Precision Technologies Key to Sustainable Saudi Agriculture
 

 

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JEDDAH – Agriculture in Saudi Arabia consumes about 90 percent of the water used in the country. The efficient use of finite water resources is essential for attaining sustainability of agriculture and protection of the fragile environment in the Kingdom. Precision Agriculture Research Chair (PARC) of King Saud University (KSU) has been implementing applied research projects funded by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) under the National Plan for Science and Technology (NPST) in order to develop efficient ways of utilizing water in the agriculture sector.

PARC employs Precision Agriculture (PA) technologies to achieve this overarching goal. According to Dr. Khalid Al-Gaadi, Director of PARC, the science of Precision Agriculture (PA) is quite new to this region and for the first time in the Middle East, research on PA has been initiated by KSU, represented by PARC. Precision agriculture implies application of inputs such as seed, water, fertilizers and pesticides in the right amounts, at the right time, at the right place and in the right manner. PA helps farmers optimize use of inputs that results in increasing the agricultural economic efficiency and environment protection.

PA involves assessment, management and monitoring of spatial and temporal variability in soil properties and crop growth parameters. In order to implement PA, cutting edge technologies, such as Remote Sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), Information and Communication Technologies, Sensor Technologies, Wireless Sensor Networks, Yield mapping and Variable Rate Technologies (VRT) are employed.

Participatory mode is being carried out on two commercial farms in Haradh and Al-Kharj regions, one of which belongs to the National Agricultural Development Company (NADEC). KSU, represented by PARC, and NADEC signed an MOU in June 2011 for undertaking collaborative research work. The PA research is carried out to implement two projects funded by KACST under NPST. These projects are — precision fertigation for sustainable agriculture in Saudi Arabia; and water productivity mapping and assessment of irrigation performance for irrigation water conservation, a study in Al-Kharj region. The main goal of both projects is to optimize the use of resources, such as water and fertilizers, in agriculture. State of the art Precision Agriculture laboratory has been established in PARC. The laboratory is equipped with most of the high-end technology instruments that are necessary to carry out the advanced PA research in the field of agriculture.

PA research work is carried out on farmers’ fields and not on University’s educational farm. The farmers’ participatory mode of work enables the integration of farmers experiences when planning the research program. Constant dialogue with the farmer is necessary to implement the projects and empower the farmers. In addition, farmers’ participatory research can drastically reduce the time taken for the transfer of technology to the end-user. The principle of "Seeing is believing" is thus integrated into the research process, which is an activity that has not been reported earlier from Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Al-Gaadi explained the mechanics of the precision fertigation research methodology adopted by PARC, saying that the research planning, including experimental design and various treatments, were thoroughly discussed with the farmer before the start of the field work. Agricultural operations were all carried out by the farmer.

In order to vary the application rate of inputs for the test crops (wheat and alfalfa), Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) systems custom designed by Valley Irrigation Company of California, US, were mounted on two center pivot irrigation systems. These systems were capable of varying the amount of irrigation water applied to fit the need of different parts within the field. However, the domain knowledge was necessary to develop prescription maps for the VRI systems. The prescription maps for the test crops were developed based on the amount of water to be applied in each irrigation cycle that depended on the crop evapotranspiration (ETc). These prescription maps were uploaded onto the VRI control panel for applying water differentially within the field. The decision to vary the amount of irrigation water within a field was based on the concept of Management Zones (MZ). Delineation of MZ was a novel technique which hitherto was not used in Saudi Arabia. In this technique, the field was divided into convenient Management Zones based on the spatial variability of the production potential of different field areas. The parameters that were used for dividing the field into MZ were: soil electrical conductivity, elevation of the field and composite Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) determined using time series satellite imagery. Each of the research fields on both farms was demarcated into two MZ. Field experiments to study the response of crops to precision fertigation are currently carried out.

The growth pattern, crop canopy temperature, Land Surface Temperature (LST), Leaf Area Index (LAI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and hyper spectral reflectance of both crops were constantly monitored through proximal, as well as, remote sensing techniques. Advanced Space borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) satellite images were procured for periodic monitoring of crop growth. ASTER is an imaging instrument onboard Terra, the flagship satellite of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), USA. In addition to satellite image analysis, periodic ground truth data on crop bio-physical parameters was also collected. Yield Monitors fitted onto hay baling units were used to record the geo-referenced hay yield of alfalfa. Based on the total quantities of water used and the hay yield obtained, the crop water use efficiencies were determined.

According to Dr. Al-Gaadi, the initial results of the study are highly promising. These results have indicated that a saving in the total quantity of water of 20 percent (6260 m3 of water/ha/year) in alfalfa and 30percent (2280 m3 of water/ha/season) in wheat can be achieved without sacrificing the yield of crops. At the national level, this saving is translated into more than 775 million m3 of water per year for a total alfalfa cultivated area of 123,837 ha in 2011. For wheat, the saving is more than 439.5 million m3 of irrigation water per season considering a total wheat cultivated area of 192,818 ha during 2011 season. This substantial water saving in a scarce resource in the Kingdom is crucial and has national and strategic dimensions. This water saving in irrigation water was achieved by the adoption of the Precision Fertigation (PF) techniques.

