What best describes precision irrigation?

Precision irrigation is a method that emphasizes the strategic application of water based on specific field conditions, particularly the data related to soil moisture. This approach utilizes technology to collect and analyze information about the moisture levels in the soil, allowing farmers to apply water precisely where and when it is needed most.

By relying on real-time soil moisture data, precision irrigation can significantly enhance water efficiency, reduce waste, and promote optimal crop growth. This precision ensures that water is not uniformly applied across all fields; instead, it targets areas that require immediate attention, addressing variability in soil type, moisture retention, and crop needs.

In contrast, uniform application of water across all fields may lead to overwatering some areas while under-watering others, seasonal flooding of crops can lead to crop damage or waterlogging, and manual irrigation methods are generally less efficient compared to automated systems that leverage data for optimal water use. Therefore, utilizing soil moisture data to guide water application captures the essence of precision irrigation effectively.