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Abstract:
Field irrigation operations use an impressive amount of water, scarcity of which has forced growers to irrigate with less water or even with water of lower quality and has also contributed to the drive for more precise irrigation. Irrigation managers and stakeholders continuously face difficult challenges when managing interactions between natural (crops, climate etc) and man-made systems. The capacity of farmers as regards irrigation decisions is not only dependent on their knowledge but also on accurate climate, soil and plant data acquisition. Even though the knowledge of irrigation managers is quite varied, there is an overarching need for equal access by all to the scientific knowledge needed to make the best possible decisions. The concept of transferring an ever increasing body of scientific knowledge via Decision Support Systems remains attractive. The effectiveness of irrigation decision making can be improved by integrating DSS and advanced information/communication technology techniques. This review examines the advances in decision support and data acquisition systems for field irrigation management.
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