Non-invasive Instrumental Surveys for Irrigation Monitoring in Agriculture. the Case Study of a Value Crop

The impact of climate change on the ecosystem of the Mediterranean Sea basin will be manifested mainly by a significant reduction in water resources, because of rising temperatures and lower rainfall despite the increase in heavy precipitation events. Water is a fundamental resource for the metabolic activities of plants in agriculture. Unfortunately this resource is available in limited quantities and therefore optimizing the use of water in irrigation practice is very important for a sustainable management of it, also considering the large water volumes required for the productive cycle of crops. In the Experimental Agricultural Companies Pantano of Pignola (40°33’31.34”N and 15°45’31.66”E) of ALSIA (Agency for the Agricultural Development and Innovation of Lucania), Basilicata Region (Italy), a research was performed by non-invasive geoelectrical and electromagnetic surveys on the Rosso Scritto of Pantano of Pignola Bean crop, for precision irrigation management. This research illustrates the preliminary results of Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) applications on the crop, for monitoring the water content in the soil and its distribution in two different irrigation treatments. From sowing and for the entire cultural cycle, irrigation monitoring was conducted by using these non-invasive investigations, based on measurements of physical properties of the soil Instrumental surveys have shown that the high irrigation regime increases the irrigation costs because water is lost in depth in the soil, with waste of water and energy. In addition, the reduction of the water supply obtained using TDR and ERT technologies to control irrigation, did not result in water stress to plant and the yield was better. A good management of water helps to cut irrigation costs, with efficient use of resources as water and energy: therefore it results that the application of technologies to irrigation management can help to achieve these objectives, for a sustainable agriculture.