The design, production and introduction of agricultural irrigation equipment of a new generation and the widespread use of automation functions of control systems in the agricultural sector are the basis for establishing irrigated agriculture. Raising the technical level of sprinkler machines requires expanding the functions of automation and control systems, improving irrigation technology, which ensures the rational use of water, electric energy and human labor. Existing technologies for irrigation with wide-angle circular sprinklers have the disadvantage. The irrigation with a constant rate in most cases does not correspond to the required moisture content in different parts of the irrigated field, which leads to excessive consumption of irrigated water, increased runoff and soil erosion. The developed module of the intelligent system let us change the irrigation rate in accordance with the level of moisture reserves of irrigation areas in real time, based on the readings of sensors of the weather station without human intervention. The proposed technology was implemented during the operation of the robotic irrigation system "CASCADE" installed in the Volga State Scientific Production Association. A comparison of the performance of an electrified irrigation machine and a robotic irrigative complex using the proposed irrigation technology showed significantly improved environmental and economic indicators of irrigation. In particular, the saving of irrigation water was about 7.0%. The introduction of digital technologies can significantly improve the quality of irrigation and crop yields while saving resources, as well as reduce the environmental burden on the soil significantly.

No abstract