Title: Modelling irrigation management services: the IRMA_SYS case

Authors: Nikolaos Malamos; Ioannis L. Tsirogiannis; Antonis Christofides

Addresses: Department of Agricultural Technology, Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece, 27200 Amaliada, Greece ' Department of Agricultural Technology, Technological Educational Institute of Epirus, 47100 Kostakii, Arta, Greece ' Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Iroon Politechniou 5, 15780 Athens, Greece

Abstract: Since agricultural water use has a substantial share in Greece, irrigation scheduling forecast and management tools constitute significant assets. This study illustrates the concept and implementation of the IRMA_SYS, a regional, user-friendly computer/mobile-based service. IRMA_SYS was implemented as open, fully customisable, modular software capable of estimating field specific crop water requirements and irrigation scheduling at multiple scales, from farm to water basin level. The estimation of irrigation water requirements and irrigation scheduling is based on a modification of the conceptual FAO 56 approach and its tasks are accomplished based on historical and forecast agrometeorological data, along with site specific crop and soil-water data. In this context, IRMA_SYS is addressed to irrigation professionals who have the background and the experience to interpret the information provided and use the system for setting up irrigation schedules, plan and record irrigation events as well as self-training regarding irrigation management.

Keywords: irrigation scheduling; modelling; regional services; evapotranspiration forecasting; irrigation professionals; irrigation management services; Greece; crop water requirements; FAO56.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSAMI.2016.077264

International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Management and Informatics, 2016 Vol.2 No.1, pp.1 - 18

Received: 21 Oct 2015
Accepted: 07 Dec 2015
Published online: 25 Jun 2016 *

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