What Are Smart Irrigation Technologies?

Smart irrigation technologies are modern irrigation solutions that operate with sensor data, data analytics, and automation systems. These systems analyze the plant's actual needs and ensure irrigation is done at the right time and in the right amount.

Main features:

• Analysis of soil moisture and environmental data
• Automatic irrigation planning
• Water and energy saving
• Remote control and real-time data tracking
• Automation structure that reduces human error
• Continuous learning with an AI-supported analysis system

Thanks to smart irrigation, production costs decrease while efficiency increases. Additionally, a more resilient agricultural model is created against risks caused by climate change.

How Does a Smart Irrigation System Work?

A smart irrigation system gains functionality through the collaborative operation of sensors, control units, automation, and artificial intelligence software. The system continuously collects data and dynamically updates irrigation decisions.

Operating principle:

1.     Sensors measure soil moisture and weather conditions.

2.     The control unit analyzes the incoming data.

3.     The plant's water need is determined.

4.     Valves and pumps are automatically activated.

5.     The user can monitor the system 24/7 via mobile application or web panel and intervene instantly.

Thanks to this structure:

·       Unnecessary irrigation is prevented

·       Rainfall data is taken into account

·       Plant root health is protected

·       Water resources are used efficiently

·       Irrigation planning is done

·       Loss, leakage, and fault situations are minimized

·       More controlled and efficient irrigation is performed thanks to the smart irrigation system

·       Time and labor are saved

What Are the Components of a Smart Irrigation System?

Smart irrigation systems are formed by the integrated operation of different technological parts. Each component increases the accuracy and efficiency of the system.

1. Sensors

It is the data collection center of the system.

·       Soil moisture sensor

·       Soil temperature sensor

·       Ambient humidity sensor

·       Ambient temperature sensor

·       pH sensor

·       EC sensor

·       Rain sensor

·       Solar radiation sensor

·       Wind speed and direction sensor

·       Pressure sensor

2. Control Unit

It functions as the brain of the system.

·       Analyzes sensor data

·       Determines irrigation timing

·       Creates an automatic decision mechanism

·       Ensures automatic operation of irrigation planning and irrigation schedule

3. Valves and Pump Systems

·       Controls water flow

·       Ensures irrigation with correct pressure

4. Climate Meteorology Stations

·       Analyzes external environment data

·       Evaporation (Evapotranspiration) ETo is calculated

·       Creates an irrigation plan based on ETo and precipitation forecasts

5.     Data Communication and Remote Management

·       Web&Mobile application integration

·       IoT connectivity infrastructure

·       Wireless digital infrastructure

·       Thanks to its self-contained solar panel and rechargeable battery structure, it does not create additional energy costs

·       Real-time data tracking

·       Instant management

Sensor Solutions and Their Use in Agriculture

Sensor solutions and technologies form the foundation of smart irrigation systems. Sensor solutions strengthen the decision-making mechanism by instantly measuring environmental conditions.

Prominent sensors:

Soil Moisture Sensors

Thanks to soil moisture sensors, the plant's instant water need is determined. It directly determines the plant's water need. It prevents over or under irrigation.

Temperature and Humidity Sensors

Temperature and humidity sensors continuously measure the ambient temperature and humidity values. They monitor environmental conditions to prevent plant stress. This ensures the plant is grown at optimum temperature and humidity levels.

Rain Sensors

Rain sensors measure the amount of rainfall. When sufficient rainfall is detected, it automatically stops irrigation. A rain sensor is very important in irrigation planning. Thanks to this sensor, unnecessary irrigation is prevented, and plant yield and quality are not negatively affected by excessive irrigation.

Solar Radiation Sensors

Solar radiation sensors analyze photosynthesis conditions and optimize the irrigation strategy. Does the plant receive enough light for favorable photosynthesis? It answers questions like how is the plant's photosynthesis efficiency. It is used in ETo calculation.

Wind Sensors

Wind speed and direction sensors are among the foremost climatic data. They play a vital role in planning both irrigation processes and processes such as fertilization and spraying. It ensures that agricultural processes such as irrigation, fertilization, and spraying are carried out at the most appropriate time. 

In this way, many agricultural sensor solutions work in an integrated manner. The Esular ecosystem also supports all these sensors and various other agricultural sensors. All sensors provide practical installation and ease of use thanks to Esular's wireless digital infrastructure. Thanks to the cloud-based central software infrastructure, processes such as irrigation and fertilization can be monitored, controlled, and managed from any desired location and time. With web&mobile applications, it becomes possible to manage the system 24/7. Remote monitoring is possible in large agricultural areas thanks to wireless sensor systems.

Benefits of Smart Irrigation Systems

Smart irrigation systems are indispensable for efficient agricultural production. They offer both economic and environmental advantages.

Main benefits:

·       Water savings of up to 30-50%

·       Reduction in energy costs

·       Improvement in plant development

·       Reduction in disease risk

·       Time saving thanks to remote control

·       Increase in agricultural productivity

·       Protection of natural resources

·       Reduction in labor costs

·       Increase in product quality

·       Enables climate-resilient production

Furthermore, thanks to the data-based decision mechanism, producers can develop more accurate strategies.

Contribution of Smart Irrigation Systems to Sustainable Agriculture

Smart irrigation systems are at the heart of sustainability goals. Sustainable agriculture requires the balanced use of natural resources. Smart irrigation systems play an important role in achieving this goal.

Contributions:

·       Protection of water resources

·       Provides irrigation-related energy optimization

·       Reduction of carbon footprint

·       Protection of soil structure

·       Reduction of chemical use necessity

·       Adaptation to climate change

·       Environmental damage is minimized

·       More predictable and controlled production is achieved

·       Increased production efficiency supports the continuity and sustainability of the agricultural sector

These systems are one of the fundamental building blocks of the future digital agriculture model.

The Future of Smart Irrigation Technologies

With the development of IoT, artificial intelligence, and data analytics technologies, smart irrigation systems are further evolving.

Expected trends:

·       AI-supported irrigation decisions

·       Satellite data integration

·       Autonomous farming systems

·       Multi-sensor analyses

·       Energy-efficient solar-powered solutions

Thanks to these developments, agriculture will become more digital, more sustainable, and more efficient.

Conclusion

With the widespread adoption of smart farming practices, the question "What are Smart Irrigation Technologies and Systems?" is becoming increasingly important. Thanks to sensor technologies, automation systems, and data analysis, modern irrigation solutions provide great advantages in terms of both efficiency and sustainability.

Smart irrigation systems:

·       Provide water and energy savings

·       Protect plant health

·       Reduce production costs

·       Increase production efficiency

·       Save labor and time

·       Support environmentally friendly agriculture

Understanding and implementing smart irrigation technologies correctly is of critical importance for the agriculture of the future.