Irrinet Emilia Romagna Online Decision Support on Irrigation:

CONSORZIO DI BONIFICA DI SECONDO GRADO PER IL CANALE EMILIANO ROMAGNOLO BOLOGNA Irrinet Emilia Romagna Online Decision Support on Irrigation: an example of successful dissemination of information in agrometeorology Federica Rossi - CNR Istituto di Biometeorologia

2.2 M ha total estension 1.3 M ha agricultural 110.000 farms surface 14% total national agricultural production

Promotion based on distinctive features in terms of excellence and healthiness, as well as respect for the environment. "Traditional products" -consolidated over time- are promoted. In a wider sense, the regulations aim to enhance the agro-food system s competitiveness, within an integrated plan for the valorization of the local heritage. Sustainable agricultural practices are strongly urged and promoted. An ethical use of water resources is a compelling need.

AMOUNT OF WATER USED IN EMILIA ROMAGNA 2020 MILLIONS m 3 water are withdrawn 66 % 23 % publicdomestic Civile 440 Agricola 1120 Withdrawal is 130 Mm 3 higher than recharge, thus a progressive subsidence is induced irrigation 11 % industry Industria 460

15% 64% 46% 28% 30% 86% 26% 5%

ET0 rainfall mm/mese 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 marzo aprile maggio giugno luglio agosto settem. ottobre Annual rainfall 650 mm with a summer drought period. ET0 is higher than rainfall from May, with a maximum drought in July. In July, average maximum temperature is higher than 30 C.

The peculiarities of soils and climate make irrigation useful but not essential for many crops The water management must be more efficient than in arid areas, where water is a very limiting factor The GAP code includes requirements for minimizing negative impacts of agriculture on the environment Farmers have become much more concerned about sustainable management, but they must be ensured that yield is not affected from irrigation limitation

The transfer of the information to farmers has been for long time a weakness, criticized for structural inadequacies. An enlarged utilization of the results from research is the best valorisation of the costs of the research itself. The direct contact between final users (technicians-farmers) and researchers is still considered scarcely profitable, also considering the low ratio experts/farmers. The complexity of the transfer of modelling applications, sometime complex and characterized by many interactions (water/plant/soil/atmosphere), is still high. So far, the most reliable opportunity is a service able to calculate and transfer on line technical, personalized, indications.

When and how much to irrigate? What is the proper irrigation system?

CER is a consortium distributing water and the most important idraulic infrastructure It is founded by the local Authorities and from the different regional reclamation consortiums Through a channel from Po river water is made available over a 3000 Km 2 area and the water resources (68m 3 /s) allow to satisfy the irrigation needs. Water is furnished together with the information for its rational and sustainable utilization.

Water balance parameters During the last 20 years local research worked to identify the parameters for the calculation of water balance for each specific local environment and crop. Such parameters are enclosed into a water balance model, computing all the inputs and outputs. PIOGGIA Iu = (E T - Pu + F) IRRIGAZIONE TRASPIRAZIONE EVAPORAZIONE RUSCELLAMENTO FALDA

The water expenditure is calculated by evaporimetric data from Regional Meteo Service, corrected for Kc and modified according to local direct observations. An estimation of the reduction of the water absorbance from the soil in relation to crop water stress is kept into account based on the soil relative humidity. The water dynamic in the soil is described in three reservoirs : surface layer (soil-plantatmosphere), rooted layer, deep layer.

IRRINET AS A SERVICE IN AGRICULTURE The service is active from 1985, and has allowed to the farmers using this facility to save an average 20 % water. IRRINET WATER BALANCE Telematic applications (videotel, internet) are offering very good results at farm and local level.