The quantity of diesel used for running a center pivot (1,360 gallons per minute) for one hour is around 90 liters. Considering the present diesel cost of SR0.25/lit, the cost of running the pivot works out to SR22.5 /h. For alfalfa, a saving of SR456/ha can be achieved in a period of eleven months due to saving of water alone. However, the saving for wheat is calculated at SR166/ha/season, where the season is about 4 to 5 months. At the national level, it can be extrapolated that a saving of about SR56.5 millions can be achieved considering a total alfalfa cultivated area of 123,837 ha during the year 2011. For wheat, this saving is a little more than SR32 millions considering a total area of wheat of 192,818 ha in 2011.

The savings can effectively help farming enterprises increase their profitability and attain sustainability while protecting and preserving the environment. The overriding importance of water to the country’s food and water security can make these economic benefits seem invaluable.

PARC is also engaged in developing maps of crop types, crop productivity, Evapotranspiration and Crop Water Productivity. The third ambitious project on "Use of saline water for tomato production in hydroponic green houses" has already been approved to be funded by NPST and will be started soon. The efforts of PARC team would go a long way in developing suitable precision agriculture technologies for the benefit of the people of Saudi Arabia. — SG.

Saudi Arabia: Agriculture in Saudi Arabia consumes about 90% of the water used in the country. The efficient use of finite water resources is essential for attaining sustainability of agriculture and protection of the fragile environment in the Kingdom. Precision Agriculture Research Chair (PARC) of King Saud University (KSU) has been implementing applied research projects funded by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) under the National Plan for Science and Technology (NPST) in order to develop efficient ways of utilising water in the agriculture sector.

PARC employs Precision Agriculture (PA) technologies to achieve this overarching goal. According to Dr. Khalid Al-Gaadi, Director of PARC, the science of Precision Agriculture (PA) is quite new to this region and for the first time in the Middle East, research on PA has been initiated by KSU, represented by PARC. Precision agriculture implies application of inputs such as seed, water, fertilizers and pesticides in the right amounts, at the right time, at the right place and in the right manner. PA helps farmers optimise use of inputs that results in increasing the agricultural economic efficiency and environment protection.

PA involves assessment, management and monitoring of spatial and temporal variability in soil properties and crop growth parameters. In order to implement PA, cutting edge technologies, such as Remote Sensing, GIS, GPS, Information and Communication Technologies, Sensor Technologies, Wireless Sensor Networks, Yield mapping and Variable Rate Technologies (VRT) are employed.

Participatory mode is being carried out on two commercial farms in Haradh and Al-Kharj regions, one of which belongs to the National Agricultural Development Company (NADEC). KSU, represented by PARC, and NADEC signed an MOU in June 2011 for undertaking collaborative research work. The PA research is carried out to implement two projects funded by KACST under NPST. These projects are — precision fertigation for sustainable agriculture in Saudi Arabia; and water productivity mapping and assessment of irrigation performance for irrigation water conservation, a study in Al-Kharj region. The main goal of both projects is to optimise the use of resources, such as water and fertilizers, in agriculture. State of the art Precision Agriculture laboratory has been established in PARC. The laboratory is equipped with most of the high-end technology instruments that are necessary to carry out the advanced PA research in the field of agriculture.

 

According to Dr. Al-Gaadi, the initial results of the study are highly promising. These results have indicated that a saving in the total quantity of water of 20 percent (6260 m3 of water/ha/year) in alfalfa and 30percent (2280 m3 of water/ha/season) in wheat can be achieved without sacrificing the yield of crops. At the national level, this saving is translated into more than 775 million m3 of water per year for a total alfalfa cultivated area of 123,837 ha in 2011. For wheat, the saving is more than 439.5 million m3 of irrigation water per season considering a total wheat cultivated area of 192,818 ha during 2011 season. This substantial water saving in a scarce resource in the Kingdom is crucial and has national and strategic dimensions. This water saving in irrigation water was achieved by the adoption of the Precision Fertigation (PF) techniques.
 

Farming techniques for the next century are being pioneered at King Saud University by a ground breaking precision farming project that hopes to reduce the amount of fertilizer, pesticide, water that farmers need use, all while improving crop yields.

The KSU precision farming project, organised by the Precision Agriculture Research Chair (PARC), uses satellite imagery, GPS mapping and advanced data gathering to allow farmers to tailor inputs to the exact field where they are working.

A trial of the technology is under way on two farms in the Hardh and Kharj areas, with both seeing the precision application of fertiliser via irrigation water, a process known as fertigation, as well as the application of water, to crops being tested.

The project is being undertaken in partnership with farmers themselves, to make use of their expertise in the planning phase of the research program.

PARC Director Khalid A. Al-Gaadi believes an ongoing dialogue with the farmers is essential for implementing the project in a successful manner that will benefit both them and the researchers.

