THE VISVESVARAYA TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

BELAGAVI

A Technical Seminar Report On

“DRIP IRRIGATION”

Submitted to Visvesvaraya Technology University Belagavi in partial fulfilment for award

of the degree

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING

IN

CIVIL ENGINEERING

Submitted by

CHAITHRA.M V

(1OX17CV407)

Under the Guidance of

Ms. SUNANDA NANDAKUMAR

Assistant professor

“Department of Civil Engineering”

TOCE, BANGALORE-68

2019-2020
 Department of civil engineering

THE OXFORD COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

BOMMANAHALLI, HOSUR ROAD, BANGALORE-560068

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the technical seminar presentation entitled “DRIP

IRRIGATION” is submitted by CHAITHRA.M V (1OX17CV407) during the year
2019-2020 in practical fulfilment of the requirement for the award of degree of
bachelor of technology in CIVIL ENGINEERING IN THE OXFORD COLLEGE
OF ENGINEERING.BANGALORE

Seminar Supervision HOD

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

During the period of seminar, I relied on the assistances, resources and support of many people. I
acknowledge with gratitude the help, guidance and encouragement given by many individuals in
the completion of this seminar.

I express my gratitude to our principal Dr. A S ARVIND for all the help and guidance given.

I express my gratitude to Dr. T S Malleshaiah, HOD, Department of civil Engineering, my

seminar guide Ms. Sunanda Nandakumar, Department of civil engineering whose efficient
guidance and direction encouraged me to make this effort successful.

I am also thankful to all other staffs of the Civil Engineering Department, for their kind co-
operation and help throughout the work.

I am grateful to my parents and friends for their moral support

 ABSTRACT
Drip irrigation is the slow, even application of low-pressure water to soil and plants using plastic
tubing placed near the plants root zone. It is an alternative to sprinkler or furrow methods of
irrigating crops. Drip irrigation can be used for crops with high or low water demands. Drip
irrigation can help you use water efficiently. A well-designed drip irrigation system loses
practically no water to runoff, deep percolation or evaporation. Drip irrigation reduces water
contact with crop leaves, stems, and fruits. Thus, precisely to meet crop demands, holding the
promise of increased yield and quality. Growers and irrigation professionals often refer to
“subsurface drip irrigation” when a drip tape or tube is buried below the soil surface, it is less
where able to damage during cultivation or weeding with subsurface drip irrigation, water use
efficiency is maximized because there is even less evaporation or runoff. Agricultural chemicals
can be applied more efficiently with drip irrigation. Science only the crop root zone is irrigated,
nitrogen already in the soil is less subject to leaching losses, and applied fertilizer can be used
more efficiently. In the case of insecticides, less product might be needed. Make sure the
insecticide is labeled for application through drip irrigation. Additional advantages of drip
irrigation include the following.

 Drip system are adoptable to oddly shaped fields or those with uneven topography or soil
texture; these specific factors must be considered when designing the drip irrigation. Drip
systems also can work well where other irrigation systems are inefficient because parts of
the field have excessive infiltration, water puddling, or runoff. Sustainable agriculture
techniques drip irrigation tubing used to irrigate wine grapes.
 Drip irrigation can be helpful if water is scarce or expensive. Because evaporation, runoff
and deep percolation are reduced, and irrigation uniformity is improved, it is not
necessary to “overwater” parts of field to adequately irrigate the more difficult parts.
 Precise application of nutrients is possible using drip irrigation. Fertilizer costs and
nitrate losses can be reduced. Nutrient applications can be better timed to meet plant’s
needs.
 Drip irrigation system can be designed and managed so that the wheel traffic rows are dry
enough to allow tractor operations at any time. Timely application of herbicides,
insecticides, and fungicides is possible
 TABLE OF CONTENT

1. CHAPTER 1: Introduction
2. CHAPTER 2: Components and working
3. CHAPTER 3: Design and layout
4. CHAPTER 4: System controls
5. CHAPTER 5: System maintainace
6. CHAPTER 6: Proposed system
7. CHAPTER 7: Advantages and dis-advantages of drip irrigation
8. CHAPTER 8: Applications of drip irrigation
9. CHAPTER 9: Conclusion
10.CHAPTER 10: References
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 GENERAL
Irrigation may be defined as the process of supplying water to land by artificial means
for the purpose of cultivation. Ordinarily water is supplied to land by nature through rain
but generally it is not enough for the proper growth of plants. As such as the basic
objective of irrigation is to supplement the natural supply of water to land so as to obtain
an optimum yield from the crop grown on the land.
In order to achieve this objective of irrigation, an irrigation system is required to
developed, which involves planning, designing, construction, operation and maintenance
of various irrigation works viz, a source of water supply, a distribution system for
carrying water from the source to the agricultural land and its application on the land,
and various other associated works. The factors which necessitate irrigation are:
 Inadequate rainfall
 Uneven distribution of rainfall
 Growing a number of crops during a year
 Growing superior crops

