News
Automated Watering Boosts Rice Yields, Protects Environment
Tech-Savvy Rice Farmers Find Success with Automated Irrigation
1/17/25
Of all the crops produced in Mississippi, rice requires the most water—administered at the right times and maintained at the right levels—to grow and thrive.
Wouldn't it be great if rice farmers had an app for that?
In parts of the Mississippi Delta, automated watering is a reality, thanks to a project partnership involving the Water Resources Research Institute at Mississippi State University, the National Center for Alluvial Aquifer Research and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
With grant funding from NIFA, Mississippi State researchers are testing an automated system for alternate wetting and drying—a rice production technique that allows fields to dry for a few days before re-irrigation without stressing the plants.
Project manager Graham Oakley of the Water Resources Research Institute explains how farmers use sensors and pump controls to automate the process and can access their cloud-based systems through the equipment manufacturer's app or website.
"Alternate wetting and drying is effective at reducing irrigation water applied while maintaining rice grain yield, but it's also a manual process that requires intense management at all hours," said Oakley, who's working on his Ph.D from Mississippi State as part of the project. "The system we're testing uses sensors to take continuous readings of water levels and can operate irrigation pumps to maintain correct levels above and below the soil."
Oakley works closely with Dr. Drew Gholson, coordinator of the National Center for Alluvial Aquifer Research and lead principal investigator for the rice project.
The federal grant program is part of a broader strategy to help farmers address the effects of climate change by using sustainable technologies to reduce yield losses, land use, and water and energy consumption.
Researchers also are concerned about declining water levels in the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer that supports large agriculture and aquaculture industries in the Delta region.
"With help from the Water Resources Research Institute, many rice growers are testing new strategies to better utilize the water that's pumped for rice irrigation," Oakley said. "In addition to protecting the aquifer, they're lowering methane emissions, which is a greenhouse gas. It's another win for the environment and for the future."
The Water Resources Research Institute at Mississippi State University is a leader in addressing critical water and land use challenges. Collaborating with leading water resources officials, the institute develops innovative research solutions that benefit Mississippi, the region and the nation. Learn more about the institute at www.wrri.msstate.edu.
Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.
View More News