Modern technology can be utilized to improve irrigation efficiency, and also increase yields. From soil moisture sensors to harvesting rainwater there are many methods to conserve water that can be implemented.
Separate plants into hydro zones to determine which areas need greater or lesser water. Utilize a rain barrel or other container to collect rainfall and connect it to your system via a water hose for lawn and garden watering.
Drip Irrigation Systems
The proper amount of water gets directly on the root, saving water. This eliminates bec tuoi cay overwatering that leads to root rot and other illnesses. This also helps reduce evaporation and the drainage of deep, which is beneficial in dry areas.
Drip irrigation systems also help to prevent the growth of weeds by not giving them the moisture needed to thrive. This can help reduce or even eliminate weeding of fields and gardens. This method of irrigation assists in keeping the soil at a high moisture level, which reduces the requirement for fertilizers.
To optimize the effectiveness of drip irrigation systems, it is important to monitor the system’s performance and keep daily readings. A flow meter could be used to identify deviations from the normal water flow rate, which could signal leaks or obstructions to emitters. It is also suggested to place plants that have similar needs for water in the same valve since this can help prevent turf from being over-watered or the under-watering of plants and ground vegetation. A regular flush of tape and tubing with chlorine is also recommended to minimize clogging.
Smart Sprinkler Controllers
Utilizing smart irrigation controllers can help to reduce water waste. Overwatering plants can drown them or cause shallow roots, resulting in disease or fungus, or lead to soil runoff that causes pollution of local waterways by fertilizers and pesticides. Replacing a traditional clock controller with a WaterSense labeled soil moisture or weather-based irrigation controller can help a typical home save nearly 7,600 gallons per year.
Smart controllers use an internet connection to control the length and frequency your sprinklers operate based on your landscape needs. They can be used in conjunction with other sensors to fine-tune your irrigation.
Smart sprinkler controllers can be used to conserve water by pairing it with sensors that can detect the presence of rain or freeze. This will prevent the sprinkler system from watering immediately prior to and following freeze or rain events.
Another option is a weather-based smart controller that utilizes an on-site soil moisture sensor determine your landscape’s actual evapotranspiration (ET) every week and then adjusts the irrigation schedule to reflect this. The controllers can be purchased for installation by either Oregon landscape professionals or homeowners.
Soil Moisture Sensors
Soil moisture sensors allow farmers and agritech companies to measure the amount of water in close proximity to crop roots in order to cut down on excessive water usage. This can help preserve soil health, decreases the cost of fertilizers and energy and protects the local water resources from being depleted and increases farmer profits.
Most sensors use capacitance or resistivity to determine the moisture content of soil. Capacitive sensors determine the amount of moisture by measuring the change in capacitance between two sensor prongs, while resistive sensors infer it from changes in the electrical conductivity of soil.
The soil moisture sensor must be calibrated according to the soil type for the region in which it is to be used. Fill a calibration container with a soil sample that demonstrates the highest soil potential for soil type. (Usually around 50 percent depleted) Mix well with a small amount of distillated water. Replace the sensor into the container and ensure it is fully submerged. Take note of the voltage, and then assign a calibration value.
Rainwater harvesting to be used for irrigation
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) has been used to supplement or even replace traditional irrigation in regions in which water resources are limited. Capturing and storing rainwater allows farmers to reduce their dependence on water resources controlled, which can help maintain the balance of the hydro-geological system in lakes and rivers while also saving money on irrigation costs.
RWH systems typically consist of three main components consisting of a rainwater collection device (like gutters and downspouts) as well as a way to store the water collected (like barrels), and a pumping/delivery system to deliver the water collected to crops. Filtration and monitoring equipment are added to more complicated systems. How much filtration and storage space is needed will depend on the type of end-use.
RWH can be used to supplement existing rainwater sources or decrease the intensity of conventional irrigation. RWH can also be a great source of clean, fresh water in areas with contaminated groundwater or in areas in which desalination, as well as the expense of piping water from distant sources, are too expensive.
Efficient Irrigation System
The process of designing irrigation is extremely specialized and relies on the layouts of water resources, the dimensions of the project, etc., for each project. When designing an irrigation system, an experienced designer will take into account these factors. This is especially important when designing high-end projects, or municipal ones where the cost could be hundreds of dollars for additional supplies and calls backs.
In areas with a shortage of water, enhancing the efficiency of irrigation could be a great way to conserve water to support agriculture (Perry and Steduto 2017). However, this requires understanding how efficiency improvements affect the structure of costs and revenues that are based on the system of allocation in place. Most allocation schemes are dependent on the common pool, or prior appropriation. This limits the possibility of trading with farmers who share water.
Additionally, to increase yields from irrigation systems, such as sprinklers and drips large pipes as well as infrastructure and pumps are required. This consumes energy especially in areas that have subsidised electricity or where diesel or solar are the only power source. These are therefore an expensive investment, particularly for low-value crops. Before making a decision to invest in the latest technologies, it is essential to consider all of these factors.