Predictions of global and regional climate models show regionally differentiated patterns in rainfall and temperature changes for the next decades. Especially agricultural systems may be heavily affected by increasing temperatures, extreme precipitation events and drought periods which may lead to a reduced production of agricultural crops. Climate change therefore aggravates the need to develop innovative and real-time management strategies that allow securing agricultural production taking into account the environmental constraints. Optimal management of irrigated agricultural systems requires daily information on the soil and crop water status and this at the level of the field. The water need might vary strongly between fields. This is related with differences in soil texture, local topography and crop characteristics. Therefore, it is important to develop a methodology for real-time optimization of irrigation that takes into account information available in real-time at the field scale. So far, no forecasting systems for soil moisture with a special focus on water resources management and practical applicability exist. The development of such a system as well as its application in cooperation with local water authorities and farmers is the overall aim of this cooperation.
Contact
Dr. Martin Goller
+49 228 3821-1407
martin.goller(at)dlr.de
