Evaluating performances of the first automatic system for paddy irrigation in Europe

Daniele Masseroni, Peter Moller, Reece Tyrell, Marco Romani, Alberto Lasagna, Guido Sali, Arianna Facchi and Claudio Gandolfi

Agricultural Water Management, 2018, vol. 201, issue C, 58-69

Abstract: Italy is the leading rice producer in Europe, accounting for more than half of the total high-quality production of this crop. Rice is traditionally grown in fields that remain flooded starting with crop establishment until close to harvest. The water management in rice areas requires a high level of labor because it is based on maintaining a predetermined water height in paddy fields and because the regulation of input and output flow is typically operated manually by the farmers. This study aims to evaluate the hydraulic, control and economical performances of the first automatic and remote-controlled system applied for traditional rice irrigation in Europe and tested in Italy during 2016 agricultural season. In particular, (i) the effects of automation on the water balance; (ii) the reliability of the irrigation system for a real-time control of flow regulation and water level management in the field and (iii) the economic viability of the investment are investigated.

Keywords: Paddy field; Automatic system for irrigation; Remote-controlled gate; Hydraulic-control-economic performances (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:201:y:2018:i:c:p:58-69

DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2017.12.019

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