Smart irrigation technologies optimize plant irrigation by taking into account various factors such as weather, soil type, plant needs, and others to provide the optimal amount of water at the right time.
Irrigation systems of such a type usually include soil moisture sensors, weather stations, and irrigation controllers and sometimes connect with apps to monitor and control from anywhere there is internet access. They can automatically adjust water use based on actual plant needs, soil moisture levels, and weather conditions.
Typically, a smart irrigation system optimizes water use by giving plants the right amount of water at the right time. Overall, the cost of a smart irrigation system can be significant, but for many, it pays for itself in water savings and efficient use of resources over time.
Experts from the Environmental Protection Agency estimate that up to 50% of water can be wasted through overwatering. Plants can suffer from both under and over-watering. Using smart irrigation systems can reduce watering costs and save up to 15,000 gallons of water per year, even in an average-sized home, let alone a substantial farmland.
Corn typically requires 20 to 30 inches of water per season to allow for its full growth and development. This roughly equates to 500,000 to 750,000 gallons of water per acre (or about 1,890 to 2,839 cubic meters).
The average price per cubic meter (or 1,000 liters) of water in the U.S. can range from $1 to $3. Thus, to calculate the cost of 2,839 cubic meters, we get these figures at an average price of $2 per cubic meter:
2839 cubic meters * $2 = $5678
With average savings after implementing smart irrigation of 35%, we get a figure of $1987 per acre per season. This is only water savings without considering the crop quality that will be obtained under optimal irrigation/watering conditions.
For this example, average cost figures were taken simply to demonstrate the potential returns from implementing smart irrigation systems.
A minimal smart irrigation kit that includes basic components such as moisture sensors, irrigation controllers, and simple monitoring systems can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars or euros. For example, a starter kit might include an 8-zone irrigation controller, a water flow sensor, and appropriate software, all of which can cost around $650 without tax.
A mid-range kit, which may include more advanced technology, weather stations, applications to monitor and control the system from afar, and additional features to adapt to different conditions and soil types, can cost from several thousand to several tens of thousands of dollars or euros, especially for larger plots of land or more complex systems.
For example, a complex system may include:
The price may also depend on the choice of equipment supplier, the need for specialist installation, the type and number of sensors, integration with other systems, and other factors.
IT-Dimension has experience in implementing smart irrigation systems with controllers from various manufacturers, cloud-based solutions, and establishing direct communication with controllers. With access to a public (or closed) API, we can facilitate the automation of interaction with irrigation controllers of different models (check out our Irrigation System case study).
Our team can offer irrigation solutions for web, mobile, and desktop platforms, with options for storing data and irrigation logs locally or in the cloud. Contact us to discuss your future agriculture business automation and then take efficiency to the next level.
