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Variability in Soil Water Content and Sensor-Based Irrigation Scheduling for Protected Ginseng Production
J. Cho, B. Cho, S. Chung
Chungnam National University
Ginseng is one of important medicinal plants, especially in Asian countries including Korea. Korean ginseng is mostly grown in sun-block facility on ridges, and irrigation would be critical for better production. Conventionally no irrigation or timer-controlled irrigation based on experience was practiced, and variability of soil water content and sensor measurements has not been considered. Objectives of the study were to investigate variability of soil water content, and to evaluate sensor-based irrigation scheduling. Experiments were conducted in a sun-block ginseng production field. First, soil water content was measured at 9 locations in each 1 m by 1.6 m ridge section at 2 depths (i.e., 0-12 cm, 0-20 cm) using two commercial sensors. Differences in soil water content was 1~2.2% for different rows, and less than less than 2% within section. Next three types of irrigation scheduling were compared: no irrigation, timer irrigation (two times of irrigation when there was no rain), and sensor-based irrigation (e.g., irrigation when the sensor reading was less than 19%). The sensor-based scheduling resulted in water saving of 22% and root growth increase of 20%, compared with the conventional timer irrigation. Further research on determination of optimum sensor location and real time irrigation control would be useful.
Keyword: Ginseng, Irrigation, Soil water content, Variability, Sensor
J. Cho    B. Cho    S. Chung    Precision Horticulture    Poster    2012
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