Fuzzy-Control-Based Agricultural Irrigation System

Irrigation is the artificial application of water to soil. It is used to support agricultural production, preserve landscapes and restore vegetation where rainfall is insufficient. When an irrigation zone becomes active, water flows through lateral lines and reaches drip emitters or sprinkler heads.

Most irrigation components have a connector at the bottom and threaded pipe inlets. Sprinklers are commonly installed with the top of the head level with the ground. When the water is pressurized, the head rises from the ground and irrigates the intended area until the valve closes. When pressure in the lateral line disappears, the sprinkler retracts. Emitters are often laid on the soil surface or buried at a selected depth to reduce evaporation losses.

Water is a resource required by every living organism and must therefore be used carefully. It is often used inefficiently, causing substantial waste. Managing irrigation with computer-controlled systems can reduce that waste.

This project report proposed an automatic irrigation system intended to meet plant requirements while minimizing water input and human intervention. It first described the problem and reviewed general design approaches. Experimental results were used to discuss the quantity of water required.

The project was then implemented at a basic level in MATLAB and its scope was expanded. A small-scale implementation was produced, industrial considerations for transition to a large-scale system were examined, and a brief cost analysis was performed to estimate market applicability. The design was evaluated and recommendations were provided for future improvements.