Lethbridge Polytechnic researcher working on optimizing irrigation timing, water amounts

A researcher at Lethbridge Polytechnic is developing software tools to help irrigators make better-informed decisions about when and how much to water their crops.

Michael Kehoe is currently working on a project focused on optimizing irrigation timing and water amounts using field sensor data and forecasting models.

He says the goal of the project is to use that data to develop software tools for producers that show not just what’s happening now, but what’s likely to happen over the next few days and how much water to allocate.

With summers continuing to be hot and dry, Kehoe says now is the time to help irrigators accurately plan and distribute water.

“Southern Alberta depends on irrigation,” said Kehoe.

“The economy here is not just the farmers and irrigators; it’s everyone—we all depend on that water, and this region would be a lot different without it.

“So overall, I would say it’s very important, and our small role in that is sort of trying to help farmers and irrigators with which decisions they should make surrounding technology.”

So far, Kehoe’s research has included comparing overhead pivots to subsurface drip irrigation systems, revealing similar crop water use but greater efficiency in subsurface drip irrigation systems.