Automated irrigation system

When you hear 'automated irrigation system', the first thing that comes to mind is more than just timers and valves. This is a whole philosophy where soil moisture, weather forecast and even the type of crop dictate their logic. Many people still confuse automation with simply turning on pumps remotely, but this is like comparing a shovel to an excavator.

How we came to intelligent solutions

We started with basic controllers that simply opened the water on a schedule. Then we were faced with the fact that in hot weather the plants needed more moisture, but in rainy weather the system continued to work. Water losses reached 30%, not to mention waterlogging of the root system.

The turning point came when we installed soil moisture sensors from the companyShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,Ltd. Their sensors didn’t just show the percentage of moisture—they took into account the type of soil and the depth of the roots. I remember how, on a test field of wheat, the system itself reduced watering by 22% without loss of yield.

Now on their website https://www.lyzhihuinongye.ru you can see how sensors are integrated withfrequency converters. This is no longer just watering, but precise dosing of each drop.

Automation pitfalls

The most common mistake is to install expensive sensors but save on filters. I saw a case when in a month of workdrip tapeclogged with silt due to poor filtration. We had to redo the entire water treatment unit.

Another point - not everyone understands thatautomated irrigation systemrequires constant calibration. Humidity sensors can 'lie' due to soil salinity or improper installation. We usually set control points with manual measurements.

By the way,Shandong Lingyao Co.,LtdThere is a nuance in the description of projects - they always provide for backup control lines. It is 10-15% more expensive, but when the main controller fails during the high season, these costs are recouped in one day.

Real cases and failures

Last year, in tomato fields in the Rostov region, we tried to use only weather data without soil sensors. The result is uneven ripening due to plant stress. I had to urgently buy additional sensors.

Here is a successful example: in the Krasnodar region they installed a system withremote valve controlfrom the mentioned company. The farmer could see not only the irrigation status, but also the pressure in the main line from his phone. This helped to detect a pipe break in time.

Interestingly, their equipment forintegration of water and fertilizersproved to be better than its European counterparts in hard water conditions. Apparently, because it was developed taking into account our realities.

Details that make all the difference

Few people pay attention to the location of the solenoid valves. If you place them in lowlands, they will fail during a flood. We now always draw a relief map before installation.

Another important point -water filtration. Drip irrigation requires at least two stages: a strainer and a disk filter. Otherwise, the very first rains will carry sand into the emitters.

In projectsShandong Lingyao Co.,LtdI noticed a smart solution - they install pressure sensors before and after the filters. When the difference exceeds the threshold, the system signals the need for flushing.

What's next for automation?

We are already testing systems with AI that analyze not only humidity, but also vegetation indices. But for now it is expensive even for large farms.

A more realistic direction is modular solutions. Like those that offerShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,Ltd. You can start with basic valve automation, then add sensors, then fertilizer management.

The main conclusion over the years of work:automated irrigation system- this is not about not participating in the process at all. It's about making decisions based on data, not guesswork. And you should always start with an audit of existing conditions, and not with the purchase of the most expensive equipment.