Background
Kennedy Irrigation specializes in the management of irrigation water for all crops - specifically those under centre pivots.
We furnish our clients daily with information to assist them on when, and how much to irrigate. Soil moisture sensors measure the moisture levels, and by utilizing the latest technology at our disposal, the farmer receives the processed information daily via cellular phone and internet.
Weather data is used daily to calculate reference transpiration in mm per day and furnished to our clients to be utilized as an indirect tool to ensure optimum irrigation techniques. Using processed and adapted weather data as an indirect method has proven very successful.
Detail
Alti-system Water Management
Kennedy Irrigation supplies the farmer with the necessary equipment to receive valuable soil moisture information on a daily basis to ensure that an educated decision is made whether to irrigate or not. Trained company representatives will ensure that the farmer receives the best service and product on the market.
The integrated service components consist of:
· A well trained and knowledgeable co-worker;
· Alti data-logger system;
· Decagon 20cm soil moisture sensor and a Decagon MPS-1 soil moisture suction sensor;
· Computer server and software that process, store and supply all data via the internet.
To ensure optimum results, the soil moisture sensor is installed in the area identified as most sensitive in the field relating to soil moisture management, i.e. the highest- and sandiest soil. The soil moisture sensors are installed vertically in the top 20cm of the ground and the MPS-1 soil moisture strain sensor is installed at a depth of 25cm. The Alti data-logger registers the data of both soil moisture sensors at regular intervals and submits registered data to a centralized computer server in order to be processed.
Specially developed software processes the soil moisture data logged and then submits information and recommendations via an SMS to the farmer. See the following example:
Pivot1/Maize (40%-50%) = 44 %( Irrigate)/-80 kPa/AbriMyburg/27829028334/UN = 484/CC = GVP/
The above SMS will then be interpreted as follow:
Pivot 1 Position where sensor is installed
Maize Crop planted and irrigated
(40%-50%) Minimum and maximum soil moisture / guidelines
44% Current soil moisture reading
(Irrigate) Action: Irrigate / Dry
-80 kPA Value of soil moisture strain sensor
Abrie Myburgh Agent responsible for service
27829028334 Cell phone number of agent
484 Alti data-logger number
GVP Customer Code
On a typical day the farmer will receive such an SMS at 07:00 daily which will either recommend irrigation (Irrigate) or not (Dry).
The farmer may also choose to receive the recommendations via e-mail per position installed / summarized by farm. See the following example:
|
LAST DATA
|
POSITION
|
CROP
|
LIMITS
|
0-20 cm ECHO
|
25 cm Mps-1
|
RECOMMENDATION
|
|
2010/08/11 04:58
|
Tierhang
|
Corn
|
19.99 % to 27.00 %
|
24.5
|
-40 kPA
|
0 mm
|
|
2010/08/11 06:00
|
Riviera W6S1
|
Onions
|
22.69 % to 30.00 %
|
23.6
|
-100 kPa
|
0 mm
|
|
2010/08/11 04:00
|
Modderfontein
|
Onions
|
19.99 % to 27.00 %
|
29.6
|
-9 kPA
|
Dry
|
|
2010/08/10 16:00
|
Sandberg PWK1
|
Potatoes
|
42.49 % to 52.00 %
|
31.9
|
-900 kPa
|
Irrigate
|
|
2010/08/11 06:00
|
Klein Gruispan
|
Potatoes
|
44.29 % to 54.00 %
|
47.1
|
-54 kPA
|
0 mm
|
|
2010/08/11 06:00
|
Sandput-Noord
|
Corn
|
71.29 % to 84.00 %
|
68.7
|
-150 kPA
|
Irrigate
|
|
2010/08/11 04:00
|
Sandput-Suid
|
Corn
|
62.29 % to 74.00 %
|
52.7
|
-250 kPA
|
Irrigate
|
Scheduling of Weather Data
Kennedy Irrigation also manages automatic weather stations for customers. This service enables farmers to effectively manage irrigation in an area up to a 30km radius of the weather station. Weather data is processed on a daily basis and submitted via an SMS system to the various farmers that share a weather station.
The ETO (Crop Reference Evaporation) is calculated on a daily basis. ETO is the amount of water in mm that short green grass needs on a daily basis. Research has shown that this calculation can successfully be used in determining the irrigation pattern for crops from the day it is planted to full grown stage where 100% of the surface is covered with foliage like corn, maize and soyabean. It is a simple technique and basically means that the ETO is accumulated from the day the vegetation has grown to the value of 12mm. The 12mm is irrigated and this process is then repeated until the vegetation has been determined physiologically ripe.
Typically a table may look like the example below:
|
NUMBER OF DAYS SINCE GROWTH SHOWN
|
ETO (mm)
|
TOTAL ETO (mm)
|
IRRIGATE (mm)
|
|
1
|
3.86
|
3.86
|
|
|
2
|
2.37
|
6.23
|
|
|
3
|
3.69
|
9.92
|
|
|
4
|
2.46
|
12.38
|
12
|
|
5
|
2.69
|
2.69
|
|
|
6
|
2.87
|
5.56
|
|
|
7
|
2.3
|
7.86
|
|
|
8
|
3.83
|
11.69
|
12
|
|
9
|
3.15
|
3.15
|
|
|
10
|
2.59
|
5.74
|
|
|
11
|
2.85
|
8.59
|
|
|
12
|
3.06
|
11.65
|
12
|
|
13
|
3.65
|
3.65
|
|
|
14
|
2.49
|
6.14
|
|
|
15
|
2.93
|
9.07
|
|
|
16
|
2.2
|
11.27
|
12
|
|
17
|
2.37
|
2.37
|
|
|
18
|
3.3
|
5.67
|
|
PRODUCT and PRICING STRUCTURE
Alti-System Water Management
Option 1
Equipment is bought and the owner is responsible for all maintenance cost. An agent is responsible to calibrate the equipment, maintain it during the season and remove all equipment after the season has passed.
Equipment cost : R10 888.00
Monthly service fee : R 1 000.00 per month – payable via debit order
(During period equipment is in use)
Monthly service fee : R10.00 per month – payable via debit order
(During period equipment is stored away)
Option 2
The customer pays a once-off fee of R12 000.00 per crop at planting time. Kennedy Irrigation supplies all the equipment needed and will calibrate, install and maintain it during the growing season. Damages due to theft, farming implements and lightning strikes are for the client’s account.
Scheduling of Weather Data
The capital cost of a weather station is R38 000.00 and the calibration cost is R6 000.00 per annum. Any cost involved with the replacement of defect equipment is for the client’s account.
Contact Person - Abrie Myburgh
Contact Number - 082 9028 334
Email Address - abrie@kbk.co.za