1.2 METHODS OF IRRIGATION

Irrigation methods are commonly designated according to the manner in which water is
applied to the land to be irrigated
1.2.1 Surface irrigation methods

The water is applied by spreading in it sheets or small streams on the land to be

irrigated. These methods are adopted for perennial irrigation system
1.2.2 Sprinkler irrigation methods
The irrigation water is applied to the land in the form spray, somewhat as in ordinary
rain. It can used for all the crops except rice and jute and for almost all soils except very
heavy soils with very low filtration rates.
1.2.3 Sub-Surface irrigation methods
The water is applied below the ground surface so that it is supplied directly to the root
zone of the plants. The main advantages of these methods are that the evaporation losses
are considerable reduced and the hindrance caused to cultivation by the presence of
borders, pipes and fields channels in the other methods of irrigation is eliminated.

1.3 DRIP OR TRICKLE IRRIGATION METHOD

Drip irrigation, also known as trickle irrigation or micro irrigation is one of the sub-
surface irrigation method of applying water or frequent applications of water to crops
through small emitters in the vicinity of the root zone, wetting a limited amount of
surface area and depth of soil. The theory behind drip irrigation is to applied sufficient
moisture to the root of the crops to prevent water stress. A major difference between drip
system and most other system is that the balance between crop vaporization and applied
water is maintained over limited periods of 24 to 72 hours. The conversions from
sprinkler to drip irrigation can result in water use reduction of 50% and double yield.
These is a result of improved water use and fertility and reduced disease and weed
pressure

1.4 NEED OF DRIP IRRIGATION

Drip irrigation can help you use water efficiently. A well-designed drip irrigation system
loss practically no water to runoff, deep percolation, or evaporation. Drip irrigation
reduced water contact with crops leaves, stems, and fruit. Thus, conditions may be less
favorable for the onset of diseases. Irrigation scheduling can be managed precisely to
meet crop demands, holding the promise of increased yield and quality. Growers and
 irrigation professionals often refer to “subsurface drip irrigation” When a drip tape or
tube is buried bellow the soil surface. It is less vulnerable to damage during cultivation
or weeding. With subsurface drip irrigation water use efficiency is maximized because
there is even less evaporation or runoff. Agricultural chemicals can be applied more
efficiency with drip irrigation. Since only the crop root zone is irrigated, nitrogen
already in the soil is less subject to leaching losses and applied fertilizer N can be used
more efficiently in the case of insecticides, less product might be needed.

CHAPTER 2

COMPONENTS AND WORKING

In drip irrigation, also known as trickle irrigation, water is applied in the form of drops directly
near the base of the plant. Water is conveyed through a system of flexible pipe lines, operating at
low pressure, and is applied to the plants through drip nozzles. This technique is also known as
‘feeding bottle’ technique where by the soil is maintained in the most congenital form by
keeping the soil-water-air proportion in the optimum range. Drip irrigation limits the water
separate for consumptive use of plant by maintaining minimum soil moisture, equal to the field
capacity, thereby maximizing the saving. The system permits the fine control on the application
of moisture and nutrients at stated frequencies.
 Fig. 2.1 Drip irrigation system layout and its parts

The main components of a typical drip irrigation system are:

 Water Source
 Pumping System
 Distribution System
 Drip Tape (Drip Tube)
 Injectors
 Filtration system

2.1 WATER SOURCE

Common water source for drip irrigation are surface water (pond, river, and creek), groundwater,
and potable water (from municipality, county or Utility company). Use the water source that will
provide the largest amount of water of greatest quality and lowest cost. Potable water is high,
constant quality, but is buy far the most expensive.
 Fig 2.1 water source

2.2 PUMPING SYSTEM

The role of the pumping system is to move water from the water source to the field through the
distribution system. Pumping system may be classified as electric powerd systems, gas/diesel
powerd systems, and gravity systems. Gas/disel pumps offer the greatest versatility in isolated
fields.

