HOW SMART IRRIGATION IS TRANSFORMING AGRICULTURE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

Posted on 26/03/2023 by Irrigat Sistemas de Irriga??o Adapted to English on 24/04/2023 by Guilherme Fell

WHAT IS SMART IRRIGATION?

Smart irrigation is simply the use of sensors, algorithms, and other technologies to provide the right amount of water to plants at the most appropriate time. And that's what makes all the difference!

Thus, this system uses data such as soil moisture, evapotranspiration, and weather forecast to determine when and how much to irrigate.

BENEFITS

The main benefits of this practice are water savings, reduced energy costs, improved crop quality, and reduced labor for irrigation.

Moreover, smart irrigation can help minimize the environmental impact of agriculture by reducing excessive water and energy use and preventing soil erosion.

CHALLENGES

Despite so many benefits, its implementation may face some challenges, such as producers' lack of knowledge about the possibilities of these technologies. Also, the need for investment in equipment and control systems, difficulty obtaining financing, and infrastructure for installation.

HOW DOES THE IRRIGATION REEL SYSTEM FIT INT SMART IRRIGATION?

The irrigation reel system is one of the models used in sprinkler irrigation. It is attached to a water source and can be programmed to rotate automatically and irrigate a specific area.

The irrigation reel system fits into smart irrigation because it can be programmed to irrigate according to the plants' needs, using data collected by moisture sensors and weather monitoring.

WHAT TECHNOLOGIES ARE USED?

In addition to soil moisture and weather sensors, smart irrigation can also use other technologies such as remote monitoring systems. These allow farmers to monitor irrigation remotely and make adjustments when necessary.

Automation systems can also be used, such as the semi-automatic irrigation reel. In practice, the producer only needs to position it at the starting point of irrigation, but the rest of the work is done automatically.

WHAT ARE THE FUTURE PROSPECTS OF SMART IRRIGATION?

The potential lies mainly in regions with water scarcity and adverse climatic conditions. Brazilian producers are gradually adopting irrigation technology, including small and medium-sized ones.

Adaptation starts with something more basic, such as soil sensors and analysis, for example. Also, monitoring the climate in the region through software and platforms dedicated to collecting this data already contributes greatly to making any irrigation system smarter.

Therefore, smart irrigation is one of the technologies that, every year, is transforming agriculture in Brazil more and more, aiming not only for productivity and resource savings but also for the preservation of producers' lands.