Water past the roots is wasted twice
Over-irrigation washes nitrogen and potassium below the root zone along with the water, so you pay for the water and the fertiliser.
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Services · Irrigation scheduling
Irrigation scheduling on what the soil actually holds.
Capacitance probes read soil moisture through the root zone. We set the refill and full points for each probe and turn the readings into a schedule, so water goes on when the crop needs it and stops before it drains past the roots.
Why it matters
Why schedule on soil moisture
Stress costs quality
Too little water at the wrong stage limits fruit size and set, and irregular water is linked to cracking and splitting in grapes and pomegranates.
Refill points, set per probe
Every soil holds water differently. We set refill and full points from each probe's own record, not from a generic number.
See where the roots work
Probes show which depths the roots draw from, so the depth of each irrigation matches the root zone.
How we do it
Four steps, the same way every time.
1
Place
Probes installed in representative positions, where the roots are working.
2
Set the points
Refill and full points set per probe from the first weeks of readings.
3
Schedule
Irrigation timing and amount recommended from the readings and the weather.
4
Review
Readings reviewed through the season, and points adjusted as the roots develop.
What you get back
What lands on your desk.
- A probe placement plan per block
- Refill and full points per probe and root zone
- Irrigation recommendations through the season
- Weather station readings alongside the probes
- A season review of water use against crop response
Questions
Questions farmers ask us.
Do I have to buy probes from you?
No. We're independent of equipment suppliers: we can work with probes you already have, or advise on what suits your soils and crop.
What is a refill point?
The soil moisture level below which the crop starts to struggle for water. Irrigating before the profile drops below it avoids stress; filling above the full point only drains water past the roots.
Which crops benefit most?
Any irrigated crop, especially grapes, citrus, pomegranates, lucerne under pivot and vegetables, where both stress and over-watering cost yield and quality.
More from Integri Ag
Other services and the crops we work in.
Contact
Talk to an independent agronomist about irrigation scheduling.
Evert Bergh, agronomist. Based in Durbanville, serving farmers across the Western Cape and nationally.