Irrigation Scheduling for Cotton Using Soil Moisture Sensors, Smartphone Apps, and Traditional Methods

The goal of the work reported here was to compare three different irrigation scheduling strategies in two different tillage systems (conservation and conventional). The three irrigation scheduling strategies were the University of Georgia Checkbook Method for Cotton, the SmartIrrigation Cotton App and the University of Georgia Smart Sensor Array (UGA SSA). The study was conducted during the 2015 growing season at the University of Georgia’s Stripling Irrigation Research Park near Camilla.  The growing season was unusually wet with more than 23in of rain.  Rainfed plots had the highest yields and highest water use efficiency and in this rainy year, irrigation suppressed yield.  The major conclusion of the study was that we still have much to learn about the timing of irrigation during wet years.