Smart cotton water management system
A data-driven solution for cotton crop water use monitoring, merging soil and canopy sensing to inform water management in semi-arid regions. It supports efficient water allocation through a visualization dashboard for regenerative and traditional cropping systems.
Overview
The Smart Cotton Water Management System is a cutting-edge, data-driven tool designed to optimize water use in cotton agriculture. By integrating real-time soil moisture data with new canopy-level sensing technologies, this system provides a comprehensive understanding of crop water demand. The solution is particularly beneficial for semi-arid regions like the Western Corn Belt, where effective water management is critical. This tool informs growers about optimal water allocation, helping them transition to more sustainable practices with reduced water inputs.
Technical specifications
- Data Integration: Combines data from existing soil moisture probes with new canopy-level sensors, including infrared thermal radiometers and NDVI sensors.
- Instrumentation: Utilizes Soil VUE and ACCLIMA soil moisture probes, along with handheld porometers for stomatal conductance measurement.
- Dashboard Visualization: Offers a user-friendly interface to visualize water footprints of different cropping systems, aiding in decision-making.
- Analytical Pipeline: Integrates soil, plant, and meteorological data to refine evapotranspiration models, essential for precise water demand assessment.
Technology readiness level
The project is currently at TRL 2. Initial phases involve the installation of new sensing equipment and data integration from ongoing field experiments. Future work will focus on model calibration and dashboard development, leading to practical deployment in agricultural settings.
About West Texas A&M University
West Texas A&M University is a public university in Canyon and a member of The Texas A&M University System, pairing a student-centered mission with applied research that serves the High Plains economy. On the WT campus, Texas A&M’s Veterinary Education, Research & Outreach (VERO) facilities provide co-located classrooms and research labs that connect faculty and students with producers and animal‑health partners across the region. The university also operates applied research farms, a dedicated research feedlot, and food and environmental laboratories that support pilot studies, validation work, and field‑based trials with Panhandle employers. Research is supported by competitive federal funding, plus state and regional sponsors. Industry collaborations are streamlined through Texas A&M Innovation, the System‑wide office that manages IP, licensing, and startup support for all members.
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