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LASSIFICATION OF IRRIGATION SCHEDULING MODELS AND METHODS
The following chapter refers to the classification of the various irrigation scheduling methods and tools that are commonly used and quantitativelydescribed in Section 2.4. There is a spectrum of soil-atmosphere-plant irrigation scheduling methods and techniques available that users can select from to help them to assist with the decisions to be taken to ensure that peak crop growing conditions prevail by holding soil water content at the optimum level. To assist making a decision on choosing the correct method, the potential users should ask the following questions?
? How much time can I spend on using the specific method or device and
what time is needed for interpretation?
? What level of technology am I comfortable with?
? How much money am I willing to spend?
? What level of technical and maintenance support is available?
? The soil variation on the property will also influence the number of units required if soil water content is to be measured?
Taking into account the above-mentioned questions generally asked by potential users, the following principles were used for the classification of the various irrigation scheduling methods as indicated in Figure 2.1:
? First principle was to identify and distinguish between the various soil, plant and atmospheric based irrigation scheduling methods available to try and quantify the soil-plant-atmosphere environment. The spectrum of potential soil-plant-atmosphere scheduling methods and devices identified vary from very simple methods up to scheduling methods where a computer is needed to analyse and view data.
? The second principle was to identify and distinguish between the various integrated soil-water balance methods available for users. These methods available included both pre-programmed irrigation scheduling methods as well as real time irrigation scheduling methods, where daily accounting of the soil water balance is done with the use of sophisticated measuring equipment and the use of computer programs and /or in combination with the use of scheduling simulation models.
PART ONE: BACKGROUND AND SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
1.1 ROLE OF IRRIGATION IN SEMI-ARID SOUTHERN AFRICA
1.1.1 Water use efficiency and the implementation of irrigation scheduling
1.2 PROBLEM BACKGROUND AND STATEMENT
1.3 THEORETICAL OVERVIEW
1.3.1 Technical and social dimensions of innovations
1.3.2 Models of behavioural change
1.4 TOWARDS THE FORMULATION OF HYPOTHESES
1.5 OBJECTIVES
1.6 AN OVERVIEW OF THE THESIS STRUCTURE
CHAPTER 2: DESCRIPTION AND CLASSIFICATION OF IRRIGATION SCHEDULING METHODS AND TECHNIQUES
2.1 INTRODUCTION
2.2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .
2.3 CLASSIFICATION OF IRRIGATION SCHEDULING MODELS AND METHODS
2.4 DESCRIPTION OF IRRIGATION SCHEDULING METHODS AND MODELS USED BY IRRIGATORS
2.4.1 Intuition or subjective irrigation scheduling
2.4.2 Atmospheric based quantification of evapotranspiration
2.4.6 Irrigation control or automation
2.5 SUMMARY
PART TWO: IMPLEMENTATION OF IRRIGATION SCHEDULING AT SCHEME LEVEL
CHAPTER 3: INTRODUCTION AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.2.1 Profile of respondents, data collection and analysis
3.2.2 Irrigation area and number of irrigation farmers
CHAPTER 4: IMPLEMENTATION OF IRRIGATION SCHEDULING ON IRRIGATION SCHEMES
4.1 CURRENT STATE OF ON-FARM IRRIGATION SCHEDULING
4.2 DIFFERENTIAL PERCEPTION REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF IRRIGATION SCHEDULING
4.3 STATE OF IRRIGATION SCHEDULING ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF IRRIGATION SCHEMES
4.4 ADOPTION OF ON-FARM IRRIGATION SCHEDULING METHODS
4.4.1 Interrelationship between irrigation scheduling method selected and the implementation of irrigation scheduling
4.4.2 Computer irrigation scheduling models and the interrelationship with on-farm irrigation scheduling
4.5 SUMMARY
CHAPTER 5: THE INFLUENCE OF INTERNAL FACTORS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF ON-FARM IRRIGATION SCHEDULING
5.1 TYPE OF FARMING BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
5.2 INFLUENCE OF CROP SELECTION
5.2.1 Cash crops
5.2.2 Intensive horticultural crops
5.2.3 Pastures
5.3 INFLUENCE OF ON-FARM IRRIGATION METHOD
5.3.1 Implementation of on-farm irrigation methods
5.3.2 Influence of on-farm irrigation methods on irrigation scheduling
5.4 SUMMARY
CHAPTER 6: INFLUENCE OF EXTERNAL FACTORS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ON-FARM IRRIGATION SCHEDULING ART THREE: IMPLEMENTATION OF IRRIGATION SCHEDULING ON COMMERCIA FARM LEVEL
CHAPTER 7: INTRODUCTION AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
CHAPTER 8: SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADOPTION OF IRRIGATION SCHEDULING
CHAPTER 9: INFLUENCE OF INTERVENING VARIABLES ON THE ACCEPTABILITY OF IRRIGATION SCHEDULING..
PART FOUR: IRRIGATION SCHEDULING ON SMALL-SCALE FARM LEVEL
CHAPTER 10: BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
10.1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
10.2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
CHAPTER 11: IRRIGATION SCHEDULING IN THE EASTERN CAPE: CASE STUDY
CHAPTER 12: IRRIGATION SCHEDULING IN THE LIMPOPO: CASE STUDY 2
CHAPTER 13: IRRIGATION SCHEDULING IN MPUMALANGA: CASE STUDY 3
CHAPTER 14: IRRIGATION SCHEDULING IN NORTHERN CAPE AND FREE STATE: CASE STUDY 4
CHAPTER 15: IRRIGATION SCHEDULING IN NORTHWEST: CASE STUDY 5
CHAPTER 16: IRRIGATION SCHEDULING IN OTHER PROVINCES
PART FIVE: INFORMATION SUPPORT SYSTEMS USED FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF IRRIGATION SCHEDULING
CHAPTER 18: AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE SUPPORT SYSTEMS USED FOR IRRIGATION SCHEDULING
CHAPTER 19: THE ROLE OF PRIVATE IRRIGATION CONSULTANTS AS A SOURCE OF LEARNING
CHAPTER 20: THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF INSTITUTIONS AS LEARNING SYSTEMS IN THE PROMOTION OF EFFICIENT WATER USE PRACTICES
PART SIX: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
CHAPTER 21: CRITICAL FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE ADOPTION OF IRRIGATIO SHEDULING
REFERENCES