Fig.2.2 pumping system

2.3 DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

The role of the distribution system is to convey the water from the source to the field.
Distribution systems may be above ground or underground. Pipes is most commonly made of
PVC or polyethylene plastics. Aluminum pipes are also available, but are more difficult to
customize, cut, and repair. The size and shape of the distribution system may vary widely from
field to field and from farm to farm.

Fig.2.3 Distribution system

2.4 DRIP TAPE (OR DRIP TUBE)

The drip irrigation system delivers water to each plant through a thin polyethylene tape (or tube)
with regularly spaced small holes (called emitters). Selection of drip tape should be based on
emitter spacing and flow rate. The typical emitter spacing for vegetable is 12 inches, but 8 inches
or 4 inches may be acceptable. Dry section of soil may develop between consecutive emitters
when a wider emitter spacing (18 inches) is used on sandy soils. Flow rates are classified into
low flow (<20gal/100ft/hr), medium flow (20 to 30 gal/100ft/hr) and high flow (<30
gal/100ft/hr). The risk of emitter clogging is generally higher with the lower-flow drip tapes. In
the field, drip irrigation tape should be installed with emitters upward to prevent clogging from
sediment deposits settling in the emitters between irrigation events. Drip tapes are widely
available from several manufactures.

Fig.2.4.1 Drip tube Fig.2.4.2 Drip tape

2.5 INJECTORS

Injectors allow the introduction of fertilizer, chemicals and maintenance products into the
irrigation system. Florida law requires the use of an anti-siphoning device (also called backflow
prevention device) when fertilizer, chemicals or any other products are injected into a drip
irrigation system. Backflow-prevention devices ensure the water always moves from the water
source to the field. The devices prevent chemicals in the water form polluting the water source.
The common injectors used with small drip-irrigation systems are the venturi ( or Mazzei )
injectors and the dosatron. Because venturi injectors involve no moving parts and are less
expensive, they are commonly used on small farms. The injectors is typically located as close as
possible to the irrigation zone, but before the filter.

Fig.2.5 venturi injector

2.6 FILTRATION SYSTEM

Because drip-irrigation water pass through the emitters, the size of the particles in the water must
be smaller than the size of the emitter to prevent clogging. Nearly all manufacturers of drip-
irrigation equipment recommend that filters be used. The filtration system removes large solid
particles in suspension in the water. Different types of filters are used based on the type of
particles in the water. Media filters (often containing angular sand) are used with surface water
when large amounts of organic matter (live or dead) need to be filtered out. Screen filters or disk
filters may be used with groundwater. A 200-mesh screen or equivalent is considered adequate
for drip irrigation. When the water contains sand, a sand separator should be used. Rapid
clogging may occur when no filter or the incorrect type of filter is used. A fitter need to be
cleaned wen the difference in pressure across the R filter (measured before and after the filter) is
greater than 5 - 8 psi. A drip-irrigation system should never be operated without a filter even if
the filter requires clogged drip-tape emitters, often resulting in poor uniformity and sometimes in
crop loss. The filter should be cleaned as often as needed. efforts should be made to understand
the cause of the rapid clogging and remediation for the problem should developed. The presence
of the filter after the point of fertilizer injection means totally solvable fertilizers must be used.
Otherwise fertilizer particles may contribute to filter clogging

Fig 2.6 Disk filter

The whole field is divided into suitable plots. A secondary line is provided for each such plot,
and a number of trickle lines are connected to each secondary line. A discharge regulator is
provided at the beginning of each secondary line, and its capacity is fixed in accordance with the
size and the number of nozzles used. The automatic valve at the head is so adjusted to deliver the
desired quantity of water and the irrigation terminates automatically after this amount is
discharged.
 CHAPTER 3

DESIGN AND LAYOUT

3.1 HOLTICULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS

The goal of drip irrigation is to bring water to the crop. The main parameters that determine crop
water use are the type of crop planted and row spacing. A drip irrigation system should be able to
supply 110% - 120% of crop water needs. In other words, the system should be slightly
oversized. In designing a drip-irrigation system, it is common to consider that vegetable crops
ordinarily need approximately 1.5 acre-inches of water for each week of growth or
approximately 20 acre-inches of water per crop. Actual crop water use will be more or less than
this amount, depending on weather and irrigation efficiency.

