Climate Data and ETo-Based Irrigation Strategy Cut Water Use by 16%

In our third Optimized series, we look at how a Moroccan berry grower used FarmRoad to cut water use by 16 percent without losing fruit quality. Last month, we showed how ETo forecasting helped tomato growers improve irrigation planning. This new study builds on that work, testing proactive irrigation strategies in berry greenhouses where water is both scarce and costly.

The Challenge

Water is scarce and expensive in Morocco. After six consecutive years of severe drought, dam levels nationwide are critically low. Reuters reported that rainfall was 53% lower this year compared with the 30-year average, and by early 2025 reservoir filling rates had dropped to just 26%, with key agricultural regions like Souss-Massa at only 15% capacity.

As a result, growers are increasingly reliant on desalinated water, which costs around $0.56 per cubic meter — more than five times the price of conventional supply. To cope, Morocco is accelerating investments in desalination plants, water transfer projects and new dams to meet rising demand from agriculture and cities.

The Goal

This research with a leading Moroccan berry grower aimed to:

• Improve precision of irrigation for berries grown on substrate
• Develop a proactive irrigation strategy that adjusts based on predicted climate parameters
• Track impacts on plant growth, fruit quality and yield
• Compare water and nutrient efficiency with standard practices

The Method

Two greenhouses were monitored over five weeks:

• Greenhouse 10 (FarmRoad strategy): Irrigation events were informed by FarmRoad’s climate and root zone sensors, along with ETo, VPD and radiation forecasts. Drip and drain data was collected daily via the FarmRoad app.
• Greenhouse 11 (Traditional strategy): The grower’s usual approach was maintained for comparison.

Measurements included water and fertilizer consumption, EC, fruit size, firmness, pH, brix, acidity, dry matter and water content.

The Results

• Water savings: 15.8% average reduction (the range of savings was 8.6% to 27.3%)
• Cost impact: US $225/ha saved in 5 weeks — equivalent to $2,167 per hectare annually (based on an 11-month cycle)
• Fruit quality: Maintained across the trial with slight improvement in fruit firmness
• Nutrient solution: More stable EC and drainage, reducing risk of salt build-up and supporting long-term root health

Why It Matters

For growers using irrigation systems to manage fertigation, water efficiency is a direct path to lowering input costs. Even small percentage gains compound into thousands of dollars saved per hectare. Importantly, this can be achieved without compromising fruit quality or yield.

WayBeyond Recommendations

This trial extends earlier research with a Mexican tomato grower, where FarmRoad-based irrigation strategies achieved a 14–16% water saving. Despite different crops, climates and research timeframes, the outcome in Morocco was remarkably similar: consistent reductions in water and fertilizer use while maintaining crop quality.

The evidence is clear: with FarmRoad, growers can make proactive, data-driven irrigation decisions that cut costs and safeguard long-term crop health.

Read more about how FarmRoad can help you with smart irrigation here.