Utilizing Sensor Technologies to Evaluate and Improve Cotton Irrigation Management

The cotton industry in Oklahoma faces several water resources challenge such as the decline in water availability due to increased competition from industrial and urban sectors, the predicted increase in frequency and severity of future extreme events, and the degradation of water quality. One approach that can assist with conserving the quantity and quality of agricultural water resources is to utilize sensor technologies to evaluate and optimize cotton irrigation management. However, there are many different types of sensors out in the market, making it difficult for cotton growers to know which one would work better for their operation. Understanding and interpreting the readings and translating them to information for decision-making is another complexity. To foster the use of sensor technologies a project was conducted with a focus on commercially available soil moisture sensors. Performance of several widely used sensors was evaluated at multiple cotton fields in central and southwestern Oklahoma with different soil textures, soil salinities, and irrigation systems. Undisturbed soil samples were collected at each field to determine actual soil moisture, as well as the hydraulic properties of different types of soil. The readings of sensors were analyzed in conjunction with irrigation application depths and management practices to investigate sensor response and accuracy. The effectiveness of irrigation management was also studied using sensor data.