What is an Automatic Irrigation System? A Complete Guide from Field to Garden
Morning 05:00. Mr. Mehmet's phone rings. "Has the pump malfunctioned again?" he thinks, while the notification he sees on the screen is different: "Pistachio field Block-3, soil moisture dropped to 38%. Automatic irrigation will start at 06:00. Do you approve?"
Without getting out of bed, Mr. Mehmet presses the "Approve" button on his phone. In his field 30 km away, the system activates, pumps start working, and exactly the needed amount of water is provided. Moreover, by taking advantage of the night tariff, he saves 40% on the electricity bill.
This is not a dream. Thousands of farmers all across Turkey no longer have to go to the field in the mornings thanks to automatic irrigation systems, reducing water and energy bills and increasing their yields.
What is an Automatic Irrigation System?
An automatic irrigation system is a smart technology solution that allows irrigation to be carried out without human intervention in agricultural areas, gardens, greenhouses, and green spaces. The system delivers water to the right place, at the right time, and in the right amount through timers, sensors, control units, and valves.
Modern automatic irrigation systems are not just timers. They offer truly "smart" irrigation management supported by data such as soil moisture sensors, weather data, pressure measurements, and water meters.
Basic Components of an Automatic Irrigation System
- Central Control Unit: The brain of the system. It makes all decisions and transmits commands.
- Wireless Valve Control Units: Smart valves that open and close irrigation lines.
- Soil Moisture Sensors: Measures how much water the soil needs.
- Pressure Sensors: Detects whether there are leaks or faults in the system.
- Water Meters: Tracks the water consumption of each zone in detail.
- Mobile Application: Allows you to manage the entire system from your phone.
Traditional Irrigation vs Automatic Irrigation: Real Differences
Mr. Hasan was operating an 80-decare citrus orchard in Mersin. He used to go to the field every day with traditional methods and open and close valves manually. One day, he faced these facts when he did the math:
📊 Mr. Hasan's Manual Irrigation Costs (Annual)
- Diesel for field commute: ~15,000 TL
- Time loss: 3-4 hours a day
- Water waste due to over-irrigation: 30-40%
- Electricity use from daytime tariff: Extra 35% cost
- Late detection of pump failures: Yield loss
After installing the esular automatic irrigation system, Mr. Hasan's situation:
✅ Gains with the Automatic System
- Obligation to go to the field: Zero (everything from the mobile app)
- Water savings: 35% (thanks to soil moisture sensors)
- Electricity savings: 40% (night tariff automation)
- Time gain: 3-4 hours a day (devoted to his family)
- Yield increase: 20% (regular and correct irrigation)
How Does an Automatic Irrigation System Work? User Experience
Now let's see step by step how the system works with a real usage scenario. Mr. Mustafa has a 120-decare pistachio field in Gaziantep. This is how he uses the system while drinking his morning coffee:
Step 1: Opening the Mobile Application (Morning 07:00)
Mr. Mustafa opens the esular mobile application. On the main screen that appears:
- ✅ Status of all valves (open/closed)
- 💧 Instant water consumption
- 📊 Soil moisture levels (for each zone)
- ⚡ Pump operation status
- 🌡️ Weather forecast
Step 2: Checking Soil Moisture
Soil moisture in the "Block-2" area on the screen appears as 35%. It gives a warning in red. Since the ideal moisture level for pistachios is between 40-60%, Mr. Mustafa understands that this area needs to be irrigated.
Step 3: Creating an Automatic Irrigation Program
Mr. Mustafa creates the following program via the application:
📱 Irrigation Program
Zone: Block-2 (40 decares)
Start: Today 22:00 (night tariff)
Duration: 3 hours
Condition: Stop when soil moisture reaches 50%
Warning: Send notification if water consumption exceeds 25 m³
Repeat: Start automatically if soil moisture falls below 35%
Program setup takes only 2 minutes. He presses the "Save" button and the system becomes active.
