A Solar-Powered Fertigation System based on Low-Cost Wireless Sensor Network Remotely Controlled by Farmer for Irrigation Cycles and Crops Growth Optimization

Nowadays, the technological innovations affect all human activities; also the agriculture field heavily benefits of technologies as informatics, electronic, telecommunication, allowing huge improvements of productivity and resources exploitation. This manuscript presents an innovative low cost fertigation system for assisting the cultures by using data-processing electronic boards and wireless sensors network (WSN) connected to a remote software platform. The proposed system receives information related to air and soil parameters, by a custom solar-powered WSN. A control unit elaborates the acquired data by using dynamic agronomic models implemented on a cloud platform, for optimizing the amount and typology of fertilizers as well as the irrigations frequency, as function also of weather forecasts got by on-line weather service

A Solar-Powered Fertigation System based on Low-Cost Wireless Sensor Network Remotely Controlled by Farmer for Irrigation Cycles and Crops Growth Optimization

Nowadays, the technological innovations affect all human activities; also the agriculture field heavily benefits of technologies as informatics, electronic, telecommunication, allowing huge improvements of productivity and resources exploitation. This manuscript presents an innovative low cost fertigation system for assisting the cultures by using data-processing electronic boards and wireless sensors network (WSN) connected to a remote software platform. The proposed system receives information related to air and soil parameters, by a custom solar-powered WSN. A control unit elaborates the acquired data by using dynamic agronomic models implemented on a cloud platform, for optimizing the amount and typology of fertilizers as well as the irrigations frequency, as function also of weather forecasts got by on-line weather service

Review of intelligent sprinkler irrigation technologies for remote autonomous system

Changing of environmental conditions and shortage of water demands a system that can manage irrigation efficiently. Autonomous irrigation systems are developed to optimize water use for agricultural crops. In dry areas or in case of inadequate rainfall, irrigation becomes difficult. So, it needs to be automated for proper yield and handled remotely for farmer safety. The aim of this study is to review the needs of soil moisture sensors in irrigation, sensor technology and their applications in irrigation scheduling and, discussing prospects. The review further discusses the literature of sensors remotely communicating with self-propelled sprinkler irrigation systems, distributed wireless sensor networks, sensors and integrated data management schemes and autonomous sprinkler control options. On board and field-distributed sensors can collect data necessary for real-time irrigation management decisions and transmit the information directly or through wireless networks to the main control panel or base computer. Communication systems such as cell phones, satellite radios, and internet-based systems are also available allowing the operator to query the main control panel or base computer from any location at any time. Selection of the communication system for remote access depends on local and regional topography and cost. Traditional irrigation systems may provide unnecessary irrigation to one part of a field while leading to a lack of irrigation in other parts. New sensors or remotely sensing capabilities are required to collect real time data for crop growth status and other parameters pertaining to weather, crop and soil to support intelligent and efficient irrigation management systems for agricultural processes. Further development of wireless sensor applications in agriculture is also necessary for increasing efficiency, productivity and profitability of farming operations

Embedded Sensors in the Landscape: Measuring On-site Plant Stress Factors

This paper investigates the production of low-cost environmental sensors to collect data on environmental factors influencing plant stress in designed landscapes. Parameters measured include soil moisture, humidity, temperature and solar exposure. A prototype sensor is constructed from available components and installed on a trial site in Sydney, Australia. Data received from the prototype sensor is integrated with a Landscape Information Model to provide ongoing post-occupancy feedback. Results indicate that such sensors are straightforward to assemble, and are cost effective. It is suggested that developing familiarity with this and other sensor applications has potential to improve landscape education and practice. Lack of uptake in the landscape professions is, as indicated by the literature, primarily resulting from lack of training and knowledge barriers. An implementation guide is proposed to address this gap

A System for Optimizing Fertilizer Dosing in Innovative Smart Fertigation Pipelines: Modeling, Construction, Testing and Control

Smart fertigation is a topic of great interest in the effort to optimize different activities involved in local and extensive agriculture for assisting crops, optimizing production by using wireless technologies, data-processing electronic boards and sensors network. With the advent of Agriculture 4.0, similar to Industry 4.0, Information Communication Technology (ICT), associated with mechatronics, is giving an added value to this technique allowing optimization of water, fertilizers, control of water flow in pipes and period of irrigation. This paper intends to illustrate findings related to an innovative low cost system for assisting crops and achieving an accurate farming by investigating on the design, construction, testing and control of dosing system for liquid and granular fertilizers. Four different dosage systems have been designed, realized and tested with different granular and liquid fertilizers; the analysis of an extensive experimental campaign allows to define the characteristic and the mathematical expressions for each analyzed fertilizer and for each dosage system. The accurate modeling allows to control with extreme precision the realized dosing systems after estimating the quantity of fertilizer which the crop needs by means of the smart fertigation system. The obtained results permit the optimization of the fertilizer dosage in terms of quantity, which at the same time translates into lower production costs, greater environmental sustainability and optimization of production in terms of quantity and quality

Current status of and future opportunities for digital agriculture in Australia

In Australia, digital agriculture is considered immature and its adoption ad hoc, despite a relatively advanced technology innovation sector. In this review, we focus on the technical, governance and social factors of digital adoption that have created a disconnect between technology development and the end user community (farmers and their advisors). Using examples that reflect both successes and barriers in Australian agriculture, we first explore the current enabling technologies and processes, and then we highlight some of the key socio-technical factors that explain why digital agriculture is immature and ad hoc. Pronounced issues include fragmentation of the innovation system (and digital tools), and a lack of enabling legislation and policy to support technology deployment. To overcome such issues and increase adoption, clear value propositions for change are necessary. These value propositions are influenced by the perceptions and aspirations of individuals, the delivery of digitally-enabled processes and the supporting legislative, policy and educational structures, better use/conversion of data generated through technology applications to knowledge for supporting decision making, and the suitability of the technology. Agronomists and early adopter farmers will play a significant role in closing the technology-end user gap, and will need support and training from technology service providers, government bodies and peer-networks. Ultimately, practice change will only be achieved through mutual understanding, ownership and trust. This will occur when farmers and their advisors are an integral part of the entire digital innovation system