About

Extreme climatic events have negatively affected crop productivity in Europe. Under climate change yield variability is expected to further increase. Information is needed about when and where water shortage is to be expected. Recent decades provided large developments in sensors and models to analyse soil water dynamics. However it is not yet feasible to apply the necessary combination of such techniques to predict upcoming water demands within a region over a time span of 10 to 15 days.

OPERA focused on best possible combinations of information technologies to realise a practical transition towards an increased use of precision irrigation. The objective was to strengthen farmers’ adaptation to climate change with a transdisciplinary approach to identify:

• How farmers and irrigation organisations can react more flexibly to predicted variability in water amounts.
• Adequate combinations of soil and crop sensors, remote sensing, weather forecast and simulation models for better consideration of rainfall, evapotranspiration and soil moisture in irrigation scheduling.
• How to integrate experience in precision irrigation from various climatic zones in Europe and South Africa to identify applicable service models for better decision making. On a larger scale, this information can be used to support water management decisions to mitigate drought effects.

Results

OPERA identified adequate combinations of soil sensors, plant-based sensors, remote sensing, weather forecast and simulation models that allow a better consideration of rainfall, evapotranspiration and soil moisture in irrigation scheduling. The project case studies demonstrated that irrigation based on these combinations can actually lead to improve water use efficiency.