VARIwise: a general-purpose adaptive control simulation framework for spatially and temporally varied irrigation at sub-field scale

McCarthy, Alison and Hancock, Nigel and Raine, Steven R. (2010) VARIwise: a general-purpose adaptive control simulation framework for spatially and temporally varied irrigation at sub-field scale. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 70 (1). pp. 117-128. ISSN 0168-1699

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Abstract

Irrigation control strategies may be used to improve the site-specific irrigation of cotton via lateral move and centre pivot irrigation machines. A simulation framework ‘VARIwise’ has been created to aid the development, evaluation and management of spatially and temporally varied site-specific irrigation control strategies. VARIwise accommodates sub-field scale variations in all input parameters using a 1 m2 cell size, and permits application of differing control strategies within the field, as well as differing irrigation amounts down to this scale.

In this paper the motivation and objectives for the creation of VARIwise are discussed, the structure of the software is outlined and an example of the use and utility of VARIwise is presented. Three irrigation control strategies have been simulated in VARIwise using a cotton model with a range of input parameters including spatially variable soil properties, non-uniform irrigation application, three weather profiles and two crop varieties. The simulated yield and water use efficiency were affected by the combination of input parameters and the control strategy implemented.

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Item Type:	Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	Author's version deposited in accordance with the publisher's copyright policy.
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Historic - Faculty of Engineering and Surveying - Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Historic - Faculty of Engineering and Surveying - Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Date Deposited:	08 Mar 2010 00:05
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2013 23:27
Uncontrolled Keywords:	irrigation scheduling; adaptive control; automation; water use efficiency; spatial variability
Fields of Research (2008):	07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences > 0701 Agriculture, Land and Farm Management > 070103 Agricultural Production Systems Simulation 09 Engineering > 0913 Mechanical Engineering > 091302 Automation and Control Engineering 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences > 0799 Other Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences > 079901 Agricultural Hydrology (Drainage, Flooding, Irrigation, Quality, etc.)
Socio-Economic Objectives (2008):	E Expanding Knowledge > 97 Expanding Knowledge > 970107 Expanding Knowledge in the Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
Identification Number or DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2009.09.011
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/5967

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