The Future of Farming – An Introduction to Automatic Irrigation Kits and Automated Drip Irrigation

In India, farming has come a long way. Across many regions, it has evolved from being completely weather-dependent to using irrigation and smart digital tools. While there’s still a long journey ahead, we cannot overlook the remarkable transformations happening today and their benefits for farmers, home gardeners, and commercial growers.

What is an Automatic Irrigation System?

An automatic irrigation kit operates with little or no manual intervention apart from basic monitoring. It uses sensors, timers, or computers to control water flow automatically.

Almost any drip irrigation kit can be automated with the right equipment. An automatic watering system ensures precise and timely irrigation, allowing farmers and home gardeners to focus on more important tasks that require expertise and care.

Global Automatic Irrigation System Market

With more and more farmers realizing the benefits of Irrigation Automation, The market will only grow. As per reports, The global Irrigation Automation or Automated drip Irrigation market will go from approximately USD 4 billion in 2022 to nearly USD 9 billion in 2027. That refers to the growth of more than double the existing size in only five years!

Types of Automatic Irrigation Systems

Automatic Irrigation Systems have evolved over the years to become available in varying forms. Let's look at the three types of Automatic Drip Irrigation Systems.

Time Based System

This system allows the farmer to set the start time and quantity of irrigation (in minutes or seconds), number of cycles, maximum duration, and number of cycles, depending on the model and the manufacturer of the controller. It is easy to program and operate. However, some cons include the absence of system feedback and interruptions causing partial or complete cycles to skip due to power outages.

Volume Based System

Farmers can set the start time and quantity of irrigation (in liters or M3) and the number of cycles per day. The system offers operational flexibility (time or volume based), exact quantity and flow calculation, and flow deviation (no flow, low and high flow). However, the system is costlier than the time based system and it requires components like water meters with sensors and flow meters additionally.

Sensor-Based System

In this Irrigation System, Irrigation is executed according to signals from sensors like Soil moisture sensor, Tensiometer, Solar radiation, Vapor pressure deficit, and Evapo Transpiration (ET). It helps execute irrigation as and when required, and enables substantial savings of resources. It is the costliest of all the Automated Irrigation Systems, Requires maintenance of sensors, and the number of sensors depends on the land size. Additionally, a sensor failure can affect the watering system.

Benefits of Automatic Drip Irrigation System

Farmers have struggled with increasing Irrigation Precision, Efficiency, Water saving, and Ever increasing labor costs for years. But an Automatic Drip Irrigation System addresses these concerns effectively. A fully Automated Drip Irrigation System eliminates manual intervention, thus enhancing irrigation accuracy and offering a range of consequent benefits, Including the following.

Water Saving :

Plants get only as much water and when required. So, no water wastage and no delays whatsoever, which is a possibility while handling and operating irrigation systems manually.

Even Crop Growth:

Automated Drip Irrigation Systems can be programmed to release water precisely in the quantities the crop requires across various phases. Thus, water neither gets excess water nor remains deprived of it. Uniform distribution of water can help result in even Crop Growth. 

Considerable Cost Savings:

Irrigation automation of Drip irrigation eliminates the need for labor to operate the irrigation system. Besides, farmers can operate the irrigation system at a click through their mobile. Both these factors can help save costs and efforts otherwise involved in operating manual irrigation systems.

Are you a farmer looking to install an automatic drip irrigation system? Connect with Netafim. We shall help you install and program the automated irrigation system to suit your crop's water and nutrition needs. Connect with us at https://www.netafimindia.com/contact-us/  to learn more about automatic irrigation system support and solutions.