Fully automatic intelligent remote control for water and fertilizer integration

To be honest, when I first heard aboutFully automatic intelligent remote control for water and fertilizer integration, I was skeptical - it sounded too pretentious. Many people still confuse this with simple irrigation automation, but the difference is fundamental. In our work with Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC, we have gone from basic systems to complex solutions where complete autonomy is truly achieved.

Evolution of the approach to irrigation management

I remember our first projects in 2018 - then we installed simple timers and humidity sensors. Clients were expecting a miracle, but the system worked according to a rigid algorithm without taking into account real weather conditions. Particularly problematic were transitional seasons, when it rained in the morning, but the system still turned on watering on schedule.

The turning point came when we began to integrate data from weather stations and weather forecasts. But this was not enough - the soil characteristics of different areas varied greatly, even within the same field. We had to develop zoning with individual settings for each sector.

Now we at Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC use a multi-level analysis system: satellite images, drones with multispectral cameras, a network of ground sensors. But the main thing is machine learning algorithms, which adapt over time to the specific conditions of the site.

Technical implementation details

The hardest thing aboutremote control of water and fertilizer integration- ensure stable communication in the field. We tried different technologies: LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, satellite communications. For each project, we select the optimal solution depending on the terrain and distance.

Equipment reliability is especially critical - when you control a system hundreds of kilometers away, any failure can lead to serious losses. Therefore, we use duplication of communication channels and autonomous operation in case of communication failure.

An interesting point with sensors is that they have to be calibrated regularly, otherwise the readings begin to 'float away'. Once a season, we make sure to carry out a full diagnostic of the entire measuring system. This is routine work, but without it there is nointelligent controlimpossible.

Practical cases and mistakes

We had a project in the Krasnodar region - it seemed like ideal conditions for implementation. But they did not take into account the specifics of local soils - the high clay content led to stagnation of water, despite the correct readings of the humidity sensors. I had to redo the entire irrigation scheme.

Another illustrative case is a greenhouse complex in the Moscow region. The owner wanted maximum automation, but the staff sabotaged the new system. It turned out that people were afraid of losing their jobs. We had to conduct training and show that the system does not replace, but helps in work.

We currently recommend a phased implementation - starting with basic automation, then adding intelligent control elements, and only then moving on to full autonomy. This is how clients adapt, and we can fine-tune the system more precisely.

Integration with other systems

One of the key points that is often overlooked is compatibility with existing infrastructure. Our company Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC develops solutions that can integrate with most popular accounting platforms.

Integration with weather services is especially important - we work with several data providers to minimize forecast errors. But there is a nuance here - different services can give discrepancies of up to 30%, so we use average indicators.

The most difficult part is the integration of fertilizer application systems - it requires precise dosing and pH/EC control. We have developed our own mixing units with dosing accuracy of up to 1%, which is more than enough for agriculture.

Economic efficiency and payback

Many people ask about the payback period - on average 2-3 seasons for large farms. But here a lot depends on the culture and the initial efficiency of water use. For example, for vegetable growing in protected soil, the system can pay for itself in one season.

The main savings are achieved not so much by saving water (although this is 15-20%), but by increasing productivity and product quality. Plants receive optimal nutrition at the right time, which is especially critical during the harvest phase.

We keep statistics on all implemented projects - on average, the increase in yield is 12-18% while reducing the cost of electricity and fertilizers. But the main thing is the stability of results from year to year, which is priceless for agriculture.

Prospects for technology development

We are now experimenting with predictive algorithms - the system should not only respond to current conditions, but also predict the needs of plants 5-7 days in advance. This is especially true for perennial crops.

Another direction is simplifying interfaces. Experience shows that the most effective systems are those that are easy to use. We are gradually moving away from complex settings to intuitive recommendations.

And of course, work on reliability - agricultural machinery operates in aggressive conditions, and the requirements for equipment are appropriate. We test each component of the system in different climatic zones before mass production.

To sum it up -Fully automatic intelligent remote control for water and fertilizer integrationceased to be exotic and became a working tool for progressive farms. The technology has proven its effectiveness, the main thing is competent implementation taking into account specific conditions. As our experience at Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC shows, success depends not so much on the complexity of the system, but on understanding agronomic processes and attention to detail.