WATER BALANCE IRRINET www.consorziocer consorziocer.itit input: data on crop type and irrigation plants, meteo data from SMR and radar output: time and amount of irrigation, soil humidity

CER The irrigation service- IRRINET Meteo data Crop parameters Soil data base

IRRINET crop module

IRRINET soil module

The story The first applications in 1984 through VideoTel: about 1000 farmers of Emilia Romagna joined the service. Farmers communicated phenological phases, depth of the water table and rains (pluviometers had been distributed to each farmer) and had as a feedback the personalized advice (x cv., rootstock) 18/7/1985: a traffic of 12.000 informations was registered

in the list of the visited sites, the Videotel service for advices in irrigation rated the second position irrigation

The evolution of the service

Registered users: : farm, soil, crop data are kept in memory and used from the program. Unregistered users: : users can interrogate by selecting crop and finding the farm location

Output page (after the interrogation) Effective evapotranspiration expected Cumulated water deficit Date of the next irrigation Volume of water to distribute

Irrinet-sms Message from CER: your PEACH orchard must be irrigated today for 3 h 20 minutes The sms service uses IRRINET data to send personalized messages. This opportunity allowed to greatly increase the number of users

IRRISMS service: your PEACH orchard must be irrigated today for 3 h 20 minutes, MAIZE on May 5th with 25 mm Up to now, 116 farmers in Emilia Romagna have joined the IRRISMS service, receiving a total of 2431 Sms

An example: Coprob an association of sugar beet producers. 200 users Data Data file file Request s.m.s.

Consorzio di Bonifica Parmigiana Moglia The feed rationing of dairy cows is based on the use of local forage (at least 50% of forage dry matter must be provided by hay). At least 35% of dry matter must be supplied by forage produced on the farm and at least 75% by forage coming from the region of origin.

Tradition-high value optimal irrigation strategies This consortium through a Call Center operates to book and to distribute water (also directly opening the bulkheads of channels), indicating to each farm how much water is needed. The service is consulted 5000 times a year

Aziende registrate n3 bilanci anonimi n. 1770 pagine tecnirri consultate 300 Aziende registrate n.4 bilanci anonimi n. 1500 pagine tecnirri consultate 170 Aziende registrate n.5 bilanci anonimi n. 343 pagine tecnirri consultate 70 Aziende registrate n.12 bilanci anonimi n. 100 pagine tecnirri consultate 600 utenti chiamata esterna n.4500 districts Aziende registrate n.6 bilanci anonimi n.300 pagine tecnirri consultate 410 Aziende registrate n.10 bilanci anonimi n. 500 pagine tecnirri consultate 550 utenti chiamata esterna n.100 Aziende registrate n.17 bilanci anonimi n. 770 pagine tecnirri consultate 630 Aziende registrate n.15 bilanci anonimi n. 640 pagine tecnirri consultate 1000 Aziende registrate n.8 bilanci anonimi n. 2000 pagine tecnirri consultate 350 bilanci anonimi n.515 pagine tecnirri consultate 900 Aziende registrate n.60 bilanci anonimi n. 400 pagine tecnirri consultate 1000 SMS inviati 1500 Aziende registrate n.22 bilanci anonimi n. 390 pagine tecnirri consultate 490 Aziende registrate n.26 bilanci anonimi n. 500 pagine tecnirri consultate 510 utenti chiamata esterna n.100 Aziende registrate n.10 bilanci anonimi n. 600 pagine tecnirri consultate 750 Aziende registrate n.26 bilanci anonimi n. 1350 pagine tecnirri consultate 1140 SMS inviati 930

Irrinet is also an important tool to comply with the DISCIPLINARI di PRODUZIONE INTEGRATA (DPI) To support environmental sustainable production, Emilia Romagna, as other Italian regions, has developed the rules for Integrated Production in accordance to Reg. CE 1257/99 (period 2000-2006). Farmers meeting such rules, water saving included, are supported with granted direct aids.

