Development of Intelligent Irrigation System in Rice Field using Low-power Control Equipment

Rice cultivation, a staple crop that sustains billions of people globally, faces significant challenges in terms of water management, labor efficiency, and productivity. China, as the largest producer and consumer of rice, predominantly relies on traditional flood irrigation via open canals, which is both labor-intensive and results in substantial water wastage. To address these challenges, this research presents the development and implementation of an intelligent irrigation system tailored to open canal rice cultivation. This intelligent irrigation system leverages automation and remote monitoring to enhance convenience, productivity, and safety, especially for the aging farming demographic. The system's core components include intelligent water lifting stations, gate transformations, wireless irrigation control, and an intelligent irrigation management platform. By seamlessly integrating these elements, the system optimizes water distribution, reduces labor requirements, and enhances crop yields. The research contributes to the modernization and digitization of rice cultivation practices, emphasizing water resource conservation and addressing agricultural sector challenges. Through multi-site trials, the system's capabilities are demonstrated to significantly reduce water consumption in rice paddies while maintaining crop yields. Water savings range from 2.9% to 19.3%, depending on seasonal conditions. Furthermore, the system's remote monitoring and control features reduce labor needs by approximately 35-40%, offering convenience and productivity benefits. This work highlights the potential of intelligent irrigation to improve the sustainability of rice farming, providing a pathway towards efficient water application, labor savings, and increased crop productivity.