Spatial and temporal water distribution under irrigation machines (4D-Rain)

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Research meets irrigated agriculture

The 4DRain research project was launched in early 2025. The aim of the project is to create a more efficient use of irrigation water by using mobile and autonomous irrigation machines. The project is scheduled to run from 01.01.2025 to 31.12.2026.

Development of water consumption

Water is becoming increasingly precious. Lower Saxony’s water supply concept assumes that water demand will increase by almost 30% by 2050. Irrigation will account for the largest increase. This plays a special role in Lower Saxony, where about 14% of arable land will be irrigated by 2019, compared to the national average of just 5%. Overall, the irrigated area in Germany will increase by 36% between 2009 and 2019. This trend will continue and accelerate in the future. Not only will the irrigated area increase, but the demand for water on irrigated land will also increase due to climate change. To use irrigation water efficiently, it is critical that the plant receives the right amount of water at the right time.

This raises two questions:

1) What is the right amount of water and the right irrigation time for the respective crop?

2) How can it be technically ensured that the plant receives the required amount of water as precisely as possible and with as little technical effort as possible?

While there are a number of scientific studies on the water requirements of different crops at different stages of growth, very few studies have looked at how water can be distributed on demand and on a site-specific basis, or the accuracy requirements that need to be met. Existing options for site-specific irrigation have proven to be comparatively complex, and these options are tied to specific irrigation systems that can only be used under certain conditions, such as drip irrigation.

Project focus:

Three points are being examined in more detail as part of the project:

different crops, such as potatoes. Different mobile irrigation options will be considered. Further investigations include the influence of irrigation control and new technical possibilities, the effect of water distribution on infiltration into the soil and soil moisture distribution in the crops studied. This also raises the question of how long it takes for the irrigation water to reach the depth from which the plant draws water at its particular stage of growth. Directly related to the previous point is the question of the temporal evolution of water distribution in the soil. The advantages of more frequent but smaller irrigation applications need to be investigated, especially if they are easier to implement, for example with autonomous irrigation machines.

This results in 4DRain, areal water distribution, extended by the spread in the soil and observed over time. Optimizations are to be derived from the results, both for the existing uncontrolled irrigation with a sprinkler cannon and with a controlled sprinkler cannon.

Previous research projects have already conducted trials to investigate irrigation technology. In the 4DRain project, the research will be conducted in a similar scheme and the implementation of the test methodology will be technically guaranteed.

Time lapse of the irrigation attempt:

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