AUTOMATIC SOLAR IRRIGATION SYSTEM
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Agriculture remains one of the major contributors to the Nigerian economy, but irrigation practices are still largely manual, resulting in water wastage, labour intensity, and poor crop yield. This project presents the design and implementation of an Automated Solar Irrigation System that utilizes renewable solar energy and soil moisture sensing technology to automate farm irrigation.The system comprises a solar panel, charge controller, rechargeable battery, Arduino microcontroller, soil moisture sensor, relay module, DC water pump, and water reservoir. The soil moisture sensor continuously monitors the moisture level of the soil and transmits the data to the microcontroller. Whenever the soil moisture falls below a predetermined threshold, the controller activates the water pump automatically. Once the desired moisture level is reached, the pump switches off.The solar power unit provides the electrical energy required for system operation, making the system suitable for remote rural communities with unstable electricity supply.Testing of the developed prototype showed that the system effectively conserved water, reduced human effort, minimized energy consumption, and improved irrigation efficiency. The project demonstrates that solar-powered automated irrigation systems can significantly contribute to sustainable agriculture in Nigeria.
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