Abstract

Irrigation in Cameroon to maximum extent is dependent on the monsoons, which are not a reliable source of water. Depending on the soil type, plants are to be provided with water, with a system called as intelligent or smart irrigation system.

This report discusses the prototype design of microcontroller based smart irrigation system which will allow irrigation to take place in zones where watering is required, while bypassing zones where adequate soil moisture is indicated.

Other feature of this prototype is pesticide sprinkling system where the mixture is prepared in required proportion deserved by the plants automatically (required ratio is preloaded), there-by preventing the human mistakes to maximum extent. At present cost- saving technology, labor-saving are the addressing key issues in irrigation.

The study is based on the analysis of handling community problems. This report also focuses on the positive and negative aspects of this technology. It also shows how drip irrigation has made food available again in harsh weather conditions taking an example of the harsh sun in the Far-North region with little rainfall annually.

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

What is Irrigation?

Irrigation mainly refers to the application of the required amount of water to plants at required intervals.  It is necessary for both farming and increasing the yield from the farm. Apart from providing water, irrigation also benefits by providing the moisture for the germination of seeds, makes the soil more fertile and facilitates proper growth and development.

There are two methods of irrigation: Modern Methods of Irrigation and Traditional Methods of Irrigation, traditional irrigation uses surface water sources, such as rivers, flooded fields while modern irrigation uses underground water such as aquifers to pump directly water into the fields. Here I will focus on a modern method which is drip irrigation.

Drip irrigation, also known as ‘trickle irrigation,’ is a method of applying the required amount of water directly to the root zones of plants at regular intervals via drippers or emitters. It was developed in Israel in the early 1960s and became popular in water-stressed areas.

Agriculture plays the important role in the economy and development of the country like Cameroon. In our country, farmers have been using manual control techniques for irrigation. Land is irrigated only at the regular intervals or seasons. In this process, few plants in the zone receive more water and for few, other zone plants water reaches late due to which the crops get dried.

Due to the lack of water and dry soil, drip irrigation is the most effective and can be used on a variety of crops, particularly vegetables, orchard crops, flowers, and plantation crops. Water is applied near the plant root via emitters or drippers on or below the soil surface at a low rate ranging from 2 to 20 litres per hour in drip irrigation.

With frequent irrigation, soil moisture is kept at an optimal level. Drip irrigation is the most efficient irrigation method and can be used on a wide range of crops, particularly vegetables, orchard crops, flowers, and plantation crops. This project has a huge impact and will make crop growing more effective.

In the agricultural engineering field, the main objectives are to help agricultural crop growth, landscape maintenance and  reduce the effect of inadequate rainfall.

 

In the society it is transforming the lives of millions of farmers around the world enabling higher yields while saving water, fertilizer and energy.

For the economy adoption of drip irrigation could increase total production and reduce product price. It would increase total water use and water price when an increase in irrigation had a strong yield effect but might reduce water price and total water use when an increase in application had a relative small impact on yield.

Methodology       

This irrigation relies on a physical principle or technique in which water flows through a filter into special drip pipes, with emitters or holes located at different spacing. Water is distributed through the emitters directly into the soil near the roots through a special slow release device or the water can be controlled using a pvc ball valve.

The Irrigation using soil moisture sensors and Microcontroller is an exclusive instrument that can automatically feed plants with water according to their need without farmer’s interference. Design of an intelligent irrigation system will manage flow of water into the field and sprinkle the pesticide mixture uniformly in the desired ratio deserved by the plants automatically, hence maintain crop health.

The system comprises of Soil moisture sensors to know the status of the water level in the farm; DHT 22 to measure the temperature and humidity of the environment, PIR sensor for security, pvc ball valves for controlling water flow to the farm, holes for dripping water, Sprinklers for spraying of the pesticide mixture, and a controller for the data processing and to control all the operations.

Motivation

 

Water use in food production is a growing problem in the face of climate change and a rising global population. Water is an increasingly scarce global resource, and agriculture is the biggest consumer of our planet’s finite water resources.

Globally, agriculture uses 70% of the world’s fresh water supply and 95% of all water withdrawals in some developing countries.

Drip irrigation is the most water-efficient irrigation system, capable of dramatically reducing a farm’s water use while increasing crop yields and quality. But, like every irrigation system, drip irrigation isn’t a magic bullet. Drip irrigation is expensive to install and labor-intensive and may not pencil out in lower-value crops.

Problem statement

The need to efficiently and effectively distribute water to crops or other plants in order to promote growth and increase crop yields.

Aims and objectives

The main aim of drip irrigation is to bring water, nutrients and pesticides to the crops with an objective of obtaining greater crop yields. Drip irrigation should be able to supply 110% to 120% of crop water needs.

Chapter two is composed of the two types of irrigation systems, which are the modern and traditional irrigation system, their types, differences, and advantages.

Chapter three is focus on the materials used to build this system, the various steps taken and the challenges faced in implementing this system and how they can be ameliorated.

Chapter four talks about the implementation and realization of the project.

While chapter four talks about the conclusion and future works of the project it challenges and economic importance.

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