Smart technologies in agriculture

When you hear about “smart technologies,” the first thing that comes to mind is robot milkers and drones flying over the fields. But in reality, everything often comes down to the banal lack of stable Internet in the outback or the inability to integrate old Soviet irrigation systems with new sensors. This is where the real work begins, not fancy presentations.

What is hidden behind the fashionable term?

In our companyShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,LtdWe stopped chasing the “smart” people a long time ago. labels. If an irrigation control system requires daily manual data entry, it is not an intelligent system, but an expensive remote control. Realsmart technologies in agriculturemust work proactively: for example, when soil moisture sensors automatically adjust the watering schedule taking into account the precipitation forecast.

One of the projects—the modernization of drip irrigation in the Krasnodar Territory—showed that farmers are willing to pay not for “smart” things. name, but for reducing water costs. We installed remote controlled controllers that reduced water consumption by 23%. But I had to tinker with the settings - it turned out that the local water contained suspended matter that clogged the filters. We had to modify the cleaning system on site.

By the way, about filters: many people underestimate the importance of preliminary water treatment. In the same project we used multi-level filters fromShandong Lingyao Co.,Ltd, which dealt with small particles of silt. Without this, all the automation would fail within a month. Details can be found athttps://www.lyzhihuinongye.ru— there are technical specifications there.

Integration of water and fertilizers: pitfalls

Water and fertilizer integration systems are more than just mixing units. Last year, we encountered a situation where the automation system incorrectly dosed nitrogen fertilizers due to power surges in the network. I had to urgently install stabilizers and reflash the controllers. Now we always check the quality of the power supply before starting.

Frequency converters are another sore point. Some suppliers promise “eternal operation”, but in conditions of temperature and humidity changes, the engines fail faster than stated. We tested the equipment in the conditions of Stavropol - where it is +40°C in the shade in summer and -20°C in winter. Out of ten samples, only three worked a full season without failures.

An interesting point: many agricultural producers are afraid of automation because they do not understand how to maintain it. We began conducting three-day training seminars directly on site. We show you how to replace the pH sensor or restart your watering program. This reduces resistance to innovation.

Automation vs human factor

No smart technology can replace an experienced agronomist. There was a case in the Rostov region: the system recommended increasing watering, but the local technician noticed that the soil was already waterlogged due to close groundwater. Turning off the automation saved the wheat harvest. Conclusion:smart equipmentshould complement, not replace, specialists.

Remote valve control is a seemingly simple thing. But in steppe areas the GSM signal often disappears. We had to develop a hybrid system: main control via the Internet, and backup control via a radio channel. By the way, such solutions are now included in the standard package of our projects.

Another problem is vandalism. In some farms, sensors are picked out for souvenirs. or just out of curiosity. It is necessary to install the equipment at a height of 3-4 meters or use anti-vandal housings. This adds cost but maintains functionality.

Design of smart agricultural facilities

When creatingsmart agricultural parksIt is important to consider not only technology, but also logistics. For example, in one of the farms near Moscow we placed soil moisture sensors without taking into account the routes of the equipment - the result: several sensors were crushed by a tractor. Now we always agree on the placement map with the chief engineer.

Designing hydraulic structures is a different story. Here, smart technologies are manifested in a system for monitoring pressure in pipes and automatic shutdown in case of leaks. But Russian winters make adjustments: it is necessary to additionally insulate control units and use frost-resistant materials.

High-quality agricultural fields are not just smooth beds. We are introducing a zoning system based on soil type: different watering and fertilizer regimes can be used in different areas of the same field. This gives a yield increase of up to 15%, but requires accurate cartograms and GPS location.

Equipment that really works

Over the years, we have selected several typesintelligent equipment, which works stably in Russian conditions. For example, multi-stage water filters with automatic flushing - they cope with hard water and sand. Or programmable irrigation controllers with backup power from solar panels.

Water filtration systems are often underrated. Meanwhile, it is precisely because of bad water that expensive valves and nozzles fail. We use combined solutions: coarse mesh filters + fine disc filters. For particularly difficult cases - pressure hydrocyclones.

Low-voltage equipment is a separate issue. In the field, it is important that systems operate from different power sources. We have developed control panels that can switch between mains, generator and batteries. This is especially important for remote farms.

Prospects and limitations

The future lies in integrated solutions. Not with separate sensors, but with unified platforms that integrate control of watering, lighting, temperature and plant nutrition. But so far such systems are expensive for medium-sized farms. Our task is to create modular solutions that can be expanded gradually.

The main obstacle is not the cost of equipment, but the lack of qualified personnel. We have launched an internship program for students of agricultural universities. Let young specialists learn to work with smart systems right away, and not retrain later.

If we talk about trends, then interest insmart technologies in agriculturegrows even in small farms. It is no longer uncommon for the head of a peasant farm to personally control irrigation from a smartphone. This is encouraging - it means we are moving in the right direction.