Can Plant-Based Moisture Sensing Improve Irrigation Scheduling and Water Use Efficiency? Practical Cotton Remote Sensing Project, Israel 2013
Phytech's information system for decision-making takes different plant interface one step further, data of daily and weekly curves provide dynamic and immediate information on plant response to any change in the plant-soil-climate interface and thus provide us with real-time early warnings of plant interface unwanted changes.
Phytech system consists of three main data components:
1. Soil moisture and salinity.
2. Climate data.
3. Stem daily growth and contraction.
Comparison of various information elements and test their effects on plant behavior following information of the stem is the heart of the system for decision-making.
The information system that we present here was tested in high yielding intensive cotton production with success.
Irrigation control done at the vegetative growth stage is based on the height daily growth (cm\day) of the stem. Excellent correlation between the growth of stem height and the growth of the stem diameter was established. A recommended curve for daily stem growth is based on optimal values needed to be kept the day before irrigation.
Irrigation control done at the reproductive growth is based on the leaf water potential (bar), there is an excellent correlation between the leaf water potential and the maximal daily contraction (MDC) of the stem. Based on this relationship we have developed the recommendations for irrigation schedule by monitoring the daily maximal contraction of the stem as measured by the stem dendrometer sensor.
Using the curve refers mainly to the maximum values needed to be kept the day before irrigation.
In summary, the information system provides reliable daily data, optimal recommendations curves give a good basis for directing irrigation schedule and amount of water required for the plants in all crop stages.