Soil Moisture Depletion Modelling Using a TDR Multi-Sensor System, GIS, Soil Analyzes, Precision Agriculture and Remote Sensing on Maize for Improved Irrigation-Fertilization Decisions †

Abstract

The effects of three drip irrigation (IR1: Farmer’s, IR2:Full (100%ETc), IR3:Deficit (80%ETc) irrigation), and two fertilization (Ft1, Ft2) treatments were studied on maize yield and biomass by applying new agro-technologies (TDR—sensors for soil moisture (SM) measurements, Precision Agriculture, Remote Sensing—NDVI (Sentinel-2 satellite sensor), soil-hydraulic analyses and Geostatistical models, SM-rootzone modelling-2D-GIS mapping). A daily soil moisture depletion (SMDp) model was developed. The two-way-ANOVA statistical analysis results revealed that irrigation (IR3 = best) and fertilization treatments (Ft1 = best) significantly affect yield and biomass. Deficit irrigation and proper fertilization based on new agro-technologies for improved management decisions can result in substantial improvement on yield (+116.10%) and biomass (+119.71%) with less net water use (−7.49%) and reduced drainage water losses (−41.02%).