Portal de Cartagena
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Researchers from the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT) have introduced the direct application of digital photography in irrigation scheduling of a crop, achieving significant water savings and increasing productivity.
Trials with lettuce crops during the PhD thesis of David Escarabajal, led by Professor José Miguel Molina UPCT and co-directed by teacher UMH Antonio Ruiz Canales, showed that this pioneering methodology achieves a potential reduction of water consumption 17.8% by computer image processing to determine the water needs.
The photographs were taken vertically on vegetation cover two to three times per week to observe crop development and analyze the fraction of vegetation cover.
Through this parameter and FAO methodology water needs are obtained and carried out irrigation scheduling.
"Digital photography and image processing techniques have become one of the main sources of information in real time on various related to the development and crop water status parameters," says José Miguel Molina.
"The thesis lays the foundation for the development of a system based on artificial vision system that will automatically manage the risk of a plot.
The implementation of this system in an irrigation scheduling software will optimize water resources to achieve a more efficient irrigation, "predicts the researcher.
"One of the best strategies to address water scarcity is the innovation and introduction of new technologies," he adds.
The research was carried out on cash crops lettuce varieties 'Iron' and 'Little Gem' plots in the provinces of Albacete and Murcia, a national leader in the production of lettuce.
Source: UPCT
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