Step 4: System Operates Automatically (Night 22:00)
While Mr. Mustafa is having dinner with his family, his phone vibrates:
🔔 esular Notification
Block-2 irrigation started. Pump is running. Estimated water consumption: 22 m³
He doesn't need to do anything. The system:
- Starts the pump automatically at the set time
- Opens the valves of Block-2
- Measures instant consumption from the water meter
- Receives continuous data from the soil moisture sensor
- Checks for problems in the system with the pressure sensor
Step 5: Irrigation is Completed (Night 00:45)
When soil moisture reaches 52%, the system stops automatically. A notification comes to Mr. Mustafa:
✅ Irrigation Completed
Block-2 – Duration: 2 hours 45 minutes
Water Consumption: 21.7 m³
Soil Moisture: 35% → 52%
Energy Cost: ~47 TL (Night tariff)
When Mr. Mustafa wakes up in the morning, his field is irrigated, and the detailed report is ready on the phone. No need to even go to the field.
Automatic Irrigation Applications in Different Areas
1. In Agricultural Areas (Open Field)
In large areas such as pistachio, cotton, corn, and wheat, with an automatic irrigation system:
- Multi-point regional irrigation can be performed
- Exactly the needed amount of water is delivered with soil moisture sensors
- The night tariff is automatically utilized
- The consumption of each parcel is tracked separately with water meters
2. In Fruit Orchards (Citrus, Grape, Apple)
Special solutions for orange, tangerine, lemon, and vineyards:
- Automatic control with drip irrigation systems
- Separate program for each tree or row
- Sensitive irrigation during fruit set periods
- Fertilization system integration (fertigation)
3. In Greenhouses (Greenhouse Automation)
Automatic irrigation in greenhouses works together with climate control:
- Integrated irrigation with temperature and humidity sensors
- Automatic control of fertilization tanks
- Water quality monitoring with EC and pH measurements
- Synchronized operation with window opening/closing
4. In Home Gardens and Landscape Areas
For home gardens, villa gardens, and park areas:
- Lawn irrigation automation
- Scheduled irrigation of flowers and ornamental plants
- Automatic stop in rainy weather with rain sensor
- Control even while on vacation with the mobile app
esular Automatic Irrigation Packages
esular offers package solutions suitable for different needs. Here are the most popular options:
Basic Package – 10 Valve Control
Professional Package – 20 Valve Control
Premium Package – Pump Station
💡 Which Package Should I Choose?
- Basic Package: 50-100 decares of land, up to 10 irrigation zones
- Professional Package: 100-300 decares, multiple product varieties
- Premium Package: 300+ decares, pump control, energy optimization
System Installation: Step by Step
Setting up an automatic irrigation system is much easier than you think. Here are the basic steps:
1. Discovery and Planning (1 Day)
- The esular technical team visits your field
- The existing irrigation infrastructure is examined
- The number of valves, sensors, and control units needed is determined
- A custom solution package is prepared for you
2. Equipment Procurement (3-5 Days)
- Equipment is prepared after the order is placed
- All devices undergo factory tests
- Custom configuration is performed for you
3. Installation (2-5 Days)
- The central control unit is mounted
- Valves and sensors are placed
- No wiring required – Completely wireless
- Solar panels (if any) are installed
- System tests are conducted
4. Training and Commissioning (1 Day)
- Mobile application training for you and your staff
- The first irrigation program is created together
- All features are shown live
- Q&A session
Total Duration: Between 7-12 days (depending on the size of the area)
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Can I add it to my existing system?
Yes! esular systems can be integrated into your existing valves and pumps. You don't need to build a system from scratch. It can be easily added thanks to its wireless structure.
❓ Does it work in places without internet?
Yes! esular systems work with GSM technology. The system works smoothly wherever a mobile phone has reception. a 4G connection is sufficient.
❓ What happens during a power outage?
Central control units operate with an internal battery. Even if the power is cut, the system continues to work for 24-48 hours. Completely uninterrupted use is possible with the solar panel option.
