Tillage Scheduler

The Tillage Scheduler tool functionality provides a field-specific evaluation of the soil conditions in terms of its appropriateness for executing or not a tillage operation (soil workability).

In a first step, based on the specific soil properties, the tool estimates the optimum soil moisture content for a tillage operation, as well as the upper and the lower limits of the soil moisture to which a tillage operation should take place.

In a second step, the Tillage Scheduler tool "reads" the value of the soil moisture content from the soil moisture sensor (or sensors) which is (are) established in the field, and based on the soil texture of the field and the forecasted weather conditions provides the current (today) and the expected values of the soil moisture content (for the next four days).

Based on the optimum soil moisture for tillage, the lower and the upper limits, and the measured (current) and estimated (for the next days) soil moisture, the user's decision if and when is the best day for a tillage operation (considering also the tillage depth) is supported.

1. Select weather station. In the case there is no weather station established, the tool does not provide any further option. Even if the weather station(s) of a user is (are) not established in the specific field, the tool can still run. However, the user should select a station that is established in a field with identical soil moisture conditions.

2. Fill Sand, Clay and Soil Organic Matter percentages to be used as input

The calculation results are shown in the image below: each one of the diagrams corresponds to a watermark (soil moisture sensor). If only one watermark has been established, then only one diagram will appear, and so forth.

Note that the user should consider the diagram that corresponds to the watermark that is established to the depth closer to the tillage depth.

The lower and higher straight lines represent the lower and higher limits of the allowed soil moisture content for a tillage operation, while the central straight line corresponds to the optimum moisture content for a tillage operation at the depth of the watermark.

The dots represent the current soil moisture content (first day - sensor readings) and the estimated soil moisture content for the next four days.