Low-Cost Smart Farm Irrigation Systems in Kherson Province: Feasibility Study

Abstract

The growth of the world population requires an increase in food production. Its solution requires the introduction of advanced technologies, including automated irrigation systems. Commercially available smart irrigation systems are not widespread because of their high cost. A low-cost smart irrigation system based on satellite monitoring is proposed to schedule irrigation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the smart irrigation system during five-year field experiments. Water-use productivity, irrigated water-use productivity, and payback period were used as indicators to evaluate the low-cost irrigation system. This study was carried out for four crops: wheat, corn, sunflower, and rapeseed. The results obtained were compared to conventional irrigation systems. The experiments were designed at five farms locations. Their results showed that average water-use productivity rose from 4.09% (wheat) to 9.8% (sunflower). An increase in yields varied from 5.72% (wheat) to 13.42% (corn). Corn had a maximum yield deviation (26.72%). The payback period depended on the crop variety and the plot area. The payback period for wheat production under the proposed system was the longest (up to 82 months). Payback periods for corn, sunflower, and rapeseed production were shorter (from 3 to 12 months). Therefore, the smart irrigation system provides advantages and can be recommended as a low-cost solution.

Revolutionizing Rice Farming: Maximizing Yield with Minimal Water to Sustain the Hungry Planet

“…There are several bottlenecks that need to be considered when implementing automated irrigation systems in rice cultivation: Cost: Implementing an automated irrigation system can be expensive, especially for small-scale rice farmers. The cost of the sensors, communication systems, and other equipment needed to set up the system can be a barrier to adoption [51]. Technical expertise: Setting up and maintaining an automated irrigation system requires technical expertise.…”

“…Future research is needed to optimize the energy efficiency of automated irrigation systems for rice cultivation, including the use of renewable energy sources such as solar power. Economic viability: The economic viability of automated irrigation systems for rice cultivation needs to be further evaluated, including the costs and benefits of different types of sensors, decision support systems, and energy sources [51]. Future research is needed to identify strategies to improve the profitability and marketability of automated irrigation systems for rice cultivation.…”

A Cheap and Basic Solar-Powered Smart Irrigation System Proposal for Medium and Small-Scale Farming

“…The results showed that the average water use efficiency increased from 4.09% (wheat) to 9.8% (sunflower). The payback period of wheat production has been reduced to 82 months under the proposed system [14].…”

A Crop Adaptive Irrigation System for Improving Farm Yield in Rural Communities

“…Irrigation systems that utilize sensors and machine learning algorithms have been developed to address these challenges [7]. However, many of these systems are complex, expensive, and require a high level of literacy, limiting their use in rural communities [8], [9], [10].…”