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The increasing development of intensive agriculture and water demanding crops implies an increasing demand of water for food that threats the sustainability of water use at several spatial and temporal scales. Climate changes further exacerbate the problem therefore posing relevant challenges for ensuring sustainability. The above situation calls for innovative methods to ensure that irrigation requirements are efficiently and satisfactorily met.
It is generally agreed that the efficient and effective use of water in irrigation systems is of critical importance for sustainable agricultural development, food security and overall economic growth. This is particularly true in light of global population increase, climate change and the competing demand for water from other economic sectors. To this end, smart irrigation is a relevant opportunity to improve irrigation systems for the purpose of maximizing crop production while ensuring an efficient and optimal use of water. We define smart irrigation as a set of techniques to deliver water to crop with the correct amount, at the right time with minimal water losses. While it is unanimously recognized that smart irrigation is a key requirement for sustainable agriculture to organize it at regional level is still a challenge.
Irrinet/Irriframe, with Acquacampus, is a service to water managers and farmers to maximize the efficiency of irrigation networks. It processes information from a specific irrigation system to suggest innovative solutions to save water. Irrinet/Irriframe addresses the challenge of introducing smart and precise irrigation in areas where typical and controlled-origin-denomination products are produced. The challenge is the improvement of irrigation efficiency, through the use of advanced techniques, while preserving the quantity and behaviors of agricultural production. Irrinet/Irriframe-Acquacampus also addresses the problem of transferring knowledge to farmers and stakeholders in general.
In detail, Irrinet/Irriframe-Acquacampus is composed by:
Acquacampus is a field laboratory dedicated to innovation transfer in agriculture. It consists of a set of testing facilities for advanced irrigation techniques and a set of facilities for technological transfer. Acquacampus is an extension of about 15 hectars, counts 30 experimental fields, and is equipped with a conference room. It is managed by qualified personnel ensuring and has the specific purpose of:
Acquacampus can be visited by stakeholders and the public during open days and opening hours, to see advanced irrigation techniques operating in practice. The main purpose of Acquacampus is to educate stakeholders, farmers and students to precise irrigation. Acquacampus is an original experience to develop technical guidelines for precise irrigation and spread the information to stakeholders.
The Irriframe service, after having been tested in the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy, has been extended to several other regions. It is currently used by 74 land reclamation Bureaus, for a total of about 16.000 users; it covers a land area of 168.000 hectares; the water saving allowed by Irriframe is estimated in about 350.000.000 m3/year. Acquacampus is currently being tested in a field site in the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy. The impact of Irriframe-Acquacampus is very significant. Being used by several land reclamation Bureaus, Irriframe-Acquacampus is a very successful experience in Italy, where it changed the irrigation practices towards a more efficient and sustainable management.
Irrinet/Irriframe is illustrated in this short video.
More details on Irrinet/Irriframe are given here below.What is Irrinet/Irriframe?
Irrinet/Irriframe is an IT Irrigation Advisory Services for Farm Water Management. Irrinet/Irriframe is an interactive service support to irrigation.
Irrinet/Irriframe is a big data generator in Farm Water Management.
Irrinet/Irriframe: double name since the original name was Irrinet; Irriframe identifies the application at national level in Italy. Irrinet/Irriframe covers an overall surface of 71.265 km2, with 74 land reclamation bureaus involved.
Irrinet/Irriframe was developed by Consorzio CER, IT.
IRRINET/IRRIFRAME IRRIGATION MODEL
The irrigation model is based on a daily soil/plant/atmosphere water balance. The irrigation model uses up-to-date input data (i.e. when users ask for information, the latest data are taken into account). The water balance model identifies optimal management strategies for crop irrigation at a field scale. 50 crops are considered.
Input data
From Farmers |
From Regional Agencies/Services/Databases |
|
|
Deterministic water balance model
Model |
Model |
Water dynamics in soil: 3 layers are |
Effective infiltration based on rainfall and |
Crop growth |
Root development Crop phenology |
Crop water requirements |
Water stress, Water volume needed at daily scale in the |
Water table contribution |
Groundwater inflow (capillary rise) |
Economic profitability
An economic algorithm provides a real-time assessment of the profitability of the irrigation supply (i.e. save more water without reducing crop yields and negatively affecting farmers’ gain)
Output data
Crop water balance on a daily basis (real-time) –i.e. crop evapotranspiration and cumulated water deficit
Daily irrigation volume – provided 20 days in advance
Ideal irrigation timing – provided 20 days in advance
Irrigation plots
Economic profitability, displayed as a traffic light: economically advantageous; uncertain/not evaluable economic advantage economically disadvantageous.
IRRINET/IRRIFRAME WEB APPLICATION
IRRIFRAME VOICE: web application providing crop water needs to farmers (end-users). Available for free.
New functionalities: users can upload their own data (e.g. soil moisture measurements) thus improving water balance calculations. Info on economic convenience – economic cost of each single irrigation
Irrinet/Irriframe visibility in EU
Irrinet/Irriframe is cited among EIP Water Innovations.
IRRINET/IRRIFRAME IN NUMBERS (2017 update)
|
ITALY |
|
Land Reclamation Bureau |
74 |
|
Users1 |
16.000 |
>10.000 |
Land Area |
168.000 hectare |
113.000 hectare |
Irrinet/Irriframe output requests |
33.000 |
|
Water saved each year |
350.000.000 m3 |
|
Costs saved each year |
50-70 €/hectare |
50-70 euros/hectare |
Irrinet/Irriframe cost |
0.015 €/hectare |
0.015 €/hectare |
Key crops involved |
|
MAIZE VINE SUGAR BEET (7.5%) |
The Acquacampus test site