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Design and Development of an Automatic Irrigation Device (2019-20)

M Z Hasan
Farm Machinery & Postharvest Process Engineering Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

M A Gulandaz
Farm Machinery & Postharvest Process Engineering Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

K F I Murad
Farm Machinery & Postharvest Process Engineering Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Agriculture in Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in terms of production and diversification towards high value crops over time. Irrigation is a crucial part in crop production. Automation in irrigation systems is an emerging need to solve multiple issues related to conservation of water resources and sustainable agriculture. To address this matter an experiment was undertaken at FMPE Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur during 2017-18 to develop an automatic irrigation device in order to enable the farmers to apply exact amount of water in the right time with minimum involvement of human labour. Initially a prototype was developed during 2018-19 which was an integrated device comprised of the control unit and sensor unit housed in the same box. It was made to run and stop a pump in order to control flow of irrigation water. During 2019-20 a modified prototype was developed in which sensors units were separated from the control unit; wireless modules and solenoid valve were attached to the system to supply water from a reservoir or tank instead of controlling the water pump. This prototype can be controlled by smartphone and personal computer even without internet connection. The system was run in the laboratory. Sensor readings were calibrated with respect to actual soil moisture content. Discharge rate from the solenoid valve was measured which was not satisfactory. After some modifications this device will be set up in the field in the next Rabi season to evaluate its field performance.

Keywords: Automatic irrigation device, Iirrigation efficiency, Drip irrigation

Location: FMPE Division, BARI, Joydebpur

Start Date: 00-00-2017

End Date: 00-00-2020

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Drip Irrigation

Objectives:

To develop an automatic irrigation device
To compare amount of water applied with that of traditional methods of irrigation, and
To figure out cost effectiveness of the device

Methodology:

The automatic irrigation device was assembled from prefabricated components at FMPE division, BARI. It consisted of two components i.e. wireless sensor units and a wireless control unit. Sensor units were linked by radio transceivers that allowed transfer of soil moisture data to the driver to open and close a solenoid valve attached to the water tank. Programs for the system were written in C++ Programming Language on Arduino IDE according to its special rules of code structuring. Wireless sensor unit: A wireless sensor unit comprised of a RF transceiver, sensor, microcontroller and power source. Two units were built at the primary stage to test in the laboratory. Components used to build a wireless sensor unit are shown. Wireless control unit: The soil moisture data from the sensor units were received, displayed and transmitted to the remote access devices by this unit. Components used to build the control unit are shown. Calibration of sensor data: The soil moisture sensor works with the basic principle of electrical conductivity of water. Wet soil has less resistance value than dry soil. Thereby more current flows through the soil. Similarly, dry soil has poor electrical conductivity. From this principle the corresponding moisture levels are obtained by the sensor module with respect to the electrical conductivity of the soil. Initially sensor values were set as 0% moisture content when the probes were open in the air and as 100% moisture content when the probes were submerged in pure water. The whole system was set up in the soil bin of Tillage-cum-Seeding Lab at FMPE division, BARI. Dry soil was soaked by water and sensor probes were inserted in this wet soil. Sensor readings were recorded. This process was repeated for three different moisture contents. Then the soil samples were collected, weighed and oven dried at 105°C for 24 hours to determine the actual moisture content (dry basis) following the procedure suggested by Motsara and Roy (2008). Calibration of sensor data The soil moisture sensor works with the basic principle of electrical conductivity of water. Wet soil has less resistance value than dry soil. Thereby more current flows through the soil. Similarly, dry soil has poor electrical conductivity. From this principle the corresponding moisture levels are obtained by the sensor module with respect to the electrical conductivity of the soil. Initially sensor values were set as 0% moisture content when the probes were open in the air and as 100% moisture content when the probes were submerged in pure water. The whole system was set up in the soil bin of Tillage-cum-Seeding Lab at FMPE division, BARI (Fig. 4). Dry soil was soaked by water and sensor probes were inserted in this wet soil. Sensor readings were recorded. This process was repeated for three different moisture contents. Then the soil samples were collected, weighed and oven dried at 105°C for 24 hours to determine the actual moisture content (dry basis) following the procedure suggested by Motsara and Roy (2008). Measurement of discharge: The solenoid valve was kept open for five minutes and let the water soak the soil around discharge pipe opening. After five minutes the valve was closed, diameter of the circular portion of soaked soil was measured by a ruler. This process was repeated three times. Then the discharge pipe opening was put in a measuring cylinder and valve was kept open for five minutes. After five minutes valve was closed and amount of water was recorded. This process was also repeated three times. Discharge was measured as the volume of water divided by time.

Source of Information: Annual Research Repport 2019-2020, BARI, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The developed automatic irrigation device was working in terms of sensing soil moisture content and controlling the valve to regulate water flow from the tank. Since the system with developed program was working, variation in sensor reading and limitation of discharge should be corrected by changing programming code through trial and error. However, the device requires some modifications. In addition to this, the solenoid valve should be replaced by a more efficient one to increase discharge. Besides, sensor units should be multiplied. This device will be scaled up and designed for multiple plant drip irrigation system to set up in the field. Then the system performance will be evaluated comparing with the traditional system in the next Rabi season after the modifications.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings