2023-11-08 23:00:00
Irrigation management is a key sector for the competitiveness and resilience of the French agricultural sector. With the climate crises we are experiencing, access to water is increasingly difficult. Météo-France recently updated its seasonal normals (1991-2020) and noted a general decrease in precipitation in spring throughout the metropolis, and a decrease in the north and east of France throughout the year. . Current irrigation management methods are no longer efficient enough in relation to climatic, social and economic constraints and this is felt more and more each summer. This was particularly the case in 2022, and the year 2023 started with an episode of historic winter drought (32 days without rain in February-March) and a 2-month delay in filling groundwater tables, according to the Minister of Ecological transition. This has led certain prefectures in the south of France to take water restriction measures from the start of spring. Unfortunately, such situations will recur in the future.
To be more competitive and demonstrate their good practices and their efforts to preserve water resources, producers apply for labels such as Plante Bleue, Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE). Such labels imply that candidates must be as efficient as possible in the management of water resources. The use of sensors, weather stations or any other measuring tool providing data allowing more precise and efficient irrigation are a necessity to obtain these labels. During the 2023 International Agricultural Show, the President of the Republic called for “a water sobriety plan” on the model of “energy sobriety”, referring to “the end of abundance”. This plan provides an incentive to reduce our water consumption by 10%. Precision irrigation is a major lever that should be explored.
Understanding the water balance in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum is essential, because plant water requirements are regulated by (1) soil water reserve and water accessibility by roots, and (2) ) the microclimatic conditions surrounding the plant. In the event of water stress, the plant adopts different strategies to ensure its survival and maintain a water state adapted to its environment. Evaluating the water status of plants is now possible thanks to various soil, plant and climate monitoring sensors. Advances in metrology now make it possible to monitor the components of the water balance 24 hours a day. Controlling irrigation by electronic probe is one of the most effective methods, but at a very high cost (several hundred euros). The current irrigation management market offers few sensor-driven management solutions and these do not take into account the water stress felt in real time by crops.
What are the most relevant agronomic indicators? What levers should be tested to save water use? Can growing crops under conditions of controlled water stress make sense? This article will attempt to provide some answers to these questions.
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