Web Monitored Tensiometers for Optimal Autumn Irrigation and Fertilization

israel’s autumn weather is both fickle and extreme: in just a few hours hot, dry easterly winds are followed by early rains, downpours and thunderstorms.

 

recent years have been marked by indian summers with rains starting as late as december. october and november have become warmer and dryer; adapting irrigation to rainfall has become ever more important.

 

farmers usually irrigate according to daily crop coefficient ( evapotranspiration or et) agriculture ministry guidelines. shallow and deep web monitored tensiometers, which measure soil saturation , ensure conformity. if too dry, the water dose will not reduce the deep sensor’s reading to field capacity ( 60-80 millibar ), readings on the deep sensor will increase at each watering and indicate the need to increase the dose.

if too wet, the dose will decrease the deep sensor reading to saturation levels (0 millibar or lower) over an extended period and indicate the need to decrease the dose.

at correct irrigation, the tensiometers at both levels will respond similarly. when the water is switched on at the required threshold, readings on the shallow sensor will decrease and the deep sensor will respond later. when the water is switched off both sensors will be between saturation and field capacity (0-70 millibar) and sometime later readings on both sensors will increase.

watering intervals may also be tensiometer controlled. if, when the water is switched on, the threshold reading is low, watering could be extended by a day or more. if readings reach the recommended threshold before it is time to water, the same dose should be delivered immediately.

 

autumn tensiometer advantages are:

• better preparedness to adapt dose to crop despite et instability
• better preparedness for first rains to deliver water to the wet soil profile
• significant water savings
• consistent, salt free root volume
• reducing fallen leaf and fruit damage to crop
• better preparedness for determining post picking irrigation.

economical irrigation is key to optimal fertilization

gat fertilizers believes that an efficient, economical irrigation is key to optimal fertilisation. root volume and health are heavily dependent on soil water content and aeration. over irrigation flushes away nutrition and inhibits ventilation. under irrigation causes salinity and poor nutrition.

gat fertilizers provides service packages, professional oversight and field visits for web monitored tensiometers. the packages include weekly consultation for each station and ongoing follow-up for the tensiometer tensions. in the event of irregularities, the farmer is alerted.

 

queries may be addressed to gat fertilizers’ agronomists at:

adi nave, gat fertilizers agronomist

+972-544361150