Efficient and Effective Irrigation Water Management Using Sprinkler Robot

Abstract

This manuscript addresses the issue of irrigation water management with high efficiency and effectiveness and focuses on systems associated with significant water losses, which is sprinkler irrigation. This article presents mathematical modeling that enables the application of precision irrigation using a gun sprinkler robot. The sprinkler robot was fabricated in the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources workshop at As-wan University. The experiments were conducted using 12, 14, and 16 mm nozzle sizes and three gun heights, 1.25, 1.5, and 2 m, at three forward speeds, 25, 50, and 75 m/h. The results revealed that at nozzle 12, the actual wetted diameter would be less than the theoretical diameter by a percentage of 2–5%, while at nozzle 14, it ranged from 2 to 7%, but at nozzle 16, it increased from 6 to 9%. The values of evaporation and wind drift losses were always less than 2.8 mm. The highest efficiency was achieved at the lowest forward speed (25 m/h) and using a 1.5 m gun height. The highest water application efficiency was 81.8, 82.5, and 81.1% using nozzle 12, nozzle 14, and nozzle 16, respectively. Precise irrigation control using sensor and variable rate technology will be the preferred option in the future.