The innovative solution of the proposal resides (1) on his historical database built upon real case studies, (2) is shared on the web which guarantees cheaper access to this technology and (3) helps changing the current culture and behavior and into getting agricultural exploitation into the use of ICTs.
A) Direct benefits are:
1)Saving water, especially where annual traditional amount of irrigation water is beyond average crop water requirements.
2)Saving energy and manpower required to pump and distribute excess water.
B) Indirect benefits are:
1)Reducing leaching of fertilizers out of the plant root zone
2)Improving water and fertilizers availability for the plant
3)Reducing deep water percolation and contamination to underground aquifer by agricultural chemicals.
4)Providing information about the local soil hydrodynamic characteristics, the advance of wetting front during irrigation events and the depth and daily pattern of root water uptake.
5)Providing information on the hydraulic performance of the irrigation system in use.
6)Providing information on the current crop development and growing stages.
7)Creating a closer relationship between the farmer and his production system. It offers him a better real understanding of water and nutrient balance within water-soil-plant system.
2013 01 / 12
to
2015 30 / 11
1.29 million €
