The SmartIrrigation Cotton App uses the FAO-56 method to schedule irrigation in cotton. It uses meteorological data from a wide variety of sources and crop coefficient (Kc) curves to estimate daily crop water use (ETc). In Georgia and Florida for which the model was originally developed, the Cotton App results in yield gains ranging from 5 to 15% and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) gains as high as 35% when compared to a calendar scheduling method provided that accurate localized precipitation data are available. Most years the Cotton App performs equally as well or outperforms sensor-based irrigation methods. The goal of this project is to evaluate the performance of the Cotton App in other cotton growing regions of the U.S. and modify the model for the growing conditions of those regions.
Funded by Cotton Incorporated