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EnviroSCAN in alfalfa (lucerne)
"Irrigation of lucerne for seed production is enhanced by the quality of data created by continuous soil moisture loggers and the IrriMAX™ software.
- James De Barro
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Alfalfa (lucerne) seed production is optimised by the ability to dry down the soil profile. A dry soil profile enhances flower pollination by honey bees and other pollinators by making the alfalfa flowers more easily "tripped" by foraging pollinators. Being a perennial pasture species with a tap root, the alfalfa plant is able to extract soil water from 40-100 cm or deeper depending on the soil type. Sentek probes such as the EnviroSCAN™ Plus system provide high quality continually logged data that records crop water use through the soil profile. Higher seed yields are obtained where the soil moisture can be allowed to dry down to a point above the wilting point before further irrigation is applied. Using flood, pivot or subsurface systems, accurate strategies can be developed, on any soil type, to time the irrigation to suit the crops needs for growth and seed set.
Several Sentek distributors record the data and place it on the internet to enable clients to view their data and plan their irrigation scheduling with confidence. The data access has created an excellent forum for improving client relations and has assisted in educating irrigators in aspects of crop water use and irrigation scheduling.
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