Water management

NDVI, NIR, infrared, multispectral satellite imagery - terms that we are increasingly coming across as precision farmers. What do they mean and how can we use them without becoming NASA engineers? 

Irrigation is used to supplement water during dry periods, increase productivity of coarse soils (sandy), improve the crop quality of water-sensitive crops and reduce risk of crop loss (e.g. drip irrigation). Improving irrigation efficiency is a way of making sure that less water is wasted when watering plants and crops. This can be achieved through better water management techniques and technology, such as the use of sprinklers, drip tubing, and other water-saving devices. This can help conserve water resources, reduce water bills, and improve crop yields.

Fertilizer must be applied evenly, taking various aspects into account, in doses suitable for the cultivated plant and the conditions of the growing site.

Crop water requirements (CWR) are defined as the depth of water [mm] needed to meet the water consumed through evapotranspiration (ETc) by a disease-free crop, growing in large fields under non-restricting soil conditions including soil water and fertility, and achieving full production potential under the given growing environment. Switching to less water intensive crops, changing planting dates, optimised irrigation schedules. Managing crop water demand is the practice of balancing the amount of water needed to support healthy crop growth with the available supply of water.