Efficient irrigation systems are essential for sustainable agriculture. By adopting local-specific measures, agricultural water-saving irrigation systems leverage modern technologies to optimize water usage across different regions and crop types.
Background
Before the widespread application of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, traditional irrigation practices were commonly used, such as flood irrigation, which is not only inefficient but also wastes large amounts of water. Additionally, field monitoring was manual and time-consuming, requiring significant labor. The lack of data-driven decision-making in irrigation and fertilization resulted in the overuse or underuse of water and fertilizers, contributing to resource waste, soil degradation, and environmental pollution.
As agriculture is typically practiced in rural and expansive areas, monitoring and managing irrigation through traditional means became increasingly difficult. However, with the rapid development of IoT and wireless networks, smart irrigation systems have been implemented, supported by national policies aimed at improving water efficiency in agriculture.
Solution
The agricultural water-saving irrigation system employs region-specific strategies and equipment tailored to the needs of different crops and environmental conditions. The system integrates cutting-edge technologies like soil moisture sensors, LTE 4G, LoRa wireless communication, and big data analytics to ensure precise irrigation at the right time and in the appropriate amount.
Key components of the system include soil moisture sensors, weather stations, pump and valve control, remote terminal units (cellular modems), video devices, wireless communication modules, a solar power system, and the USR Cloud agricultural management platform. These components work together to collect, measure, analyze, and control data, providing a solid foundation for making informed decisions and optimizing irrigation practices. This system not only improves management efficiency but also automates the irrigation process to ensure sustainability.
Key Features
1. Localized Energy Supply for Continuous Operation
The system utilizes a hybrid power solution combining solar energy with lithium batteries for stable, long-lasting power. Its low-power design ensures it can operate continuously for several days, even without sunlight.
2. Flexible Networking and Easy Setup
The irrigation system can use either wired or LoRa wireless networking, depending on the site’s conditions. The 4G cellular modems, connected to monitoring and control devices, upload real-time data to the Cloud platform. The LoRa network, with a coverage area of up to 10 km, provides strong stability and anti-interference, reducing the challenges of field wiring.
3. Intelligent Cloud Platform
The Cloud platform provides real-time monitoring and intuitive data visualization, offering insights into water levels, flow rates, rainfall, and more. The platform also enables data analysis, report generation, and the ability to query historical data. Additionally, it supports features like quantitative irrigation, scheduled irrigation, and on-demand irrigation for efficient water usage.
4. Mobile Monitoring
With the mobile app, users can remotely view the location and status of each monitoring point. Real-time images and data can be accessed from anywhere, ensuring comprehensive oversight of the irrigation system.
Industrial Applications
The agricultural water-saving irrigation system offers automated and intelligent irrigation management, combining meteorological and hydrological data to optimize irrigation decisions. Its functionalities include automatic irrigation, rotational irrigation, and on-demand irrigation, providing flexible solutions for a range of agricultural and urban applications such as park and green area irrigation.
This system is designed to deliver efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective irrigation, ensuring that water resources are used wisely while meeting the needs of agriculture, urban landscaping, and more. It helps farmers and land managers optimize irrigation practices and reduce waste, leading to better crop yields and a more sustainable future.