Imagine running your farm’s irrigation system from your phone, no matter where you are. With automation, this is a reality. Netafim South Africa’s digital farming product manager, Nickie Theron, shares why digital farming and automation in irrigation is like stepping into a new world of opportunities.
One of the biggest steps farmers can take to make that leap towards commercial success is embracing new technologies, like digital farming and automation in irrigation.
At its core, digital farming technologies offer farmers the tools to maximise crop yields while minimising resource use.
Nickie Theron, product manager for Netafim South Africa, provides insights into how digital farming and automation are shaping the future of irrigation and what it means for farmers aspiring to scale up their operations.
Understanding digital farming in irrigation
Digital farming in the context of irrigation primarily focuses on the use of irrigation controllers, which are central to managing various irrigation tasks. These controllers are not just simple switches, but sophisticated devices that manage everything from water distribution to fertigation, which is the process of delivering fertilisers through the irrigation system.
“Digital farming automation is the heart of any irrigation system, which needs to perform 24/7,” explains Theron.
“Sometimes it can also be only monitoring devices informing the farmer what is happening in the field. But all in all, it’s a product that operates on a digital level, providing information to the user and, in most cases, executing tasks that enable the user to manage large and complex systems with minimal resources.”
This integration of monitoring devices and controllers allows for real-time data collection and decision-making, making irrigation systems more efficient and reliable.
Precise water control
Digital farming is a broad term encompassing various technologies and tasks across the farm. These include functions in the head control room (often referred to as the pumphouse), greenhouses, and in-field operations.
In the head control room, the main components typically include pumps, filters, water meters, and valves. These are all connected to the irrigation controller.
“The irrigation controller will take control of the devices to provide the correct amount of water at a specific time to the blocks. The controller also needs to provide various alarms to the farmer if there are any problems, such as a valve that is not opening, a pipe that’s leaking, or a pump not working,” explains Theron.
In greenhouses, digital farming also involves climate controllers that manage temperature and humidity, critical for crop growth. Separate irrigation controllers ensure precise water delivery, while in-field radio communication systems control valves and devices, with cellular communication used for monitoring.
Netafim’s two-way communication system integrates all these aspects, providing farmers with immediate feedback and preventing potential problems.
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Monitor and manage irrigation systems remotely
For farmers looking to commercialise, digital farming technologies bring significant advantages. South Africa’s agricultural sector faces unique challenges, including power shortages, droughts, and floods.
To stay competitive in the global market, local farmers must adopt the most precise and efficient irrigation and fertigation techniques.
“The larger the farm, the more decisions need to be made, the more devices need to be controlled together with more effectiveness and precision, and this can only be done with the latest technologies.”
Automation allows farmers to monitor and manage their irrigation systems remotely, providing them with more flexibility and time to focus on other aspects of their business.
With reliable controllers, farmers can receive notifications on their cell phones about any irrigation-related issues, giving them peace of mind and more time for other responsibilities.
The future of automation in irrigation
Automation in irrigation has seen rapid advancements over the past few years, particularly in controllers and fertigation injection units, says Theron.
“Over the past few years, we saw automation grow drastically, both in terms of the controllers and the fertigation injection units.
“Netafim fertigation injection units are most reliable with few moving parts. Netafim has the entire range from small-scale to large, and Netafim South Africa has developed its own South African brand injection unit, NutriDoser, that is also being used internationally.”
Looking to the future, Theron is excited about upcoming innovations, such as the new NetaJet 5G, set to be released next year.
“This will transform the fertigation injection method and set the benchmark to a whole new level,” he says.
Additionally, Netafim’s new GrowSphere OS offers an advanced irrigation operating system that integrates with the latest controllers, cloud platforms, and IoT devices, bringing everything together on one platform.
Dosing systems and fertigation
Fertigation is a critical component of modern irrigation systems, allowing for the precise delivery of fertilisers through the irrigation system.
“Fertigation is the delivery of the fertiliser through the irrigation system. This means that the dosing unit needs to inject fertiliser into the mainline while obtaining the correct ratio according to the amount of water given.
“The EC and the pH of the water can also be monitored, and operations can be done automatically by the controller to keep a constant water quality going to the field.”
In controlled environments like greenhouses or hydroponic systems, maintaining the correct water EC (electrical conductivity) and pH is crucial. The latest dosing systems and fertigation units, such as Netafim’s NetaJets, are designed to handle these tasks with precision, ensuring that plants receive the optimal nutrient mix without risking root damage.
The importance of an irrigation controller
The irrigation controller is the backbone of any automated irrigation system. It controls and automates the farm’s fertigation, irrigation, and other aspects. It also monitors what happens and makes decisions according to the farmer’s needs.
Therefore, the controller needs to be able to operate offline, be accessible, and be reliable.
Netafim’s GrowSphere Max, an irrigation controller used in head control rooms, is designed to be user-friendly with a touchscreen, Wi-Fi, and cloud connectivity. This system provides excellent visualisation, allowing farmers to quickly see what’s happening in the head control room and manage their entire irrigation system from a single platform.
For small-scale farmers looking to commercialise, embracing digital farming and automation in irrigation is not just a trend but a necessity.
By integrating advanced technologies like irrigation controllers, fertigation systems, and IoT devices, farmers can increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve crop yields.
Theron believes the future of irrigation lies in sophisticated, user-friendly systems that bring all aspects of farming together on one platform, making it easier than ever for farmers to manage their operations and thrive in the competitive agricultural market.
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