Smart Irrigation System: A Water and Power Management Approach

Energy, water, and agriculture together form a formidable synergy which when properly utilized can achieve national growth and development. Cost effective solar powered irrigation systems can be the answer for all energy and fuel crisis. In this work, a smart irrigation system that considers the available water and solar energy power to determine the performance of its irrigation process is developed. The system adopted solar power such that it could be deployed in places with inadequate or no grid power while providing a means of monitoring the available solar/battery power as well as the water available in reservoir over the Internet on a Blynk user-friendly application. Experiments carried out at 7 am to 8 am, 1 pm to 2 pm, 3 pm to 4 pm and 7 pm to 8 pm reveal the dependence of the irrigation system on optimal utilization of the two essential parameters of water and power for a smooth operation of a smart irrigation system. During this time, system operation is simultaneously monitored in real-time via a user-friendly interface on an Android mobile device. The adopted approach in this paper provides a convenient way of remote monitoring of solar energy power and water for an irrigation system and enhances effective use of resources (water and power). Optimal usage of resources prolongs lifespan of irrigation facilities such as solar battery and water pumps while making adequate water available for irrigation to achieve bumper crop yield.