A new automated drip irrigation and fertigation system for sugarcane crops

Abstract

This paper presents a new automation system specifically design for sugarcane crops to optimize the irrigation and fertigation process against resource shortage and climate change. The system uses a programmable logic controller, sensors, actuators, and other mechanical equipment to control and manage the supply of water and nutrients based on the fertilizer requirement at sugarcane’s development stages. The simulation was done using a commercially available tool Picosoft V6.22, a software compatible with Allen Bradley Programmable Logic Controller. The economic analysis was also provided to show the advantages of using an automated irrigation as compared to the manual irrigation. Result of the analysis shows a payback period of a month as compared to 4.3 months for the manual irrigation system.