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Precision Water Management2024Active Project
Precision Irrigation & In-Situ Moisture Sensor Networks
Funding AgencyDepartment of Agriculture & Water Resources
Timeline / Duration2024 – 2027 (48 Months)
Trial LocationHigh-Density Apple Research Block, Shalimar
Lead InvestigatorPrecision Agriculture & Soil Water Laboratory
41%Irrigation Reduction
6.8 kmTelemetry Range
100% SolarBattery Autonomy
15 minData Interval
Research Background & Methodology
This initiative deploys an industrial IoT network of wireless, solar-powered matric potential tensiometers and dielectric moisture probes across diverse horticultural orchard blocks. By coupling continuous soil telemetry with micro-climate evapotranspiration (ET0) stations, the system automatically triggers precision variable-rate drip cycles to maintain optimum root-zone water tension while eliminating percolation losses.
Key Objectives & Milestones
- Design and deploy solar-powered multi-depth LoRaWAN soil tensiometer nodes operating autonomously in remote field plots.
- Develop closed-loop automated valve actuation algorithms calibrated against crop-specific matric potential thresholds.
- Evaluate nutrient fertigation efficiency and nitrate leaching reductions under precision pulse-drip schedules.
- Provide open cloud-telemetry dashboards for real-time grower access to soil hydration curves.
Key Empirical Discoveries & Impact
01
Percolation Loss Mitigation
Achieved a 41% reduction in seasonal water consumption compared to conventional timer-based flood and furrow systems.
02
Nutrient Leaching Reduction
Reduced sub-root nitrate leaching by 35% through micro-pulse fertigation synchrony.
03
Autonomous Sensor Reliability
Demonstrated 99.6% LoRaWAN packet delivery across a 6.8 km line-of-sight topographical basin.
