PISA-CA
PISA-CA: A free orchard water-budget tool that turns seasonal estimates into sprinkler run times. Ranked #54 of 57 in Irrigation Management Software by our editors (3.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for orchard growers planning seasonal sprinkler irrigation.
At a glance
- Editor score3.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forOrchard growers planning seasonal sprinkler irrigation
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Soil moisture controlNo
- Facts checked14 Nov 2026
Where it wins
- Combines satellite canopy estimates with rainfall, evapotranspiration, and soil capacity
- Adjustable seasonal budgets include optional pre-harvest dry-down
- Converts water amounts into weekly sprinkler run-time schedules
Where it doesn't
- Does not provide remote control or automated scheduling
- Estimates are not certified irrigation recommendations
- Calibrated for mature orchards, not all orchard stages
Our verdict on PISA-CA
PISA-CA is a web-based research tool for orchard growers who want to plan seasonal irrigation. It estimates water budgets using satellite-derived canopy size alongside rainfall, evapotranspiration, and soil water-holding capacity. Its crop settings cover almond, pistachio, walnut, and other temperate deciduous crops, making it oriented toward orchard planning rather than general-purpose irrigation control.
The planning workflow centers on a monthly irrigation budget table and chart. Users can adjust rain, winter and summer irrigation, and season timing, and can model an optional pre-harvest dry-down. PISA-CA then converts water amounts into weekly sprinkler run-time schedules. Its estimates draw on Sentinel-2 NDVI and datasets including TerraClimate, GRIDMET, CHIRPS, ERA5-Land, and OpenLandMap. That combination supports budget planning, but it is not a system for operating irrigation equipment: remote control, automated scheduling, and water-use tracking are not provided.
PISA-CA is free and runs in a web browser. It is a research project from UC Davis and ARO-Volcani, is in active development, and offers email support. The vendor cautions that its model-based estimates are not certified irrigation recommendations and that the tool is calibrated for mature orchards. Growers seeking a free seasonal budget and a starting point for sprinkler run times may find its scope appropriate; those needing certified recommendations, live control, or automated irrigation should look for a different type of system.
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PISA-CA pricing
PISA-CA fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Soil moisture control | No |
| Remote system control | No |
| Automated scheduling | No |
| Water-use tracking | No |
| Supported system types | Sprinkler systems |
| Mobile app | No |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | |
| Built for | Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 7 integrations: Google Earth Engine, TerraClimate, GRIDMET, CHIRPS, ERA5-Land, Sentinel-2 … |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | pisa-ca.org |
| Facts checked | 14 Nov 2026 |
PISA-CA integrations
PISA-CA lists 7 integrations on its own site.
- Google Earth Engine
- TerraClimate
- GRIDMET
- CHIRPS
- ERA5-Land
- Sentinel-2
- OpenLandMap
Alternatives to PISA-CA
- Xylem Vue AgrotwinCentralizes irrigation monitoring, scheduling, and remote control for complex farm networks.9.3
- GrowSphereSensor-informed irrigation and fertigation management with remote controller operation.9.1
- Lindsay FieldNETRemote pivot and lateral control with soil-moisture monitoring and irrigation guidance.8.9
See all PISA-CA alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
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