Fully Automatic Intelligent Remote Controlled Water and Fertilizer Integration for Drip Irrigation Systems in Agricultural Greenhouses

When you hear about “fully automatic, intelligent, remote-controlled integration of water and fertilizer,” many people immediately imagine some kind of magic - you press a button and everything works by itself. In reality, this is a complex balance between technology and agronomy, where any little thing like incorrect calibration of sensors or incorrectly selected nozzles can negate all the benefits of the system.

Main misconceptions and real difficulties

I still meet customers who are sure that automation is simply the replacement of human labor with machines. Especially in greenhouses, whereintegration of water and fertilizersoften perceived as ordinary watering with the addition of 'chemicals'. In fact, the key difficulty is not in installing equipment, but in setting up algorithms for a specific crop. For example, tomatoes in the flowering phase require a different regime than cucumbers, and if this nuance is not taken into account, you can lose up to 30% of the harvest.

I remember an incident at one of the plants near Moscow: they installed an expensive system, but the programmers did not take into account that on cloudy days the electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution should be adjusted. As a result, the plants received the wrong concentration for three weeks - we had to urgently call agronomists and reflash the controllers. That is why inShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,LtdWe always insist on working together with farm technologists when launching projects.

Another point is that many people underestimate the importance of water preparation. Even the most advanced system will not work well if you do not take into account water hardness or the presence of iron. It is necessary to additionally install iron removal filters, and this increases the cost of the project. But experience shows that you cannot save on such things.

Technical implementation details

Modern systems similar to those developed byShandong Lingyao Co.,Ltd, are built on a modular architecture. This allows you to gradually increase functionality - say, start with basicremote controlledvalve and later add a weather station to adjust irrigation based on air humidity. By the way, about valves: they are often installed without taking into account the hydraulics of the section, and then they wonder why the pressure drops at the end of the line.

In our projects we use frequency converters - although they are more expensive, they allow you to accurately regulate the performance of the pumps. This is especially important when working with fertilizers, where the slightest imbalance in proportions can “burn” the root system. By the way, about proportions: some manufacturers still save on pH and EC sensors, but without them there is no pointintelligent controlthere is no question.

The latest developments include integration with platforms like AgroCrm or our own cloud solutions. But there are pitfalls here: in remote farms there are problems with Internet stability. We have to think through hybrid schemes, where part of the logic works locally, and synchronization with the server occurs when a connection appears.

Practical cases and mistakes

Last year, the system was implemented in a greenhouse complex near Kazan. A special feature there is the high groundwater level in spring. If drainage channels and automatic discharge of excess were not provided, the roots of the plants could rot. By the way, it is in such projects that the importance offully automaticcontrol - manual monitoring simply would not have time to track sudden changes in humidity.

Here is a negative example: in the Krasnodar Territory they tried to adapt the Dutch system without taking into account local conditions. The Dutch rely on stable voltage in the network, but we have frequent surges - as a result, three controllers burned out in a month. Now we always install stabilizers and uninterruptible power supplies, even if the customer considers this unnecessary.

Another common mistake is incorrect installation of drip lines. I have seen cases where they were placed directly on the ground without a backing, and after a season the pipes frayed. Or they save on installing filters - and then have to clean the emitters every week. Trifle? But it is precisely these little things that make up the reliability of the entire system.

Prospects and limitations of technology

Nowadays there is a lot of talk about AI in agriculture, but in practice, machine learning for predicting irrigation so far only works in experimental projects. The main emphasis should be on proven technologies - the samedrip irrigation systemswith clear correction algorithms based on sensor data. By the way, it is better to install soil moisture sensors in cascade - at different depths, this gives a more accurate picture.

An interesting direction is the use of solar energy to power pumps in remote greenhouses. We tested such solutions in the Astrakhan region - it’s still a bit expensive, but promising for the southern regions. The main thing is to select batteries with a power reserve so that they are enough for cloudy days.

A limitation we often encounter is personnel. Even the most advanced system must be maintained by someone. And if previously you just needed a mechanic, now you need a specialist with knowledge of agronomy, hydraulics and basic programming. BShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,LtdWe have started conducting training seminars for staff - this reduces the number of errors during operation.

Economic component

When we calculate the payback for customers, we always emphasize: the savings are not so much on staff salaries, but on resources. Correctly configured systemintegration of water and fertilizersallows you to reduce fertilizer consumption by 15-20%, and water consumption by up to 40%. This is especially noticeable in regions with water shortages - for example, in Crimea, our projects show particular effectiveness.

But there are also hidden costs, such as regular sensor calibration. If you ignore it, in six months or a year the system will begin to fail. We usually include service in the contract - it’s more reliable. By the way, from experience, most failures occur not due to equipment failure, but due to untimely maintenance.

For small farms, we sometimes offer simplified versions - without full automation, but with key functionsremote control. This allows them to gradually enter the topic without a large initial investment. As practice shows, after a year of use, most expand the functionality.