Design of an irrigation controller based on a water movement model in the soil

FLAVIO CAPRARO; JUAN AGEL GOMEZ; MIGUEL PEÑA; CARLOS M SORIA

Congreso; XXVI Congreso Argentino de Control Automatico; 2018

In modern agriculture, the efficient use of water forirrigation is essential for the development and sustainability ofagricultural undertakings. In order to do so, this paper presentsthe design of an irrigation controller based on a water movementmodel in the soil that allows knowing the moisture value atdifferent depths. A model-based predictive control strategy isproposed to determine the operation of the irrigation valves,taking into account the system constraints (maximum inputflow, maximum and minimum water content levels, irrigationrequirements); In this way, the controller determines the timesto start the irrigation and the amount of water to be suppliedthrough a drip irrigation system. At first instance, the functioningof the predictive control algorithm is evaluated without takinginto account the extraction of water, either by evaporation or bythe consumption of some type of crop.