 

Al-Gaadi said working alongside the farmers also sharply reduces the time needed for the technology transfer from university to practical application, by using what is known as the ‘show and convince’ principle.

“The research plan is carefully discussed, including the design of the experiments and various activities, with the farmers, before the field work begins,” he said.

“This is bearing in mind that all the agricultural processes are carried out by the farmer to vary the average of inputs into the crops under testing, such as wheat and clover.”

A Variable Rate Irrigation(VRI) system, specially designed the USA, has been installed in two irrigation channels on the farms to assess the system’s ability to vary the ratio of irrigation water used to match the  needs of sectors within the field.

Descriptive maps of the crops are complied based on the evapotranspiration of crops – how much water is lost through evaporation and plant respiration – as well as the electrical conductivity of the soil, the slope or gradient of the field, and the growth rate, vegetation cover, and temperature, as assessed by satellite.

These descriptive maps are loaded into the VRI system and are used to adjust the amount of water applied during every irrigation cycle to the different locations in the field.

Based on these maps the fields are split into two Management Zones (MZ) to locate areas of probable high and low production, and are used to assess the response of crops to the precise application of fertiliser via an irrigation system, a process known as fertigation.

Al-Gaadi believes the preliminary results for fertiliser and water use show much promise, with up to 20 percent of water used in a clover clover crop or 30 percent of water for a wheat crop able to be saved without any effect on crop quantity.

Based on the amount of clover planted in 2011, it’s a possible saving of more than 775 million cubic meters of water per year for clover crops alone.

For wheat, the numbers are just as impressive, with almost 440 million cubic meters of water able to be saved per season.

Economic savings are also possible by using fertigation, as less diesel fuel is needed to operate primary irrigation machinery.

Currently a standard central irrigation machine consumes fuel at the rate of 90 litres per hour or 22.5 Riyals an hour based on a diesel price of 25 halala per litre.

By better targeting the application of water to crops, and using fertigation, in clover 456 Riyals per hectare can be saved during 11 months while for wheat 166 Riyals per hectare can be saved during the growing season.

As the growing season for clover extends for four to five months, nationally 56.5 million SAR could be saved, while for wheat the saving is more than 32 million SAR, based on 2011 crop sizes.

Generating these types of savings would help farming businesses become more sustainable while increasing their profitability and preserving the environment.

The next ambitious project planned by PARC aims at using salty water to grow tomatoes in green houses hydroponically and is expected to begin soon.
 

Precision Agriculture to save Precision Water

 

                                                                            

The agricultural sector accounts for 90 percent of the Kingdom’s water consumption. Consequently, the efficient use of the finite water resources in the Kingdom is essential for achieving agricultural sustainability and in protecting the sparse arable land in the country.
According to Khalid Al-Gaadi, director of the Precision Agriculture Research Chair (PARC) at King Saud University (KSU), PARC has been implementing applied research projects funded by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) to develop a strategy for the efficient utilization of water in the agricultural sector.

Precision agriculture (PA) is still a nascent science in this region and has been established by KSU, represented by PARC as the first initiative of its kind in the Middle East. This field of study explores the best practices in agriculture and how to optimally use seeds, water, fertilizers and pesticides, to avoid depleting these resources.
PA also helps farmers to optimize the use of various resources, resulting in greater agricultural and economic efficiency, in addition to contributing to environmental protection. The science depends on cutting edge technology to assess, manage and monitor spatial and temporal variability in soil properties and crop growth parameters. Some of the devices and the latest technology employed include remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS), global positioning system (GPS), information and communication technologies, sensor technologies, wireless sensor networks, yield mapping and variable rate technologies.
Al-Gaadi said that PA research in farmers' participatory mode is being carried out in two commercial farms in Haradh and Al-Kharj regions, one of which belongs to the National Agricultural Development Company. The KSU, represented by PARC, along with NADEC, signed a memorandum of understanding in June 2011 to undertake collaborative research work. The PA research is carried out to implement two projects funded by KACST under National Plan for Science and Technology.
Al-Gaadi explained that constant dialogue with farmers and their involvement is necessary to successfully implement the projects and to drastically reduce the time taken to transfer the technology and information to them.
The farmers are still in charge of carrying out the agricultural operations, which is the reason why their participatory involvement in the experimental designs and their feedback on the research planning is so essential.
According to Al-Gaadi, the initial results of the study are highly promising. The results have indicated that water up to 20 percent (6260 m3 of water/ha/year) can be saved in alfalfa production and 30 percent (2280 m3 of water/ha/water) in wheat, without sacrificing crop yield.
At the national level, this translates to more than 775 million m3 of water per year saved for the cultivation of alfalfa spanning 123,837 hectares (ha) of land. In addition more than 439.5 million m3 of irrigation water will be conserved for a total area of 192,818 ha used to grow wheat.
The Precision Fertigation (PF) techniques resulted in the substantial conservation of irrigation water as well as saving diesel used to operate agricultural machinery.
These savings can effectively help farming enterprises increase their profitability and attain sustainability while protecting and preserving the environment.