Practical Application of Soil Moisture Sensors for Irrigation Scheduling in Cotton

Abstract. Irrigation can increase cotton yield and improve fiber quality. Soil moisture sensors are capable of monitoring soil water conditions. Soil moisture sensors were evaluated for developing sensor-based irrigation scheduling methods on cotton in Mississippi Delta. Soil volumetric water content sensors and soil water potential sensors were installed in a cotton field at depths of 15 cm, 30 cm, and 61 cm belowground. Soil moisture of the field was automatically measured by the sensors in a time interval of an hour during the crop growing seasons. Soil moisture data were collected and analyzed. Installation, operation, and maintenance of the soil moisture sensors, process and interpretation of soil moisture data, and use of the soil moisture data for sensor-based irrigation scheduling on cotton were presented.