A Site-Specific Center Pivot Irrigation System for Highly-Variable Coastal Plain Soils

Abstract

The Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Research Center has been monitoring spatial yield in a test field since 1985, using a conventional corn-wheat-soybean rotation most of that time. Observations of variation in soil and crop response that correlate with yield variation suggest that crop water relations may be the key feature that causes spatial variability in yield for the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Experience with mechanistic modeling indicates that for normal weather years, the final yield is particularly sensitive to variations in soil water, presumably because the surface soil is sandy and rooting volume is limited. These conclusions, plus difficulties encountered in scheduling irrigation under a center pivot on typically variable soils, led the USDA-ARS to desi~n and build a site-specific center pivot capable of differentially irrigating lOO-m areas. A 3-tower commercial center pivot was modified by adding 39 9.2-m manifolds in 13 sections, 3 to a section. The manifolds and nozzles were sized lx, 2x, and 4x, so that octal combinations would provide up to 7x the minimum application depth for a given outer tower speed. At 50% speed, the application depths are 0 to 12.5 mm in 1.8-mm increments. A prograrnrnable controller was attached near the pivot end of the boom, so that it was proximal to but avoided the pivot control panel when the system rotated. The individual manifolds were controlled by a program residing in the progranunable controller, which obtained pivot position and other information via radio modem link with the pivot control panel. Water and nitrogen application has been accomplished using this system on a replicated field experiment. Experience gained during this phase will guide modification of a similar pivot for site-specific water, nutrient, and pesticide management on a typically variable Coastal Plain field.