Sprinkler irrigation system buyer's main country

When they talk aboutsprinkler irrigation system, many represent standard sprinkler systems. But in Russian conditions - from Krasnodar to the Altai Territory - one has to take into account nuances that cannot be described in textbooks. For example, how will irrigation behave on heavy loams after spring frosts, or why some imported controllers are not friendly with local GSM networks.

Russian design specifics

In 2022, we conducted an experiment in the Rostov region - we tried to adapt the Dutch sprinkler placement scheme to local wind loads. It turned out that with winds exceeding 8 m/s, a standard step of 12 meters produces waterlogging along the edges of the area and dry spots in the center. I had to develop a custom scheme with variable pitch from 9 to 14 meters.

The transition periods - early spring and late autumn - turned out to be especially problematic. When the temperature fluctuates around zero, classic watering heads either stick or give 'blind' watering. We are with the engineersShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,LtdWe tested seven nozzle models before finding the optimal option for such conditions.

By the way, about filtration - many customers save on this unit, and then wonder why the nozzles fail after a season. Water from artesian wells in the Stavropol Territory has to be passed through a three-stage purification system, otherwise iron and salts quickly damage expensive equipment.

Technological miscalculations and discoveries

I remember that in 2021, near Kazan, a system was installed with the expectation of a stable pressure of 3.5 atm. But when eight wings were launched simultaneously, the pressure dropped to 2.2. We had to urgently install an additional pumping station - a lesson worth a million rubles, if you count simple equipment and alteration of pipelines.

Now we always reserve at least 25% for pump productivity. Especially for systems wheresprinkler irrigation systemwith pulse operating modes. Russian agricultural producers often work at the limit of profitability, but saving on such units is more expensive.

An interesting point with pipe materials - polyethylene vs PVC. In theory, PVC is cheaper, but in practice, polyethylene is better for mobile systems. It withstands freeze-thaw cycles better, which is important for most regions of Russia. Although there are nuances with UV stability...

Automation and local realities

Our programmers spent two months finalizing the automation software for Russian cellular operators. It turned out that in some areas of the Belgorod region it is not LTE that works more stable, but good old 2G. We had to rewrite data transmission algorithms taking into account possible communication failures.

Last season we tested a remote valve control system based on solutionsShandong Lingyao Co.,Ltdin the Voronezh region. Local farmers were initially skeptical about smart systems, but when they saw how they could control the irrigation of 200 hectares from their phone, their attitude changed. Although some still ask to duplicate the control of mechanical valves - just in case.

Soil moisture sensors are a different story. Standard sensors are poorly calibrated for chernozems - they show either waterlogging or lack of moisture. We have developed our own calibration method taking into account the granulometric composition. Now we always take soil samples before installation.

Economics of water and fertilizers

In the Volgograd region, a fertigation system through sprinklers was introduced. The estimated savings in fertilizers should have been 15-20%, but they achieved only 8%. We looked into it - it turned out that local pressure minima in the system led to an uneven distribution of drugs. After installing additional pressure reducing valves, the situation improved.

Now many farms are switching to combined systems - drip irrigation for row spacing andsprinkler irrigation systemfor main watering. This approach is especially effective for orchards and vineyards, where different moisture regimes are needed at different phases of the growing season.

By the way, about crop rotation - when switching from grain to vegetable crops, a reconfiguration of the entire system is often required. We have developed a modular design that allows configuration changes without completely replacing the piping. The first such project was implemented in the Lipetsk region in 2023.

Prospects and limitations

We are now actively testing systems with weather sensors directly in the fields. Standard weather stations are often installed in populated areas, and the microclimate on the field can differ significantly. This is especially noticeable in areas of risky farming.

The main problem of scaling is the lack of qualified service specialists in the regions. We have to organize visiting schools for local mechanics. At the basehttps://www.lyzhihuinongye.rucreated an online platform with video instructions for equipment maintenance.

If we talk about trends, the Russian market is gradually moving from simple irrigation systems to complex turnkey solutions. Agricultural producers want to receive not just equipment, but a guaranteed result in the form of increased productivity. And that's right - after allsprinkler irrigation systemshould not be an expense, but an investment.