3.2 DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Start with what is already available, the water source or the field. If a water source is already
available (pond or well), the amount of water available may be used to calculate the maximum
size of each irrigation zone. If no water source is available, the amount of water needed by the
crop, based on the size of the planted area, may be used to calculate the type of well or pond size
needed.

3.3 LAY OUT OF BEDS AND ROWS

Because differences in altitudes affect water pressure, it is preferable to lay out beds
perpendicular to the slope. This arrangement of rows is called "contour farming”.

Fig 3.3 Layout of Beds and Rows

Excessive water velocities (>5 feet/second) in the lines, the result of a too-small diameter are
likely to create a water hammer (pressure wave), which can damage the delivery lines. Growers
should be aware of the maximum acreage that can be irrigated with different pipe sizes at a water
velocity of 5 feet/second. The maximum length of drip tape should be based on the
manufacturer's recommendation and the actual terrain slope. Typically, 400 - 600 feet are
maximum values for drip-tape length. Excessive length of laterals will result in poor uniformity
and uneven water application. When the field is longer than 400 - 600 feet, consider placing the
secondary (sub main) line in the middle of the field rather than at the end and connect drip tape
on both sides. Table 3.1 Maximum length of drip tape (feet) and maximum irritable field size
(acre) with low- and medium-flow drip tape at a water velocity of 5-feet-per-second for selected
diameters of Class 160 PVC pipes
 CHAPTER 4

SYSTEM CONTROLS
System controls are devices that allow the user to monitor how the drip-irrigation system
performs. These controls help ensure the desired amount of water is applied to the crop
throughout the growing season. The different devices used for the control are:

 Pressure Regulators
 Water Meters
 Pressure Gauges
 Soil moisture Measuring Devices
  Electrical Timers

4.1 PRESSURE REGULATORS

Pressure regulators, installed in-line with the system, regulate water pressure at a given water
flow there by helping to protect system components against damaging surges in water pressure.
Pressure surges may occur when the water in the pipe has a velocity >5 feet /second ("water
hammer") or when water flowing in the pipe has no avenue for release due to a closed valve or a
clog in the pipe.

Fig 4.1.1 Adjustable Pressure Regulator Fig 4.1.2 pressure Regulator

4.2 WATER METERS

Water meters monitor and record the amount of water moving through a pipe where the water
meter is installed. When a stopwatch is used together with a water meter, it is possible to
determine the water flow in the system in terms of gallons-per-minute.
 Fig 4.2 Water meters installed near the field

4.3 PRESSURE GAUGES

Pressure gauges monitor water pressure in the system and ensure operating pressure remains
close to the recommended or benchmark values. Based on where the pressure gauge is installed,
it will measure water pressure in a various ranges, from 0-100 psi near the pump to 0-20 psi at
the end of drip tape .Pressure gauges may be installed at set points (near the pump, before and
after the filter, near the Field. They can also be mounted as portable devices and installed
temporarily at the end.

Fif.4.3 pressure gauges

4.4 SOIL MOISTURE MEASURING DEVICES

Soil-moisture-measuring devices (such as tensiometers, capacitance probes or Time Domain

Reflectometry probes) are used to measure soil moisture in the root zone of the crop.
Fig.4.4 soil moisture measuring devices

4.5 ELECTRICAL TIMERS

Electrical timers connected to solenoid valves may be used to automatically operate a drip-
irrigation system at pre-set starting and ending operating times of day.
 Fig 4.4 Electrical Timer

CHAPTER 5

SYSTEM MAINTENENCE
The goal of drip-irrigation maintenance is to preserve the high uniformity of water application
allowed by drip irrigation. A successful program of maintenance for a drip-irrigation system is
based on the prevention-is-the-best-medicine approach. It is easier to prevent a drip tape from
clogging than to “unclog" it or replace it.

5.1 WATER SAMPLING

An essential part of drip-irrigation management is determining water quality through water

testing. Water testing will help determine water chemical composition, pH, and hardness. These
parameters have direct implications on chlorination, acidification and filtration needs for
irrigation water.

Table 5.1 Water quality parameter levels for emitter plugging potential of Drip irrigation systems

Plugging hazard based on level

Factor
Slight Moderate Severe

pH <7.0 7.0 to 7.5 >7.5

Dissolved solids (mg/L) <500 500 to 2000 >2000
Manganese (mg/L) <0.1 1.1 to 0.5 >0.5
Iron (mg/L) <0.1 1.1 to 0.5 >0.5
Hydrogen sulfide (mg/L) <0.5 0.5 to 2.0 >2.0
Hardness (mg/L CaCO3) <150 150 to 300 >300
5.2 THE PREVENTION IS THE BEST MEDICINE MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM

This maintenance program is based on filtration, chlorination/acidification, flushing and

observation.

