Fertilizer applicator, agricultural irrigation main buyer country

When people talk about agricultural machinery, everyone immediately thinks of Germans or Americans. But in the last five years the Chinesefertilizer applicatorshave become a real competitor in the CIS market. This is especially noticeable for our clients from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan - they no longer look at technology as a 'budget option', but require specific agricultural solutions.

Mistakes when choosing irrigation systems

Many people still believe that the main thing in an irrigation system is price. In fact, the main problem is after-sales service. I remember that in 2021 they installed a batch of drip lines in the Fergana Valley - so local agronomists at first complained about the “complex automation”, and after a season they themselves asked to be equipped with humidity sensors.

Another myth is that Chinese technology is not adapted to local conditions. Meanwhile, our engineers fromShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,LtdWe have developed a filtration system with a double flushing cycle specifically for the Central Asian region. Sandy soils require a special approach to water purification.

By the way, about filters. I often see how buyers save money on this particular unit. Then they wonder why the emitters clog after the first season. Our website https://www.lyzhihuinongye.ru even made a separate calculator for selecting filter stations - a free tool, but not all clients still use it.

Features of working with the main buyer countries

Kazakh farmers, for example, prefer modular solutions. Take the basic kitfertilizer applicator, and then they buy additional sensors and automation modules. This is due to the fact that they often do not have a ready-made infrastructure - they have to assemble the system gradually.

But in Uzbekistan there is a different approach - they often order complete fertigation stations. Apparently, government support for reclamation projects is having an effect. By the way, we specially improved the software for Uzbek cotton growers - we added accounting for seasonal water mineralization.

Russian clients are usually the most demanding in terms of documentation. Requests for certificates, equipment passports, methodological recommendations - sometimes it seems that they keep half of the technical specialists just to check the documentation. But this is correct - the technology is complex, you need to understand how to work with it.

Technical nuances that are rarely written about in specifications

Few people pay attention to the material of the rods in injectors. Stainless steel is the standard, but for waters with high salt content, titanium alloys are better. We are inShandong Lingyao Co.,LtdAt first, experiments were carried out at testing sites in Turfan - conditions there are harsher than in most regions of the CIS.

Another important point is the location of EC/pH control points. If the sensors are too close to the injector, the readings will jump. Optimally - after 15-20 meters downstream, but this is not always taken into account during installation.

Valve automation is a seemingly simple thing. But when they installed the system in a cotton field near Samarkand, it turned out that local electricians did not always understand the operating principle of frequency converters. I had to make simplified connection diagrams with color coding.

Practical cases from projects

Last year we launchedintelligent water and fertilizer integration equipmentfor a greenhouse plant in the Almaty region. The peculiarity there was that three sources of water were used at once - artesian, collector-drainage and rain collection. We had to create a cascade mixing system with automatic correction for the chemical composition.

But in the Tashkent region there was an interesting experience with remote control. The farmer was initially skeptical about the 'smart valves' and said that it was easier to turn them manually. But when I saw that the system itself corrects watering according to weather station data, I became the most ardent supporter of automation.

By the way, about weather stations. They are often underestimated, but they provide 30% of the efficiency of the entire system. Especially in zones of sharply continental climate, where the temperature can jump by 15 degrees in a day. We usually recommend installing at least basic models with temperature, humidity and solar radiation sensors.

Prospects for technology development

Now I see a trend towards systems integration -irrigation in agricultureis no longer perceived as a separate story. Customers want to see a single digital loop from weather forecasts to crop accounting. BShandong LingyaoThey are currently working on a platform that will combine the management of irrigation, the application of plant protection products and monitoring the condition of crops.

Interestingly, the demand for drip irrigation is growing even in traditionally 'rainy' regions. Apparently, the instability of precipitation in recent years has an effect. Moreover, hybrid systems are often requested - drip lines plus sprinklers for seedlings.

What’s new is that people have become increasingly interested in systems with AI analytics. True, for now these are more pilot projects for large agricultural holdings. But I think that in a couple of years, medium-sized farms will begin to implement predictive algorithms for calculating irrigation rates.

What really matters when choosing equipment

The main thing is to look not at the price tag, but at the total cost of ownership. Cheapfertilizer applicatorin two seasons it can “eat up” all the savings on replacing parts and downtime during repairs. We always suggest that clients calculate not only the initial investment, but also operating costs for 5 years.

I also advise you to pay attention to maintainability in the field. There have been cases when ultra-modern European equipment stood idle for weeks waiting for spare parts. Our service engineers specifically train local machine operators in basic repairs - this greatly reduces the risk of downtime.

Lastly, don't underestimate training. Even the most advanced system can be ruined by improper operation. For each project, we conduct at least two training seminars - at launch and after the season, when users already have practical experience.