Automation in drip irrigation for increasing the water productivity of cereals in India

Abstract

Water is a critical and essential factor for harvesting a good crop and for the survival of living beings. Due to the increasing human population, climate change, and demand in other sectors, water scarcity is becoming one of the greatest challenges for human beings. Agriculture uses over 70% of all freshwater on the earth, and up to 95% in some developing countries, making it the most water-intensive sector in the world. The conventional methods of irrigation water application are inefficient and irrigation efficiency is only 35–40%, water productivity is also low, and thus cannot provide long-term food security. Recent advancements in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies may be effective in the automation of drip irrigation systems. To safeguard global water resources and ensure food security, water resources should be used more effectively and sustainably in agricultural production. To expose people to the latest advancement in irrigation practices, we have compiled the most efficient water management strategy, i.e. automation in drip irrigation systems, to address the problem of low irrigation efficiency and water
productivity, and at the same time increase the productivity of cereal-based cropping systems in a sustainable manner.