Visual soil water status indicator for improved irrigation management

A device to aid in irrigation scheduling by visually indicating current soi l water status relative to an upper and lower set point was developed and f ield tested. The device can be used by farm managers to easily evaluate cur rent soil water status from a distance. This information can be used to gui de irrigation scheduling decisions throughout the season. Seven farm manage rs evaluated the device on seven commercial potato fields. Two study fields , one with and one without soil water status indicators, were established w ith each farm manager. Water application was measured in each field. Collec tively, farm managers applied 7% (2.9 cm) less water to fields with the soi l water status indicators than comparison fields. Average water application was significantly less (P = 0.04) for fields with soil water status indica tors. The basic elements of the soil water status indicator and its operati on are presented. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.