What the farmers must do to follow a correct water scheduling Each farmer must know date and amount of the rainy water in his own farm. Each farm must irrigate at defined times in relation to the type of crop and to its specific needs. The water volumes, per each irrigation, must not be higher than those indicated. The observance of the rules above must be documented. Two kind of indication can be obtained, according to the technologic level of knowledge of the farmer

Basic method- Irrigation based on fixed schedule- communicated via fax-mail For each crop a table of water expenditure Phenologic al phase Sowing 6.th leaf 8.th leaf 12.th leaf 16.th leaf Expenditure mm/day 0,6 1,2 2,4 4,1 - Irrigation Not admitted Not admitted Admitted Admitted Not admitted

Basic method- Irrigation based on fixed schedule (PREDIRRI) For each crop a table of maximum water volume per each irrigation is indicated to keep into account the soil type The volume is obtained by interpolating the % values of sand and clay A R G I L L A % 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 0 42 42 42 42 41 41 40 40 40 39 39 S 5 41 41 41 41 40 40 40 39 39 38 38 A 10 40 40 40 40 39 39 39 39 38 37 37 B 15 39 39 39 38 38 38 38 38 37 37 37 B 20 38 38 37 37 37 37 37 37 36 36 36 I 25 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 35 35 35 A 30 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 34 34 34 35 33 33 33 34 34 34 33 33 33 33 33 % 40 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 45 30 30 34 31 31 31 31 31 31 - - In this example: 25% - 35%, the volume is 36 mm or 360 m 3 /ha.

The suggestion is given on the basis of water balance based on the average climatic data of the area, on crop characteristics and on the irrigation system adopted

and a personalized suggestion for each orchard is offered for different irrigation systems drip sprinkler

Advanced method: on line support IRRINET To the farms is required : To schedule the irrigation according to the dates indicated from IRIINET To apply water amounts applied not exceeding those indicated by the service. Each farm must keep evidence by saving the irrigation records, that in case of SMS service, are automatically compiled by the service. The farmer has not to provide rain data (service based on pluviometry monitored by the Meteorological Service).

Other on-line services

Fert irrigere V1.14 FINE E METEO INPUT IRRIGERE FERTIL Advices for fertirrigation to substitute the static schemes of somministration A. Battilani P. Bussie r e s Y. D umas

Advices for fertirrigation given to substitute the static scheme of somministration Rossi Giovanni - anno 2000 Data Num. Num. N P2O5 K2O Settimana Settimana Kg ha Kg ha Kg ha Trap-emerg Fertirrigazione 20-apr 1 1 settimana 27-apr 2 Nitrato di potassio kg ha 19.6 4-mag 3 1 5 0 Nitrato 9 ammonico kg ha 7.2 11-mag 4 2 7 0 Solfato 9 di potassio kg ha 0.0 18-mag 5 3 9 0 2 settimana 13.4 25-mag 6 4 13.5 0 Nitrato 17.9di potassio kg ha 19.6 1-giu 7 5 13.5 0 Nitrato 17.9ammonico kg ha 13.1 8-giu 8 6 13.5 0 Solfato 26.9di potassio kg ha 0.0 15-giu 9 7 13.5 0 3 settimana 33.6 22-giu 10 8 8.5 0 Nitrato 33.6di potassio kg ha 29.1 29-giu 11 9 8.5 0 Nitrato 33.6ammonico kg ha 15.3 6-lug 12 10 8 0 Solfato 17.9di potassio kg ha 0.0 13-lug 13 11 4 settimana 11.2 20-lug 14 12 27-lug 15 13 Nitrato di potassio kg ha 38.9 Nitrato ammonico kg ha 24.8 Solfato di potassio kg ha 0.0

