Determining the Irrigation Performance of Solar Panels Operating with a Sun Tracking System

Abstract

In the study, utilizing the relationship established between plant water consumption and solar radiation, an irrigation system was attempted to be automated through a Programmable Logic Control (PLC) controlled program for tomato plants grown in an open field. The system has obtained its required energy through solar panels, utilizing solar energy as its power source. The performance of the system has been attempted to be evaluated through the yield and quality parameters of the cultivated plants by yield, mean fruit weight and width, titratable acidity, total solids, pH, leaves (fresh+dry) weights, stem (fresh+dry) weights, leaf area, plant height. The PV panels used in the system were equipped with a solar tracking system to pump more water at a lower cost. This has led to an increase in the efficiency of the panels.
 The solar radiation values obtained with a pyranometer sensor during irrigation were processed through the software written in the PLC's memory. The amount of water consumed by the plant the next day was calculated, and it was attempted to be automatically supplied to the plant's root zone at 10:00 am. The system has been made continuous by being controlled with automation and SCADA. The development of the plants, temperature, humidity, and radiation levels were measured, and the system's irrigation performance was determined according to the moisture level change in the soil.