Saving water is dependent on exact management of soil moisture at all depths of the root zone. The Phase 1-5 water optimization process provides the information to make precise decisions on irrigation frequency and duration by targeting installed sensor intended results. A reduction in applied water of more than 26.5% to date is achieved on average.
Can quickly reduce tree vigor and yield. In Phase 3 of the water optimization process we identify areas with potential for perched water and recommend the type, depth and spacing of tile drains required to manage perched water in extreme cases. In most cases identifying proper frequency and duration of your irrigation eliminates the impact of contributing to perched water through your irrigation practices.
Does your sensor technology represent your fields irrigation requirement? Phase 3 of the water optimization process identifies soil profile variability of the root zone throughout your field to properly locate sensors for validated sensing of current field conditions. Resulting in sensor data you can rely on for precise irrigation frequency and duration.
Irrigation system design based on pump volume is the standard. Phase 4 of the water optimization process accounts for all variables impacting water requirement by designing an irrigation system that accounts for soil variability, water quality and quantity, varieties and rootstock.
Making a 20 plus year investment? The Phase 1-5 water optimization process identifies all variables impacting the percent R.O.I. and the time to R.O.I. maximizing your investment through integration of Ag Technology platforms recommended specifically for individual field conditions.
Dry or Liquid? Successful irrigation starts with proper fertilizer and amendment applications. Phase 2 of the water optimization process provides targeted site specific recommendations by soil profile through variable rate application technology.
In Phase 1 we use a combination of geophysical soil mapping and multi-spectral imagery to identity representative variability of the soil creating a 3D image of the soil similar to an MRI.
In Phase 2 we validate the variability identified in Phase 1 by collecting soil samples from all areas differentiated in the variability map. Soil samples are collected 0-18 inches deep to determine soil chemistry and physical properties.
Soils are submitted for analysis to a certified agricultural lab. Test include saturated paste. percent cations, salts, 16 major and minor nutrients and particle size analysis
Lab results are run through our Nutrient CALC software to provide soil specific recommendations for precise amending and fertilization fo the various soil profiles identified in Phase 1.
Using a Power Probe, cores are collected and separated into five soil depths (0-18”, 18-30”, 30-42”, 42-54” and 54-66”). This includes testing to identify texture (Particle Size Analysis), water holding capacity (plant available water), infiltration rates (inches), porosity and bulk density.
Water tables and tillage requirements are also determined through deep core sampling. Our Power Probe can collect cores to a depth of 15 feet allowing FarmitRx to precisely identify perched water and or the potential for perched water of the areas identified in Phase 1.
Soil cores collected with the Power Probe provides an undisturbed sample as deep as 15 feet. The cores identify where soil-textural and/or chemistry-related water penetration and infiltration issues exist.
Phase 4 combines phase 1-3 datasets to optimize your existing irrigation system or layout a new installation based on soil variability that can be designed by your local irrigation supply designer.
The best sensor locations to properly represent the area and initial calibration factors are determined in Phase 3. This assures all sensor data is relevant, calibrated to the soil profile with targets established based on Phase 1-3, and ultimately creates the roadmap for our Irrigation System Design Layout.
IM Scheduler Software is a service that provides crop and variety specific daily nutrition and irrigation scheduling based on Phase 1-4 data sets, forecasted and historical GDD, ETo, KPc, phenology, soil plant available water and real-time soil moisture sensors (SMS).
Using daily satellite imagery, audit your irrigation systems performance. Validate hand probe, pressure bomb or continuous plant and or soil based monitoring devices. Identifying your targets using multispectral imaging from FarmitRx you can measure current crop status. Using our Daily NDVI Vigor Index you can measure changes in vegetation/canopy day by day. This report card provides a digital representation of your field vigor showing how the fields are performing daily and their rate of change.
