Optimization of irrigation scheduling using ant colony algorithms and an advanced cropping system model

• Published in: Environmental modelling & software : with environment data news Vol. 97; pp. 32 - 45
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Duc Cong Hiep, Ascough, James C., Maier, Holger R., Dandy, Graeme C., Andales, Allan A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2017; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Algorithms; annuals; Ant colony optimization; Colorado; Computer simulation; computer software; Corn; costs and returns; Crop growth; Crop growth modeling; crop models; Crop production; Cropping systems; Crops; decision support systems; environmental models; Fertilizer application; fertilizer rates; fertilizers; Graphical representations; graphs; Irrigation; Irrigation scheduling; Irrigation water; Objective function; Optimization; Schedules; Simulation; system optimization; Water availability; United States > US; Colorado; Ant colony optimization; Irrigation scheduling; Crop growth modeling; Optimization
• ISSN: 1364-8152; 1873-6726
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.07.002

A generic simulation-optimization framework for optimal irrigation and fertilizer scheduling is developed, where the problem is represented in the form of decision-tree graphs, ant colony optimization (ACO) is used as the optimization engine and a process-based crop growth model is applied to evaluate the objective function. Dynamic decision variable option (DDVO) adjustment is used in the framework to reduce the search space size during the generation of trial solutions. The framework is applied for corn production under various levels of water availability and rates of fertilizer application in eastern Colorado, USA. The results indicate that ACO-DDVO is able to identify irrigation and fertilizer schedules that result in better net returns while using less irrigation water and fertilizer than those obtained using the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet-based Colorado Irrigation Scheduler (CIS) tool for annual crops. Another advantage of ACO-DDVO compared to CIS is the identification of both optimal irrigation and fertilizer schedules. •Improved approach to optimizing irrigation and fertilizer schedules.•Linking of ant colony optimization with advanced cropping system model.•Application to real-world case study for irrigation and fertilizer scheduling of corn production in eastern Colorado, USA.