Sensor placement for irrigation scheduling in banana using micro-sprinkler system

Abstract

Among the techniques that enable the correct scheduling of irrigation, the use of sensors that measure the water content of the soil may be mentioned. However, the location of the installations of the sensors in the field is not yet known. The aim of this work is to establish the location where the sensors may be installed for the management of the irrigation of banana crop by different systems of irrigation using microsprinkling. The study was conducted, considering the following systems: one microsprinkler of 32 L h^-1 for four plants (T1); one microsprinkler of 60 L h-1 for four plants (T2); one microsprinkler of 60 L h^-1 for two plants (T3). The soil moisture was monitored different horizontal distances and also depths, in a net of 0.20 x 0.20 m on a vertical plane using TDR. The zones for extraction of water were influenced by the distribution of water in the soil. The sensors can be located in the region which covers distances, measured from the pseudostem of 0.1 to 0.7 m, 0.1 to 0.8 m and 0.4 to 1 m, in the systems with a microsprinkler of 32 L h^-1 for four plants, a microsprinkler of 60 L h-1 for four plants and a microsprinkler of 60 L h^-1 for two plants, respectively. For all systems, the installation depth was limited to 0.25 m.