Table 5.2 Components of the “prevention is the best medicine” maintenance plan

Component Description

Filtration Goal: Remove solid particles from the water. Sand filters, disc filters,
screen filters or centrifugal sand separators are used to remove precipitates
and solid particles (200 mesh or equivalent for screen and disk filters)
Chlorination Goal: React with microorganisms in the water and precipitate ions in
solution by injecting hypochlorous acid (HOCI) in the water. A 1-ppm
residual CI concentration at the end of the drip line indicates adequate
reaction (Clark and Smajstria, 2006)
Acidification Goal: Reduce pH to around 6.5 so to increase efficiency of chlorination
(Clark et al.,2005) and other precipitates. Acid injections are also used as
cleaning events for non-biotics, such as scale and calcium deposits.
Flushing Goal: Allow solid particles and precipitates to leave the drip tape by ways
other than the emitters (end of drip line; Smajstria and Boman,1999)

5.3 WATCH FOR LEAKS

Leaks can occur unexpectedly as a result of damage by insects, animals, or farming tools.
Systematically monitor the lines for physical damage. It is important to fix holes as soon as
possible to prevent uneven irrigation.
5.4 CHLORINE CLEARS CLOGGED EMITTERS

If the rate of water flow progressively declines during the season, the tubes or tape may be
slowly plugging, resulting in severe damage to the crop. In addition to maintaining the filtering
stations, regular flushing of the drip tube and application of chlorine through the drip tube will
help minimize clogs. Once a month, flush the drip lines by opening the far ends of a portion of
the tubes at a time and allowing the higher velocity water to rush out the sediment. Because algae
growth and biological activity in the tube or tape are especially high during warmer months,
chlorine usually is applied at 2-week intervals during these months.

5.5 CHEMIGATION

Manage irrigation and fertilization together to optimize efficiency. Chemigation through drip
systems efficiently delivers chemicals in the root zone of the receiving plants. Because of the
precision of application, chemigation can be safer and use less material.

5.6 FERTILIZATION

Soil microorganisms convert nitrogen (N) fertilizers to nitrate. Nitrate is water soluble, available
to plants, and subject to leaching loss. Fertilizer can be injected through the drip system.
Fertilizer usually is introduced into the irrigation system in front of the filter station so the filters
can remove any precipitates that occur in the solution Fertilizers containing sulfate, phosphate,
calcium, or anhydrous or aqua ammonium can lead to solid chemical precipitation inside the drip
lines, which can block emitters.

5.7 PLACEMENT OF TAPE

The drip tape must be close enough to the surface to germinate the seed if necessary, or a
portable sprinkler system should be available. For example, a tape tube 4 to 5 inches deep has
successfully germinated onion seeds in silt loam soil. Tape at 12 inches failed to uniformly
germinate onions.

5.8 TIMING AND RATES

The total irrigation water requirements for crops grown with a drip system is greatly reduced
compared to a surface flood system because water can be applied much more efficiently with
drip irrigation. For example, with furrow irrigation, typically at least 4 acre-feet/acre/year of
water is applied to onion fields in the Treasure Valley of eastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho.
Depending on the year, summer rainfall, and the soil, 14 to 32 acre-inches/acre of water has been
needed to raise onions under drip irrigation in the Treasure Valley.

5.9 STANDARD MAINTENANCE

Add chlorine or other chemicals to the drip line periodically to kill bacteria and algae. Acid
might also be needed to dissolve calcium carbonates. Filters must be managed and changed as
needed. Even with filtration, however, drip tape must be flushed regularly. The frequency of
flushing depends on the amount and kinds of sedimentation in the tape.

CHAPTER 6

PROPOSED SYSTEM
In the drip irrigation technique, the water is provided to the root zone of herb drip by drip
because of which the large amount of water can be saved. Figure1 shows typical drip irrigation
system. At the present time, the farmers use the irrigation technique in country manually in
which the farmers must irrigate the lands at every regular interval. This technique may require
additional amount of water or sometimes the water provide latterly to roots of the plants because
of which the crops
maybe get dried. Slowed growth rate, lighter weight of fruits etc. like problems are arises
because of slight water insufficiency. This issue can be resolve if farmers will use automatic and
remote drip irrigation technique.
 Fig1.Drip irrigation system

This paper proposes one way of controlling drip components like valves automatically and
remotely by using internet and android mobile phone. The advantage of this technique is that
farmer can control drip irrigation from anywhere and at any time. It reduces issue for flooding
irrigation and reduces the problem of range and distance due to use of internet between
computer and mobile.

