Research Projects

The proposed project addresses the goal of precision agriculture (PA) for optimizing the application of farming inputs while maximizing yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and fertilizer use efficiency (FUE). The focus is on the use of recent advances in information and communication technology (ICT) and instrumentation such as GPS, control systems, sensors, robots, drones, autonomous vehicles, GPS-based soil sampling, automation, telecommunication and software in effective farm input management. The proposal builds on the novel concept of ‘automated fertigation’ (fertilization + irrigation) that has been an innovative alternative to conventional cultivation practices. This resolves the challenges faced due to extensive irrigation practices that put more and more pressure on scarce freshwater resources, and over use of chemical fertilizers that could lead to environmental problems and high production costs. The study targets marginal, small and medium agricultural farms cultivating high-value crops where fertigation is needed due to seasonal water availability. For optimum input management (irrigation water and nitrogen fertilizers), we need to quantify the exact requirement of different parts/grids of the agricultural field through GPS and different equipment mounted on a suitable vehicle (tractor/power tiller) or drone. The set-top box mounted on suitable vehicle is designed to capture data from sensors, and another mounted system to trigger the variable rate automated fertigation, powered by solar energy. Based on data received, the sensors will operate the fertigation system to apply the precise (appropriate) quantum of inputs at different locations of the field. This is estimated based on the availability of inputs at different parts of the field as well as growth stage-wise requirement of the particular crop grown, specifically during non-monsoon season. The proposed mobile system is thus capable of estimating soil moisture and controlling irrigation, (b) assessing soil nutrient status and controlling fertigation, (c) incorporating weather conditions in precision water management, and (d) communicating with farmer for effective decision making. The users can remotely monitor the farms and automate the fertigation. The ICT-based smart farming or farming 4.0 can minimize farmer-intervention in various aspects of precision agriculture, in a cost-effective manner. Optimized resource application in this manner, would lead to overall savings in production costs (water & fertilizer) and preventing the environmental degradation (soil, surface water, groundwater, crop produce), without sacrificing potential yield. These concepts have a large scope of application in India to improve water use efficiency (WUE) and fertilizer use efficiency (FUE). With the help of experimental observations, the role of precision agriculture techniques in improving the crop production and cost savings would be quantified.