Research to field practice

From field data to better water decisions.

Explore the science connecting AI, IoT, sensors and remote sensing to smarter irrigation.
SOIL ↔ WATER ↔ CROPS ↔ CLIMATEFrom observations to accountable decisions.
01 / FIELD SYSTEMS

One field. Connected systems.

Water, soil and crops, seen together.

3D field with crop rows, soil-moisture probes, a weather station, irrigation pipes, a greenhouse and layers of soil Crops & canopyIrrigation networkSoil & roots
Two researchers carrying out double-ring infiltration fieldwork in an orchard
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Built for the people who work with water.FarmersResearchersStudentsIrrigation professionals

FIELD NOTES / BIGGER POSSIBILITIES

A closer look at smarter irrigation.

01 / WATER & CROP SCIENCE

Every good decision starts in the field.

Connect crop water needs, soil storage and irrigation timing. Explore transparent methods and check the assumptions against your own observations.

Explore water calculations
Irrigation fieldwork
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02 / SENSORS & CONNECTED DATA

Give your observations more context.

Learn how soil-moisture measurements, weather records and sensor calibration fit together in an irrigation study. Keep measured data distinct from provider estimates.

Explore AI & technology
Field research and agricultural observations
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03 / AI & INDEPENDENT EVALUATION

Look beyond a prediction. Check the evidence.

Explore machine learning, computer vision and remote sensing for agriculture. Compare numeric model outputs with independent field measurements using the validation tools.

Explore field validation
Laboratory soil research
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04 / RESEARCH & LEARNING

Turn a field question into a research journey.

Discover research themes, prepare consistent records and follow a method back to its scientific source. Bring your questions to a growing space for shared learning.

Discover our research
Agricultural field trials
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YOUR QUESTION / YOUR NEXT STEP

What would you like to explore?

Start with your field question. Find a method, prepare your data and explore the result.

Water planning

Estimate crop water demand

Explore reference evapotranspiration and crop coefficients to understand daily crop water requirements.

Prepare: reference ET₀ and a justified crop coefficient.

Open crop water demand

Water planning

Plan a depth, volume or run time

Translate a required irrigation depth into a water volume and an indicative system operating time.

Prepare: area, net depth, efficiency and available flow.

Open irrigation planning

Weather & soil

Understand your field conditions

Explore current weather, forecasts and historical inputs alongside your field observations.

Prepare: location and dates; check each source and unit.

Explore local weather

Technology & evidence

Evaluate a model or a measurement

Explore sensors and AI concepts, then use matched observed and predicted values to evaluate numeric outputs.

Prepare: paired observations, predictions and matching units.

Explore validation tools

WORLDWIDE / RWANDA

Agriculture, irrigation & AI around the world.

Selected developments and project briefings from around the world, with a focus on Rwanda.

4 curated updates

Rwanda

AI & digital agriculture

Digital innovation for Rwanda’s urban and fruit trees

FAO, Rwanda’s Ministry of Environment and the Rwanda Forestry Authority announced a challenge for deployment-ready digital solutions for tree monitoring, data management and the urban and fruit-tree value chain. The call illustrates demand for practical digital tools in local agricultural and environmental work. Eligibility and availability remain governed by the official call.

Source & review details

FAO e-Agriculture · Rwanda digital innovation challenge

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News update · Reviewed .

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Worldwide

Agriculture & resilience

From promising innovations to practical agricultural impact

At the 2026 FAO Science and Innovation Forum in Rome, agrifood innovators discussed how partnerships and resources help ideas reach farmers. Examples included satellite-supported climate finance in Kenya, fish-protein processing in Indonesia and incentives for climate-smart farming in the Caribbean. These are distinct initiatives, with outcomes that need to be assessed in their own settings.

Source & review details

FAO e-Agriculture · Science and Innovation Forum 2026

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News update · Reviewed .

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Worldwide

Irrigation & water

Satellite water data connects with irrigation planning

FAO and Palestinian water and agriculture institutions presented the integration of WaPOR satellite data with national water-information and irrigation-groundwater assessment tools in Ramallah. The workshop highlights how open Earth-observation data can inform water budgeting. Satellite estimates still need interpretation alongside local crop, soil and field measurements.

Source & review details

FAO WaPOR · Water-management tools workshop, Palestine

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News update · Reviewed .

Explore crop water demand →
Rwanda

Agriculture & resilience

Kigali brings irrigation, investment and innovation into one discussion

Rwanda hosted the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali from 1 to 4 September 2026. MINAGRI’s account describes investment across production, irrigation, storage, finance, technology and markets, with an emphasis on resilience and practical implementation. This connects local field questions with wider regional work on agricultural transformation.

Source & review details

Rwanda MINAGRI · Africa Food Systems Forum 2026

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News update · Reviewed .

Explore irrigation research →

LEARN / APPLY / EVALUATE

A clear path from question to evidence.

01

Frame your question

Choose a crop, field condition or irrigation problem. Identify the method and the inputs it needs.

02

Explore with context

Enter suitable values, check units and review the assumptions. Keep teaching examples separate from measured data.

03

Check against the field

Compare results with independent observations and record the limitations before applying them.

Start here

Put research into practice.

Our purpose →

AN INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH DESK

Follow the question. Find the source.

Explore public data and scientific literature from the original providers. Each resource opens in a new tab.

39-CALCULATOR DIRECTORY

Find your next calculation.

Open Field Design →Explore all Field Tools →

Explore the full collection below. Select any calculator number or name to open its calculator in Field Tools.

Our aim

Connect agricultural water research with practical irrigation decisions for farmers, researchers and students. Explore our research, use our tools, and connect with us to advance agricultural water management.

Our mission

Develop and share accessible evidence, field methods and digital tools that support responsible water use, resilient crop production and research learning.

    From the research hub

    Recent updates

    From field observations to intelligent decisions

    Connect agricultural data, transparent calculations and model validation for irrigation, crop monitoring, water-productivity research and yield forecasting.

    Explore machine learning, forecasting & computer vision →

    LEARN · APPLY · CHECK

    Research knowledge

    Understand crop water needs

    Follow the method, check units and review the assumptions before using a result.

    Read FAO-56 guidance →

    Choose your weather inputs

    Review the location, dates and source. Keep provider estimates distinct from your measurements.

    Explore weather data →

    Check against field measurements

    Compare observed and predicted values. Keep calibration and independent evaluation separate.

    Your Field Validation →

    Partner with us

    Connect through research collaboration, academic exchange and community learning in irrigation and water management.

    Explore collaboration →