soil information.
The system develops a digital version of each field to monitor crop water use, soil moisture levels, and water movement in the crop root zone. CropSmart also uses rainfall information, current weather conditions, and seven-day weather forecasts to help determine irrigation timing and water needs.
When soil moisture levels drop below selected thresholds that may affect crop growth, the platform recommends irrigation scheduling adjustments. Producers can customize irrigation settings, irrigation methods, and water depletion levels based on crop growth stages and field conditions. The service also offers optional email notifications to deliver irrigation recommendations directly to users.
The basic CropSmart irrigation scheduling program remains available at no cost for producers who create an online account. After registering, users can enter crop details, field information, irrigation settings, and irrigation records to begin using the service.
Agricultural specialists believe technologies like CropSmart may improve irrigation efficiency, reduce water waste, lower production expenses, and support long-term sustainability for corn and soybean farming operations.