6.1 GSM Based Irrigation Control System

The connections between the two mobiles are done using GSM. The GSM module and
microcontroller are connected using UART (universal asynchronous receiver / transmitter).
When the moisture sensor senses the low moisture content of the soil, it gives a signal to the
microcontroller. The microcontroller then gives a signal to the called mobile (which is kept in the
auto answering mode). The called mobile activates the buzzer.

LCD

MOTOR RELAY UART GSM

MICRO
CONTRO WATER
LLERAR LEVEL
M7 INDICAT
A OR
D CIRCUIT
MOISTURE
SENSOR

WATER
TANK
TEMPERATURE
SENSOR

ANDROID
MOBILE USER
PHONE

Fig.3: Block Diagram of the Irrigation Control System

Therefore, when calling mobile calls, that buzzer is heard indicating the valve needs to be open.
By pressing the button in the called function, the signal is given back to the microcontroller. The
microcontroller gives signal to the valves which causes it to get open. The water is given to the
root of the plant drop by drop, and when the moisture content becomes sufficient, the sensor
senses this and gives back the signal to the

microcontroller and the buzzer become off. Then by pressing the button in the calling function
again, the valve is made off. The power supply needed by the controlling system is +5V. The
entire unit is as shown in Fig.3. An UART is responsible for performing the main task in serial
communications with computers. The device changes incoming parallel information to serial
data which can be sent on a communication line. A second UART can be used to receive the
information. The UART performs all the tasks, timing, parity checking, etc. needed for the
communication. The only extra devices attached are line driver chips capable of transforming the
TTL level signals to line voltages and vice versa. The Microcontroller ARM7 structure is a
general purpose 32-bit microprocessor, which offers high performance and very low power
consumption. The ARM architecture is based on Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC)
principles, and the instruction set and related decode mechanism are much simpler than those of
micro programmed Complex Instruction Set Computers. Can be used to control water flow

6.2 Structure of GSM Module

At present the GSM module is used for Remote Control activities such as Gate Control,
Temperature Control etc. GSM/GPRS module consists of a GSM/GPRS modem assembled
together with power supply circuit and communication interfaces (like RS-232, USB) for
computer. The MODEM is the soul of such modules. They generate, transmit or decode data
from a cellular network, for establishing communication between the cellular network and the
computer. These are manufactured for specific cellular network (GSM/UMTS/CDMA) or
specific cellular data standard (GSM/UMTS/GPRS/EDGE/HSDPA) or technology (GPS/SIM).
They use serial communication to interface with the user and need Hayes compatible AT
(Attention) commands for communication with the computer (any microprocessor or
microcontroller system).

Fig.4: GSM module structure

An RS-232 port was once a standard feature of a personal computer for connections to modems,
printers, mice, data storage, un-interruptible power supplies, and other peripheral devices.
However, the limited transmission speed, relatively large voltage swing, and large standard
connectors motivated development of the universal serial bus which has displaced RS-232 from
most of its peripheral interface roles. Many modern personal computers have no RS-232 ports
and must use an external converter to connect to older peripherals. Some RS-232 devices are still
found especially in industrial machines or scientific instruments.
6.3 Liquid/moisture sensor and precision centigrade temperature sensors

Detects presence of liquid or moisture between two wire leads and gives active High output. The
exposed wire is porous; therefore, it allows transmission of water vapors into the sensor. These
exposed areas are engineered very thinly. Therefore, the sensor responds very rapidly to changes
in applied moisture, both when being dried (on process start-up) and when called into action if
there is moisture ingress into a process. These are the types of sensors mainly used for,
•Interfacing with Microcontroller to detect liquid levels. •Moisture detection for automatic
watering of plants. •Liquid level detection by putting multiple probes at each liquid level.

