Research on the construction of an automatic irrigation system using measurements of soil moisture and environmental parameters in sugarcane fields
Faculty of Engineering
Kumazawa Noriyoshi
- wadomari
- china
Background and objectives of activities
The sugar industry, which uses sugarcane as its raw material, is the main industry in the Nansei Islands, which are blessed with a warm climate. Although sugarcane farming is becoming increasingly mechanized, it is necessary to create further appeal in order to continue the business in the context of the recent declining birthrate and aging population. Among the various measures, improving the yield is important, so the aim is to build a system that automatically provides appropriate irrigation to save labor, while also aiming for stable production and improved yield.
Summary of Activities
The “automatic soil moisture and environmental parameter IoT measurement device” that we developed was installed in one unit each in the sugarcane fields of Wadomari-cho and China-cho on Okinoerabu Island. The environmental parameters measured by the device, such as soil moisture, air temperature, humidity, and air pressure, are automatically transmitted to Kagoshima University in real time, and the measurement data can be viewed in real time on smartphones and other devices. From the measured data, we are trying to derive the “watering techniques” used by expert farmers in growing sugarcane and incorporate them into the automatic watering system.
Expected Benefits
Revitalization of the local economy, securing of human resources and labor for agriculture, improvement of QOL, and increase in income