Energy Efficient Irrigation Strategies
Agriculture is the backbone of our country, and keeping farmland well-irrigated is crucial for almost any agricultural producer. Farm irrigation methods or technologies can make a huge difference when it comes to maximizing productivity while minimizing costs.
Energy efficient irrigation methods help farmers curtail unnecessary water use while growing the same produce, reducing their operating costs and increasing overall productivity. Above all, when choosing between different irrigation methods and technologies, the most important aspects to consider are the overall cost, return on investment, convenience and minimization of risks.
One of the easiest ways to maximize energy efficiency, as many farmers have already done, is to use electric motors in place of any old, inefficient diesel irrigation motors. Typically, electric motors are about 90% efficient, while diesel motors have much lower efficiencies between 30% and 40%. This means cost savings in the long run for farmers. Electric motors also have lower maintenance needs and can make use of a variable frequency drive (VFD) irrigation system which helps to further reduce costs.
VFD systems allows farmers to pump water at different rates, which maximizes irrigation throughout the day. A VFD system can control the speed of the electric motor because it controls the electric power frequency supplied to the motor. Since there are many benefits from using electric irrigation motors, the majority of U.S. farmers have switched their diesel motors to electric ones, although pairing the motor with a VFD system is still a relatively new agricultural trend.
Irrigation efficiency is not a one-time deal. After several years, the efficiency of irrigation pumps tends to decline. After five years, irrigation pumps are typically evaluated for performance efficiency. The evaluation can help inform decisions on the most cost-effective solution, whether making improvements to the existing pump or replacing it entirely. Irrigation pump tests usually assess the pump's discharge pressure, lift, water flow and power input. Regular testing of irrigation pumps can help to ensure the pumps are working as efficiently as possible. Upgrading irrigation hardware can also lead to more efficient irrigation system performance. Replacing leaky sprinklers, for example, can help save a significant amount of water. Maintaining the overall efficiency of irrigation systems over time helps to reduce water use and save energy.
There are many new agricultural technologies that are part of the "precision agriculture" industry, including autonomous tractors, crop-monitoring drones and robotic milking or weeding machines. Beyond existing irrigation technologies, Wi-fi connected crops is one type of precision agriculture irrigation technology. After placing Wi-fi-connected sensors throughout a crop field, farmers can monitor the conditions by simply using their smartphones or computers. Data on light, humidity, temperature and moisture are captured by the sensors. That data is automatically sent to a server to be analyzed, which is then sent to a farmer's smartphone app. Using Wi-fi connected crops also allows farmers to remotely set automatic timers for their watering systems. With Wi-fi connected crops, there are several factors to consider, such as cost, range, bandwidth and power. One constraint of using Wi-fi connected crops is that the sensor range can be limited, which makes the technology only feasible for smaller farms. There are other network connectivity platforms that could be applied to irrigation management, such as cellular connection, satellites, LoRa and Sigfox, but Wi-fi is by far the most commonly used.
As technology continues to improve, there will be new opportunities to support the agricultural sector. Replacing technology that uses on-site fossil fuels, such as propane and gasoline, with technology powered by electricity will help improve energy efficiency and reduce local pollution.
Kansas’s electric cooperatives are proud to support their agricultural members and will continue to help them determine opportunities to improve and meet their energy efficiency goals.