Drip Irrigation Fertigation Control for Precise Dosing Duration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drip irrigation systems for water and fertilizer lack precise control over fertilization duration, amount, and speed, relying on empirical methods and failing to optimize fertilizer utilization and crop yield due to manual parameter determination and inefficient allocation of water and fertilizer application.
Innovation Solution
A control method and system that calculates irrigation and fertilization parameters based on crop type, soil type, fertilizer type, and drip irrigation tape parameters, including determining irrigation intensity, duration, fertilizer concentration, and channel specifications, to achieve precise and efficient water and fertilizer allocation, using a control module and pipeline module with float flowmeters and Venturi fertilizer applicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If empirical methods are used to determine fertilization parameters, then the system is simple to operate, but the fertilization precision and control accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically calculates and determines fertilization parameters (duration, amount, speed) based on crop type, soil type, and fertilizer properties without requiring manual empirical judgment. The control module performs self-service by computing optimal parameters using stored data and algorithms, eliminating the need for operator experience while achieving precise control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual empirical determination (mechanical/operator-based system) with an automated computational system. The control module uses algorithms to calculate fertilization parameters based on scientific data about crops, soils, and fertilizers, substituting human judgment with automated computation to achieve higher precision.
2Device complexity
If water and fertilizer are applied simultaneously without allocation, then the application process is simple, but fertilizer leaching loss increases and utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the water and fertilizer application process into distinct phases: water irrigation phase, fertilizer application phase, and post-fertilization water phase. This temporal segmentation prevents fertilizer from being immediately washed away, reducing leaching loss while maintaining manageable system complexity through sequential control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary water irrigation before fertilizer application to prepare the soil and root zone. This preliminary action creates optimal conditions for subsequent fertilizer application, ensuring better fertilizer retention and utilization while preventing immediate leaching that would occur with simultaneous application.
3Device complexity
If fixed empirical irrigation duration is used for water-fertilizer allocation, then the allocation process is simple, but irrigation and fertilization precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic calculation of irrigation and fertilization parameters based on specific crop requirements, soil characteristics, and fertilizer properties. Instead of fixed empirical durations, the system dynamically computes optimal timing and amounts using stored data and algorithms, achieving high precision while managing complexity through automated computation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the approach from fixed parameter values to dynamically calculated parameters. Irrigation duration, fertilization amount, and application speed are not fixed but are computed based on varying factors including crop type, soil type, fertilizer concentration, and environmental conditions, enabling precise adaptation to different scenarios.
4Adaptability or versatility
If key component specifications are not determined, then the system has high adaptability to different configurations, but the control accuracy and fertilization efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent determines optimal specifications for key components (number of fertilizer absorption channels, barrel sizes, float flowmeter ranges) based on calculated fertilization requirements. These parameters are not fixed but are dynamically determined through computation based on crop needs, soil properties, and fertilizer characteristics, enabling both accuracy and adaptability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables precise quantification of irrigation and fertilization, optimizes fertilizer utilization, and reduces costs by determining key component specifications, such as channel numbers and barrel sizes, leading to improved crop quality and yield.
Implementation Method 1
float flowmeters
Implementation Method 2
Venturi fertilizer applicators
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a control method and system for water and fertilizer under drip irrigation. In the method, the crop type, soil type, fertilizer type, water-fertilizer irrigation amount and other factors are coupled with the drip irrigation tape parameters in the drip irrigation system, and matching calculation is performed to obtain the fertilization duration. In addition, deduction and calculation are performed according to the solubility of the fertilizer, the fertilization amount, the rotation irrigation area and the fertilization duration determined by the self-allocation system, and the characteristic that the maximum fertilizer absorption amount is reached when the outlet of the Venturi fertilizer applicator is at −9 m is combined, so as to determine key components of the fertilizing machine in the drip irrigation system.