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Solar Pump Irrigation System for Green Agriculture

M. A. Hossain
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

M. S. Hassan
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

S. Ahmmed
Natural Resources Management Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Farmgate, Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh

M. S. Islam
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Ever increasing fuel cost and doubtful availability of electricity hampers the irrigation for crop production. Solar pump may be an alternative for irrigation for crop production especially in the off-grid areas. This paper presents the technical and economic suitability of solar pump irrigation of rice and no-rice crops in Bangladesh. Four submersible solar pumps (each of 1050 Wp solar panel capacity) were installed in different locations for irrigating rice, wheat and vegetables. The solar pump was used for drip irrigation and furrow irrigation for cultivation of brinjal and tomato during the winter seasons of 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13. There were no significant differences of yields of brinjal between drip and furrow irrigation in the year 2010-11 in Gazipur and during 2011-12 in Jamalpur. But in 2012-13, significantly higher yield of brinjal was obtained from drip irrigated plots (43.86 t/ha) than furrow irrigated plots (38.60 t/ha). There were no significant differences of yields of tomato between drip and furrow irrigation methods in Jamalpur. Significantly higher yields of tomato were found in Gazipur from drip irrigated plots than those of furrow irrigated plots in both the year 2011-12 and 2012-13. Water savings by drip irrigation over furrow irrigation for brinjal and tomato were 53.25% and 56.16%, respectively. The yield of summer tomato had been found 33.73 t/ha in drip irrigated plot and 31.86 t/ha in furrow irrigated plot during the period of 2011-12. Waters required by drip and furrow irrigation methods were 225 mm and 429 mm, respectively. For cultivation of wheat about 430 mm water was required and the yield was 3.00 t/ha. Boro rice was cultivated in Magura and Barisal during 2011-12 and 2012-13. During the cropping season total water requirement for boro rice cultivation in Magura was 1024 mm and in Barisal it was 1481 mm. Cultivations of solar irrigated wheat (BCR 2.31), tomato (BCR 2.22) and brinjal (BCR 2.34) were economically profitable but cultivation of boro rice with solar pump was not economically profitable (BCR 0.31). Solar is an environmentally sound and resource conserving technology.

Keywords: Solar pump, PV panel, Drip irrigation, Tomato, Brinjal, Rice

Location: Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur; Regional Agricultural Research Station, Rahmatpur, Barisal; Regional Spices Research Centre, Magura and Regional Agricultural Research Station, Jamalpur.

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Pump

Objectives:

1. To evaluate the technical and economic performance of PV operated solar pumps at field conditions, and

2. To develop a suitable solar pump irrigation system for the farmers of the country in order to boost crop production as well as to uphold healthy environment.

Methodology:

Four China made submersible solar pumps (Lorentz, PS 1200) were installed in the four project sites i.e. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur; Regional Agricultural Research Station, Rahmatpur, Barisal; Regional Spices Research Centre, Magura and Regional Agricultural Research Station, Jamalpur. Among the four pumps, one was for surface water lifting and another three were ground water lifting. Each of the solar pumps was 2.2 hp motor capacity. Surface water lifting pump was installed in Barisal and ground water lifting pumps were installed in Gazipur, Magura and Jamalpur. In Jamalpur, Magura and Barisal the solar pumps were operated with 1050 solar panels fitted on fixed tracker. Whereas in Gazipur the pump was operated with 1440 Wp solar panel equipped with solar auto tracker. In all locations the delivery pipe was 38 mm diameter made with PVC. The delivery lifts of the pumps installed in Gazipur, Jamalpur and Magura were 33.5, 24.0, 24.0 m, respectively. In Barisal the solar pump was installed in a pond for surface water lifting and delivery lift ranged from 4.0 to 8.0 m. The performance of each of the pump was tested in the respective project sites. During the testing of each pump, solar radiation, generated voltage, current, lift, discharge and other relevant data were measured. A digital solar meter (Model: 776E, accuracy ±3%, Digital Engineering, USA) was used to measure the global solar radiation. Water discharge was measured by volumetric method using 50 L graduated water tank. Experimental crops and location such as: Irrigation of brinjal in Gazipur, Irrigation of winter tomato in Gazipur, Irrigation of brinjal in Jamalpur, Irrigation of winter tomato in Jamalpur, Irrigation of summer tomato in Gazipur, Irrigation of wheat in Gazipur, Irrigation of boro rice in Magura and Barisal were studied in this period. Total cost of solar pump and diesel engine operated pump for crop production is the sum of fixed cost and variable cost. Fixed cost is the sum of depreciation, interest on capital cost, repair, maintenance and shelter cost and cost of land use. Depreciation is often defined as the annual loss in value due to use, wear, tear, age, and technical obsolescence. Several methods or equations can be used to compute annual depreciation. Straight line method was used in this study to calculate depreciation. The straight line method of calculating depreciation is widely used. The useful life of solar pump and diesel engine operated pump were assumed to be 20 years and 10 years, respectively. Annual interest rate was considered 14% of the capital price of the pump. The land use costs for brinjal, tomato, wheat and boro rice were taken from secondary source. The variable cost is the sum of input cost and operating cost (fuel, oil, operator, etc.). Carbon dioxide emission from irrigation pump in Bangladesh was calculated from the the total diesel consumed by the irrigation pumps in a year. Total numbers of irrigation pumps (DTW, STW and LLP) used in Bangladesh from 2000 to 2011 were obtained from the reports of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation. Total quantity of diesel and electricity used by the irrigation pumps were also obtained from the secondary source of BADC. Then electric power was converted to diesel power using the conversion factor that one MWh electricity equivalent to 200 liter diesel. Carbon dioxide emission was calculated by multiplying 2.8 kg for 1 (one) liter of diesel fuel. Then total quantity of carbon dioxide emissions from total numbers of irrigation pumps in different years was calculated.

Source of Information: Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR e-Journal, # 2836

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Solar pump was found technically suitable for irrigation in rice and non-rice crops. Drip irrigation in vegetables saved about 50% water than furrow irrigation method. Vegetables and wheat cultivation by solar pump irrigation was economically profitable. Rice cultivation by solar pump irrigation was not found economically viable under the tested situation. Diesel engine operated irrigation pump emits carbon dioxide and pollutes environment but solar pump is an environment friendly irrigation technology.

Knowledge Management: Journal