Fig.5: Moisture Sensor

Another important feature of this circuit is induction of Precision Centigrade Temperature

Sensors. The LM35 is an integrated circuit sensor that can be used to measure temperature with
an electrical output proportional to the temperature (in °C). With an LM35, temperature can be
measured more accurately than using a thermostat. The sensor circuitry is sealed and not subject
to oxidation. The LM35 generates a higher output voltage than thermocouples and may not
require the output voltage be amplified as shown in the Fig.6.
 Fig.6: Precision Centigrade Temperature Sensors

Water level indicator the model consists of a series of tanks arranged one below the other. The
volume of the tanks is in descending order. Water flows from the top tank through outlets at the
bottom. Three tanks or tropic levels chosen for the model is the optimum number required to
analyze the effect of top down and bottom up controls. Each tank has two outlets, outlet A and
outlet B. Each outlet has the water flow through it regulated by means of valves. These valves
are controlled by floats in the tanks. The system used microcontroller to automate the process of
water pumping in an over-head tank storage system and has the ability to detect the level of
water in a tank, switch on/off the pump accordingly and display the status on an LCD screen.

Fig7: Water level indicator

Watering Times: Times and intervals for watering differ according to the type of plant. The
most important factor to remember is the depth of the root zone and soil composition. The deeper
the roots and the finer the soil, the longer the watering time must be, then the frequency of
watering will be reduced.
 6.2 Proposed System

The aim is to design a micro-controlled and computer driven automated drip irrigation system. An ADC
connected to microcontroller gather the humidity values for soil at various points. These values must be
envisioned in software using 3D plots. A PC interface is provided for easy programming of the hardware.
The 3D graphs generated from sensor values located across the entire field will helps us to visualize,
explain and take decisive actions for the particular situation. In this a mobile send command to

Soil Moisture
Soil Moisture
Soil
Sensor

Soil Temperature
Signal Conditioner Air
Sensor

Air Temperature
ADC Sensor

+5v,+5v,
+12v+12v
Power
Device Driver Microcontroller Power
Supply Unit

Relay 1 Relay 2 Relay 8 MAX 232

Drips Drips Drips

Int
INTERN
ET
ern
PC to control drip irrigation as shown in Fig.3.Here we use various sensors like humidity,
temperature, light etc. for identification purpose. These sensors send the real time values to
micro-controller and these values send to PC by microcontroller via serial communication.
According to the sensor values the graph will be display on computer and mobile side and by
using this graph user can switch on or off the drip devices. In this we keep the threshold value for
every sensor. The drip irrigation technique can be control by mobile from anywhere and also, he
can change threshold values of sensors via mobile. This Technique is more advantageous for
agriculture area.
As shown in Fig

ADC 89C51
PC
Microcontroller

ULN2803
Sensors Network
(Humidity, Driver
Temperature,
Soil moisture
etc.)

Relay
Mobile Android Based

Device like motors

to ON or OFF
 Fig.4 proposed system architecture overview

The proposed system architecture overview contains following components

a. Sensors (Light, Temperature, PH Value, Humidity): Sensor Sense the different physical
parameters like light, PH value of soil, temperature and humidity and converts these
sense data into electrical signals (either voltage or current)
b. ADC (Analog to Digital Converter): It Converts analog signal into digital signal and give
that digital signal to the micro controller as an input.
c. Micro-controller: It is heart of the entire system, which means it controls the all
activities of the system. It has memory in which control programs are saved.
d. Relay: It is an electromagnetic switch. It is used to control high current circuit with a low
current signal.
e. ULN 2803: It is a small integrated circuit that contains 8 transistor driver channels. A
ULN 2803 with a set of relays is simple and effective way of switching main voltages.
f. PC (Personal Computer / Server): Basically, for Data Acquisition as well as logging
purpose we are going to use personal. The graphical visualization displays 3Dgraphs
generated from sensor values are located across the field.
g. Mobile (Client): The android mobile is act as client which gets current values of the
sensors which is used to switch ON or OFF the drip devices.

6.3Wireless Sensor Networks

A wireless sensor network (WSN) consists of spatially distributed autonomous sensors to

monitor physical or environmental conditions like temperature, sound, vibration, pressure,
motion or pollutants and thus these sensors used to cooperatively pass their data through the
network to a main location. The more modern networks are working in bi-directional also
allow the enabling control of sensor activities. The development of wireless sensor networks
was motivated by military applications like battlefield surveillance.
Such networks are used in many industrial and consumer applications like industrial process
monitoring and control etc.
Wireless sensor networks can be used in applications like environment monitoring, medical
applications, robotic systems and home and industrial automation. Wireless sensor networks
(WSN) have recently been proposed for a large range of applications in home and industrial
automation. It consists of many tiny nodes, which have several sensors and a radio interface
that depends on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard that supports large number of embedded devices
in one network.

