All You Need to Know About Irrigation Monitoring & Control Systems (IMCSs)

Can you guess the biggest consumer of water globally per year? That’s right — it’s irrigated agriculture, which currently accounts for 70% of the world’s water usage.  

Irrigation monitoring is essential for success in agriculture, as well as water conservation. This is because it helps growers to optimize their irrigation time and water amount. It also helps to reduce the risk of crop loss. 

Irrigation monitoring and control systems (IMCSs) are designed to monitor the water distribution system, collect data, and then use that data to control the irrigation system. IMCS use in water distribution has increased due to their ability to help reduce the valves running dry, improve the efficiency of water usage by meters, and ensure that there is no overflow or wastage of water.

How are IMCSs beneficial?

Monitoring soil moisture helps in conserving water by limiting the amount of irrigation needed. Irrigation control systems can help with this by automatically shutting off the supply of water when the need for it has ended. This is done by connecting the sensor system to a computer or data logger that then interprets signals from sensors and sends turn-off commands to valves if necessary. 

Furthermore, this system of water distribution has the potential to generate significant savings for farmers and their countries. Monitoring may include detecting leaks, measuring the pressure inside the pipes, detecting water flow volume inside the pipes. Control may include managing shutoff valves or regulating pressure in certain areas of the distribution system.

What else are IMCSs good for?

As well as being an excellent tool for successful agriculture and water conservation, irrigation monitoring and control systems can help a region maintain a steady supply of clean drinking water through an efficient distribution system that provides the correct amount of water to each individual part of land or farm. 

Arid regions are more dependent on the quality of water available to them for daily sustenance. Additionally, the irrigation process is important for maintaining the soil’s moisture level and for preserving agricultural produce in dry areas. Something else to consider is that rainfall and other natural events can affect a region’s water supply, which has a direct impact on crop production, food security, and other important elements.

What types of IMCSs are available?

There are a large number of control systems in the world. In general they can be distinguished according to a number of parameters such as professional control systems for agricultural irrigation and public parks and control systems for homeowners. Another distinction can be between central control systems and stand-alone controllers.

When it comes to professional and central control systems, they should be tested according to their communication and control capabilities, their connectivity to different types of sensors, their ease of use and their ability to work for years in difficult conditions

Mottech offers a uniquely innovative system that allows for advanced control and monitoring from the water source to the irrigation valve, all accessible through a user-friendly app that allows remote monitoring and control.

Learn more about Mottech’s cutting-edge water management systems >> https://mottech.com/the-mottech-system/