The irrigation volume is indicated daily Help on line for conversion factors or to define the parameters Date Virr Stress Stop Irr IRR Pluie Etr VOL IRR RZ AWcc Slimite AW Ajust. Ajust. Rain RZ Aw RIEMPIRE SOLO LE CASELLE BLU o GIALLE Ajustements date Virr Stress Stop Irr IRR PluieRain Etr VOL IRR RZ AWcc Slimite AW RZ AW d values at the d day beginning decided values during the day d values at the d day end at the d-1 day end mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm H2O% Home VOLUME IRRIGUO ESPRESSO IN ORE E MINUTI Virr as a function of crop characteristic 30-lug 0,00 0,0 5,45 0,0 750 92,8 46,4 41,6 31-lug 4,76 4,8 2,0 3,60 4,8 750 92,8 46,4 44,8 01-ago 0,00 0,0 4,55 0,0 750 92,8 46,4 40,3 02-ago 6,15 6,2 0,0 5,25 6,2 750 92,8 46,4 41,2 03-ago 5,25 Leggero stress 0,0 4,08 0,0 750 92,8 46,4 37,1 04-ago 9,32 Leggero stress 0,0 3,93 0,0 750 92,9 46,4 33,2 05-ago 13,25 Stress 13,3 0,0 5,56 13,3 750 92,9 46,4 40,9 06-ago 5,55 8,1 2,63 0,0 750 92,9 46,4 46,3 07-ago 0,00 0,0 7,63 0,0 750 92,9 46,4 38,7 08-ago 7,71 Stress 0,0 3,88 0,0 750 92,9 46,4 34,8 09-ago 11,59 Leggero stress 0,0 2,78 0,0 750 92,9 46,4 32,1 10-ago 14,37 Leggero stress 0,0 1,31 0,0 750 92,9 46,4 30,8 11-ago 15,68 25,4 2,30 0,0 750 92,9 46,4 53,9 12-ago 0,00 STOP 0,0 0,00 0,0 750 92,9 #DIV/0! Two stress levels as a warning signal Optimal data to stop the irrigation

Start 20-apr Tbase= 12.8 TGmax = 26.7 Superficie mq = 10000 GDDcum 850 KNfert 0.9 KPfert 0.4464 KKfert 0.8056 KCafert 0.4104 KMgfert 0.5833 AZOTO FOSFORO POTASSIO DATA Tmax Tmin Tmed GDD gddcum QN Distrib Da Dare QP2O5 Distrib Da Dare QK2O Distrib Da Dare 20-apr 31.9 15.2 23.535 10.735 10.735 0.90 0.902 0.92 0.922 2.06 2.059 21-apr 34.5 22.6 28.545 13.9 24.635 1.17 2.069 1.19 2.116 2.67 4.725 22-apr 31.0 19.2 25.115 12.315 36.95 1.03 3.104 1.06 3.173 2.36 7.087 23-apr 32.1 16.9 24.49 11.69 48.64 0.98 4.086 1.00 4.177 2.24 9.330 24-apr 34.2 17.1 25.61 12.81 61.45 1.08 5.162 1.10 5.277 2.46 11.787 25-apr 36.7 17.9 27.295 13.9 75.35 1.17 6.329 1.19 6.471 2.67 14.453 26-apr 33.3 18.7 25.985 13.185 88.535 1.11 7.437 1.13 7.603 2.53 16.982 27-apr 32.6 18.9 25.785 12.985 101.52 1.09 8.528 1.12 8.718 2.49 19.473 28-apr 32.7 15.2 23.915 11.115 112.64 0.93 9.461 0.95 9.673 2.13 21.605 29-apr 34.5 23.2 28.89 13.9 126.54 1.17 10.629 1.19 10.866 2.67 24.271 Growing degree days N to be distributed P to be distributed K to be distributed

FERTIRRIGERE is still experimental not on-line but downloadable from URL www.consorziocer.it/servizi.html

A web-service of technical assistance in selecting irrigation systems It helps to choose on line the type, the size of irrigation devices to optimize the application efficiencies and the uniformity of water distribution. http://www.consorziocer.it/tecnirri/home.asp

Dimensions of pipes Type of irrigator- indicating the quality of each commercially available type Number and spatial disposition of the irrigators based on the orchard and soil Converter of units of Filters Pluviometry

TECNIRRI: the choice of a efficient device may allow to optimise the homogeneity of water distribution and to save water

TECNIRRI: the choice of appropriate tube diameters may allow an uniform pressure through the entire irrigation line

TECNIRRI: the number and the position of sprinklers or drips is suggested according to the soil-orchard characteristics

From February to October (8 months) the total requests to the service were 9380, i.e. 37 interrogations / day.

General consideration on the basis of the local experience: -information transferred must be simple and immediately understandable -complex models are difficult to be transferred, it is better to loose a bit in accuracy and offer a service that is perceived as a real benefit (custom- tailored information) -the farmer must be fascinated and kept faithful. His involvement is fundamental, he must feel important and participator. The messages must be personalized

Thank you