A wireless application of drip irrigation automation supported by soil moisture sensors

Abstract

Irrigation by help of freshwater resources in agricultural areas has a crucial importance. Because of highly 
increasing demand for freshwater, optimal usage of water resources has been provided with greater extent by 
automation technology and its apparatus such as solar power, drip irrigation, sensors and remote control. 
Traditional instrumentation based on discrete and wired solutions, presents many difficulties on measuring 
and control systems especially over the large geographical areas. This paper describes an application of a 
wireless sensor network for low-cost wireless controlled irrigation solution and real time monitoring of water 
content of soil. Data acquisition is performed by using solar powered wireless acquisition stations for the 
purpose of control of valves for irrigation. The designed system has 3 units namely: base station unit (BSU), 
valve unit (VU) and sensor unit (SU). The obtained irrigation system not only prevents the moisture stress of 
trees and salification, but also provides an efficient use of fresh water resource. In addition, the developed 
irrigation method removes the need for workmanship for flooding irrigation. The designed system was applied 
to an area of 8 decares in a venue located in central Anatolia for controlling drip irrigation of dwarf cherry 
trees.