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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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Towards Development of an Optimal Irrigation Management System Using Satellite and Meteorological Data in Denmark

Author

Term

4. term

Publication year

2019

Submitted on

Pages

66

Abstract

Sommeren 2018 var præget af tørke i store dele af Nordeuropa. Det fremhæver behovet for effektiv vanding og bedre værktøjer, der kan hjælpe med at afgøre, hvornår, hvor og hvor meget der skal vandes. Denne afhandling udvikler et beslutningsstøttesystem til vanding. Systemet kombinerer viden om jordfugtighed, evapotranspiration (ET) og nedbør. ET er det samlede vandtab fra jordens fordampning og planternes transpiration og beregnes her ud fra afgrødens type og vejrfaktorer. Alle vejrdatasæt er hentet fra Danmarks Meteorologiske Institut (DMI). Jordfugtighed stammer fra fjernmålte (satellitbaserede) data, og jordtype indgår i systemets vurderinger. Undersøgelsen fokuserer på Viborg Kommune i det midt-nordlige Danmark, et område med landbrugsproduktion, og dækker perioden marts til juli 2018. Testmarker med kartofler, gulerødder og majs indgik i afprøvningen. I den endelige model estimeres den mængde vand, som landmænd bør tilføre i specifikke dele af deres marker. Projektet viser, hvordan geoinformatik og fjernmåling kan give bedre styring af vandressourcer og reducere landbrugets miljøpåvirkning. Løsningen kan gavne danske landmænd og har potentiale for anvendelse i andre regioner.

The summer of 2018 brought drought to much of Northern Europe, highlighting the need for efficient irrigation and better tools to decide when, where, and how much to water. This thesis develops an irrigation decision support system that combines information on soil moisture, evapotranspiration (ET), and precipitation. ET—the combined water loss from soil evaporation and plant transpiration—is calculated here based on crop type and weather conditions. All weather data were obtained from the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI). Soil moisture comes from remotely sensed (satellite) data, and soil type is included in the system’s assessments. The study focuses on Viborg Municipality in central-northern Denmark, an area with agricultural production, and covers March to July 2018. Test fields with potato, carrot, and corn were included. The final model estimates how much water farmers should apply to specific parts of their fields. The project illustrates how geoinformatics and remote sensing can support better water resource management and reduce the environmental impact of agriculture. The output can benefit Danish farmers and has potential for use in other regions.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]