A DECISION-MAKING SYSTEM FOR AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT IN TREE CULTIVATIONS

摘要

The aim of this work is the development of a decision-making system for an optimal agricultural water management for olive and citrus crops. This decision-making system combines a space-time simulation of an unsaturated flow with the minimum irrigation needs ensuring optimal plant growth. These approaches will be implemented in one of the most intensively cultivated and productive area of Crete, Greece. The study area is located in the northern part of Chania, Crete where olive and citrus are the main crops. Geoinformation, such as meteorological, land use, geology and tree cultivation data, was used for the creation of the above decision-making system. In addition, field measurements were performed to determine soil moisture, soil composition as well as leaf area index. Based on these data, the decision-making system provides a two-dimensional (2D) dynamic spatiotemporal imaging parameters which are directly related to the hydraulic characteristics of the soil. Subsequently, these parameters are used for the optimal scheduling of the irrigation needs for olive and citrus crops, ensuring crop yields and water resources savings.