With water scarcity and environmental uncertainty still waging on world agriculture, agri-professionals and farmers are getting highly interested in smart and sustainable irrigation management tactics. The common system of irrigation which is mostly manual and takes a long time can end up wasting precious water at the expense of crops, cost and health of the crops.

Smart irrigation systems enter at that point.

These intelligent systems are based on automated plant watering technologies, sprinkler irrigation systems, and the real-time information available on the environment and condition of crops which are used to optimize the method and the moment of crop irrigations. It could not matter whether you run a large-scale farm or a small greenhouse, as integrating such systems might lead to surprising water savings, better crop productivity, as well as the reduced stress levels of operations.

This guide answers why the traditional way of irrigation is difficult, why it is worth going smart, and how the latest tools are transforming the future of agriculture, drop-by-drop.

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1. The Reasons of Why Traditional Irrigation is No More Able to Work

Over the years, farmers had been used to fixed times and manual irrigation of the fields. Nevertheless, this method has quite a number of limitations:

•   Water wastes: excessive watering results in the flow of water and leaching of nutrients into the environment whereas, inadequate watering causes water stress.

•   Labor intensive: The watering process is labor intensive and manual, consuming time and some effort, in particular, on larger fields.

•   Its stiffness: These systems do not change depending on rain, temperature or soil conditions.

•   Crop destruction: Irregular watering may cause bad root growth and reduce the health of the crops.

When it comes to an era when sustainability and productivity can no longer be mutually exclusive, such disadvantages can be a real drag on efficiency and profits of a farmer.

2. What Is Smart Irrigation System?

Smart irrigation system is a high-tech, automated plant watering system that takes advantage of sensors, weather information and scheduling systems to provide an automated method of water delivery.

Smart systems are data-driven and responsive unlike the traditional systems. They decide on the basis of:

•  The level of soil moisture

•  Forecasts and rain measurements

•  Time of the day, temperature

•  Particular water requirements of the plants This makes the crops receive only the required water, not less, and not more

know more about Crops Water Requirment

3. Important Capabilities and Technology in Smart Irrigation

The keys of smart irrigation are automation as well as precision and intelligence. These are the factors what make them effective:

1. Soil Moisture Sensors :

These sensors are used to check the moisture content in the soil, and water irrigates when absolutely essential because of over-canalization and water wastage.

2. Weather-Based Controllers :

These systems in real-time restructure watering schedules according to the situation and by connecting with local weather stations, they omit irrigation when it is going to rain.

3. Integration of the Drip and Sprinkler system :

Drip irrigation or a sprinkler system can be implemented, and the output automatically changed according to the conditions with smart systems.

4. Remote lifeguard and control :

The farmers have the capability to access mobile apps or dashboards and control what is happening in their systems, mainly making adjustments wherever they are, either in the field or thousands of miles away.

5. Automated Scheduling :

Establish watering intervals that are in line with crop patterns, weather and soil to enhance effective water distribution.

4. Advantages of Smart Irrigation to Farmers and Agriculturalists

There are a number of both short and long-term benefits of investing in smart irrigation system:

•   Water Saving (30-50%): The efficient use of water implies the decrease of bills and preservation of this valuable resource.

•  Higher Yields: This creates healthier crops and ensures moisture all over the roots.

•  Labour saving: reducing manual supervision will save time towards other valuable farm activities.

•  Green Impact: Water waste and runoff is diminished to save local ecosystems.

•  Higher Profitability: Reduced cost of input + improved output = improved bottom line.

5. Real Life Example: Smart Irrigation in Action

To take an example, a farmer in Rajasthan, with a medium sized vegetable farm. Their former watering system involved the manual sprinkler system, which they used to water every day regardless of the weather conditions. The result? Waterlogging in one part, drought in the other part and uncertain harvest.

They experienced:

•   A 40 percent cut on water consumption

•   A 20 percent increase in crop yields on the first year

•  They have more time to concentrate on managing the soil and doing market research

This is only one of the ways how technology can revolutionize traditional agriculture.

Is It Suitable to You? What to Watch out Before Switching

Consider the following factors before investing in smart irrigation system:

•   Farm Size and Type: There are systems that are more suitable in big farms and others that work on small farms or polyhouse farming.

• Budget: cost of implementation can be high, but ROI can be great in the long perspective.

• Water Source: Aim at having a constant source of water so that one can make maximum use of his/her system.

•   Connectivity: There are systems that need Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity to work at its best.

6. Smart Irrigation Start Up Tips

These are some starter hints in case you intend to change:

•      Start small, automate one area of your farm and grow with comfort.

•      Select those systems that accommodate your current infrastructure (i.e., drip or sprinkler systems).

•     Seek platforms to provide after sales follow up, installation and sensor adjustment.

•     Measure the difference in water consumption prior to installation and after installation.

•     Monitor this government smart farmer technology schemes or offers.

Conclusion

The transition to smart, rather than conventional, irrigation systems is not a trend, but rather a reality in the modern agriculture. As you find less water in store and the need of farming grows, automation of irrigation assists you in being efficient, productive, and environmentally conscious.

With the help of technologies such as soil moisture sensors or automatic watering of plants and schedule based on the weather, you can make sure your crops are taken care of in the best possible way, doing nothing wrong and not even guessing what to do.