CHAPTER 7

ADVANTAGES AND DIS-ADVANGAGES OF DRIP

IRRIGATION SYSTEM

7.1 ADVANTAGES

7.1.1 Reduced water use

Because drip irrigation brings the water to the plant root zone and does not wet the entire
field, drip irrigation typically requires half to a quarter of the volume of water required by
comparable overhead-irrigation systems.

7.1.2 Joint management of irrigation and Fertilization

Drip irrigation can improve the efficiency of both water and fertilizer. Precise Application of
nutrients is possible using drip irrigation. Hence, fertilizer costs and soluble nutrient losses
may be reduced with drip irrigation. Nutrient applications may also be better timed to meet
plant needs.

7.1.3 Reduced pest problems

Weed and disease problems may be reduced because drip irrigation does not wet the row
middles or the foliage of the crops as does overhead irrigation.
7.1.4 Simplicity
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene parts are widely available in several diameters
and are easy to assemble. Many customized, easy-to-install connectors, end caps, and
couplers are available in different diameters. Cutting and gluing allows for timely repairs.

7.1.5 Low pumping needs

Drip systems require low operating pressure (20-25 psi at field entrance, 10-12 psi at the drip
tape) compared to overhead systems (50-80 psi). Many existing small pumps and wells may
be used to adequately irrigate small acreage using drip systems.

7.1.6 Automation
Drip-irrigation application may be simply managed and programmed with an AC- or battery-
powered controller, thereby reducing labor cost.

7.1.7 Adaptation
Drip systems are adaptable to oddly shaped fields or those with uneven topography or soil
texture, thereby eliminating the underutilized or non-cropped corners and maximizing the use
of available land.

7.1.8 Production advantages

Combined with raised beds, polyethylene mulch, and transplants, drip irrigation enhances
earliness and crop uniformity. Using polyethylene mulch also increases the Cleanliness of
harvested products and reduces the risk of contamination with soil-born pathogens.
Reflective mulches further help reduce the incidence of viral diseases by affecting insect
vectors, such as thrips, whiteflies or aphids.

7.2 DISADVANTAGES

7.2.1 Drip irrigation requires an economic Investment

Drip-irrigation system typically cost $500 - $1,200 or more per acre (Table 1). Part of the
cost is a capital investment useful for several years, and another part is due to the annual cost
of disposable parts. Growers new to drip irrigation should start with a relatively simple
system on a small acreage before moving to a larger system.

7.2.2 Drip irrigation requires maintenance and high-quality water

Once emitters are clogged or the tape is damaged, the tape must be replaced. Water dripping
from an emitter and the subsequent wetting pattern are hard to see, which makes it difficult to
know if the system is working properly. Proper management of drip irrigation requires a
learning period.

7.2.3 Water-application pattern must match planting pattern

If emitter spacing (too far apart) does not match the planting pattern, root development may
be restricted and/or plants may die. 6.2.4 Safety Drip tubing may be lifted by wind or may be
displaced by animals unless the drip tape is covered with mulch, fastened with wire anchor
pins, or lightly covered with soil
7.2.5 Leak repair
Drip lines can be easily cut or damaged by other farming operations, such as tilling,
transplanting, or manual weeding with a hoe. Damage to drip tape caused by insects, rodents
or birds may create large leaks that also require repair.

7.2.6 Drip-tape disposal causes extra cleanup costs after harvest

Planning is needed for drip-tape disposal, recycling or reuse.

CHAPTER 8

APPLICATIONS

 Drip irrigation is used by farms, commercial greenhouses and residential gardens

 Landscape

 Nursery

 Drip chemigation

 For cultivation in roof garden

 In steep slopes
Fig.8.1 cultivation in roof garden Fig.8.2 In steep slopes

Fig 8.3 Drip chemigation Fig.8.4 Drip irrigation for landscape

CHAPTER 9

CONCLUSION

Drip irrigation is a latest sub-surface method of irrigating water with higher water demands
in arid region. It may not be applicable to all farms. Yet, when properly designed, installed
and managed, drip irrigation may help achieve water conservation by reducing evaporation
and deep drainage when compared to other types of irrigation such as flood or overhead
sprinklers since water can be more precisely applied to the plant roots. In addition, drip can
eliminate many diseases that are spread through water contact with the foliage. It also
results reduced energy costs.
 CHAPTER 10

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