A collaborative project between researchers at Purdue University and Michigan State University (MSU), supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is working to use solar power to make irrigation more efficient and cost-effective, according to an article in Hoosier Ag Today.

The project aims to integrate solar energy with internet of things (IoT) technology to help rural farmers manage energy demands, cut costs and rely less on grid-connected irrigation systems that often experience power instability.

“In rural communities, electrical systems can be unstable depending on the location, which can be a challenge for utility companies and farmers alike,” Dong said.

The real-time monitoring solar-powered irrigation tool could enable farmers to more efficiently and sustainably manage their operations. It could help farmers to conserve water, provide better data on field conditions, avoid over-irrigation and prevent plant stress/disease from too much or too little water.

Currently, the technology is being tested on farms in Michigan and Indiana. The researchers have designed the solar-powered microinverter to work on a variety of farm sizes and fit existing irrigation systems. The microinverter will reduce peak demands and soften the initial energy surge when pumps start up.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service awarded the project a $394,600 grant. Younsuk Dong, assistant professor of biosystems and agricultural engineering as well as an agricultural extension specialist at MSU, and Woongkul Matt Lee, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue, are the lead researchers on the project.

The project aims to power irrigation pumps with solar energy to reduce the strain on power grids during high-demand periods (called “peak shaving”), as well as use IoT sensors in the field to help farmers monitor soil moisture, energy use and other data in real time. Farmers can then use the data to make informed decisions, such as using soil dryness levels to determine whether to irrigate. The researchers also plan to include findings from plant pathology, such as recommendations for reducing plant stress and disease with optimal irrigation timing, according to the article.

Dong has already had success in creating accessible irrigation technology. He developed and field tested the Low-Cost Monitoring System, which decreases the initial cost of setting up in-field irrigation sensors, and can be used with a smartphone app.