The Role of I-SCADA System and Specialized Software in Energy and Water Efficiency on a 104 square km~2 (40 ml~2) Large-Scale Drip Irrigated Agro-Forestry Farm, USA

摘要

In the semi-arid Pacific Northwest of USA, where less than 20 centimeters (8 in) of total annual precipitation occurs, exists the world's largest contiguous drip irrigated farm of 10 360 hectares (25 600 acres), managed by Greenwood Resources Inc. andknown as the Boardman Tree Farm (BTF). On this farm, 10 000 000 fast-growing Pacific Albus (Hybrid Poplar) trees are irrigated by a massive and complex automated water distribution system. Irrigation pumping energy is a major crop production cost, so avery aggressive and determined effort is made to operate the irrigation system efficiently and cost effectively. Some of the practices are the use of innovative design for closed-loop drip irrigation system, Advanced Scientific Irrigation Management (ASIM), automated soil moisture sensing and the use of one of the most advanced and sophisticated Irrigation Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (I-SCADA) systems in the world. Additionally the use of an original and innovative methodology incorporatinga customized Advance Hydraulic Balanced Irrigation Scheduling (AHBIS) computer program, for smooth and steady multiple pump stations hydraulic operation.With the impressive use of innovative computerized irrigation water management methodologies, together with precise and accurate automated application of irrigation water quantities, the Boardman Tree Farm achieves astonishing high overall on-farm irrigation efficiencies. The Boardman Tree Farm offers a show-case example where latest computerized technology and human ingenuity are utilized to drip irrigate vast areas of semi-arid land, while minimizing the use of scare water and energy resources and still maintaining a eco-friendly sustainable rate of fiber production. On a global scale, the Boardman Tree Farm can help foster global advancement of large-scale drip irrigation projects that efficiently use water and energy to produce cost effective and sustainable eco-friendly production of Agro-Forestry crops and help mitigate effects of global wanning.