❓ Which irrigation methods is it compatible with?
esular systems are compatible with all irrigation methods:
- Drip irrigation
- Sprinkler irrigation
- Flood irrigation
- Furrow irrigation
- Micro-sprinkler
❓ Is it necessary to pull cables for installation?
No! One of the biggest advantages of esular is its completely wireless infrastructure. It can perform wireless communication up to 10 km. There is no need to dig trenches or lay cables.
❓ Can more than one person use the mobile app?
Yes! You can share the same system with as many users as you want. You can give different authorization levels to different people such as the farm owner, field manager, or foreman.
❓ Is there technical support?
esular offers a 24/7 technical support line. You can get instant support via phone, WhatsApp, or the mobile app. Additionally, problems in the system can be solved by connecting remotely.
Energy Efficiency and Electricity Saving
In addition to water savings, the automatic irrigation system provides significant reductions in electricity bills:
Night Tariff Optimization
We know that pumps are the equipment that consumes the most electricity. In the traditional method, the farmer starts the pump when they go to the field during the day and uses electricity from the expensive daytime tariff.
Efficient Pump Usage
The system runs the pump only when necessary:
- Pump protection with pressure sensor
- Dry running is prevented
- Variable speed control with frequency converter integration
- Additional 10-15% energy savings
Digital Agriculture and Data-Driven Decision Making
An automatic irrigation system does not only perform irrigation; it also collects valuable data:
What Data is Collected?
- 📊 Water Consumption: Detailed record for each zone, every day, and every irrigation
- 🌡️ Soil Moisture: Hourly moisture changes
- ⚡ Energy Consumption: Pump operating times and kWh consumption
- 💧 Pressure Values: Pipeline health
- 🌤️ Weather: Temperature, humidity, and precipitation forecasts
- 📈 Yield Data: Relationship between irrigation and crop yield
How is This Data Used?
1. Season Planning: By looking at the data from the previous season, an irrigation strategy is determined for the next season.
2. Budget Management: Water and electricity consumption can be predicted in advance.
3. Problem Detection: Abnormal increases in consumption can be a sign of leaks or malfunctions.
4. Yield Optimization: It is seen which irrigation amount provides the highest yield.
Differences Between esular and Other Systems
There are many automatic irrigation solutions on the market. So what makes esular different?
| Feature | Traditional Systems | esular |
|---|---|---|
| Wiring | Wiring required | ✅ Completely wireless |
| Range | Limited by cable length | ✅ 10 km wireless range |
| Installation Time | 2-4 weeks | ✅ 3-7 days |
| Energy | 220V electricity required | ✅ Solar + battery option |
| Expansion | Difficult and costly | ✅ Add new valve in 5 minutes |
| Mobile Application | Simple or none | ✅ Advanced features |
| Sensor Integration | Limited | ✅ Soil moisture, pressure, water meter |
| Technical Support | Working hours | ✅ 24/7 support |
Conclusion: Be Ready for the Future with Automatic Irrigation
In the face of climate change, water scarcity, rising costs, and labor problems, automatic irrigation systems are no longer a luxury, but a necessity. The transition to digital agriculture is accelerating in Turkey and the world.
With esular automatic irrigation systems:
- ✅ Reduce your water consumption by 30-40%
- ✅ Lower your electricity bills by 35-45%
- ✅ Increase your yield by 15-25%
- ✅ Gain 3-4 hours a day
- ✅ Manage everything from your phone
- ✅ No need to lay cables
- ✅ Get 24/7 technical support
🌱 Switch to Digital Agriculture Too!
Let us prepare a custom solution package for your land. Contact us now for free discovery and technical consultancy.
📞 Free Consultation 💬 WhatsApp
Or visit our store: store.esular.com
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⚠️ Important Note: All data shared in this content is taken from real projects. For price information, please check current campaigns and prices at the esular store. Prices may vary and the information in this blog content is based on data prior to the publication date.
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