Automatic Water Irrigation System

ACKNOWLDGMENT
We would like to express our greatest gratitude to Jimma University, which allowed us to work
this project and also our special thankfulness is for the school teachers whom they gave us their
knowledge and for all the school staffs workers whom they were so cooperative and so friendly.
Next, our honest appreciation extended to our advisor Dr. Towfik Jemal who sent comments,
corrections, and suggestions. We wish to thank those individuals who have shared their
suggestions with us.

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Table of Contents Page n

ACKNOWLDGMENT.................................................................................................................................i
LIST OF FIGURE AND TABLES.............................................................................................................iv
ACRONOMYS............................................................................................................................................v
CHAPTER ONE..........................................................................................................................................1
1. INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................1
1.1 BACKGROUND...............................................................................................................................1
1.2 STATIMENT OF PROBLEM...........................................................................................................1
1.3 MOTIVETION..................................................................................................................................2
1.4 OBJECTIVE......................................................................................................................................2
1.4.1 General Objective.......................................................................................................................2
1.4.2 Specific Objective.......................................................................................................................2
1.5 SCOPE..............................................................................................................................................2
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY...................................................................................................2
1.7 LIMITATIONS.................................................................................................................................3
CHAPTER TWO.........................................................................................................................................4
2. LITERATURE REVIEW....................................................................................................................4
CHAPTER THREE.....................................................................................................................................6
3. SYSTEM DESIGN..............................................................................................................................6
3.1 CIRCUIT DIAGRM..........................................................................................................................6
3.1.1 over all circuit diagrams.............................................................................................................6
3.1.2 Water Level Control Circuit for Water Reservoir.......................................................................7
3.2 BASIC BLOCK DIAGRAM.........................................................................................................7
3.3 COMPONENT USED...................................................................................................................8
3.3.1 Sensor.........................................................................................................................................8
3.3.2 Variable Resistor........................................................................................................................9
3.3.3 Resistor.......................................................................................................................................9

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3.3.5 Transistor..................................................................................................................................10
3.3.6 Relay.........................................................................................................................................11
3.3.7 AC motor..................................................................................................................................12
3.3.8 Solenoid Valve.........................................................................................................................12
3.3.9 Water Tank/Reservoir...............................................................................................................12
3.3.10 Water Pipe..............................................................................................................................13
3.3.11 Intake Water Screening System..............................................................................................13
3.3.12 Light Intensity Detection Sensor Using LDR.........................................................................13
3.3.13 Water Sprinkler.......................................................................................................................13
3.3.14 Limit Switch...........................................................................................................................13
3.4 WORKING PRINCIPLE.................................................................................................................14
CALCULATIONS....................................................................................................................................15
CHAPTER FOUR..........................................................................................................................................15
4. SIMULATION RESULT AND DISCUSSION.................................................................................15
4.1 SIMULATION RESULTS..............................................................................................................16
4.1.1 Light Intensity Detection Sensor Using LDR (light dependent resistor)...................................16
4.1.2Moisture Level Detection Using Moisture Sensor.....................................................................18
4.1.3 over all Simulation result..........................................................................................................20
4.2 COST ANALYSIS..........................................................................................................................23
CHAPTER FIVE.......................................................................................................................................24
5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION..............................................................................24
5.1 CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................24
5.2 RECOMMANDATION..................................................................................................................24
REFERENCE............................................................................................................................................25

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LIST OF FIGURE AND TABLES

FIGURE 1: CIRCUIT DIAGRAM OF THE SYSTEM.................................................................................6
FIGURE 2: WATER LEVEL CONTROL CIRCUIT................................................................................7
FIGURE 3: OVER ALL DIAGRAMS.....................................................................................................8
FIGURE 4: RESISTOR........................................................................................................................9
FIGURE 5: OP AMP.........................................................................................................................10
FIGURE 6: TRANSISTORS...............................................................................................................11
FIGURE 7: RELAY..........................................................................................................................11
FIGURE 8: WATER TANKER/RESERVOIR........................................................................................13
FIGURE 9: LIGHT INTENSITY DETECTION CIRCUIT..........................................................................16
FIGURE 10: MOISTURE LEVEL DETECTION......................................................................................18
FIGURE 11: OVERALL CONTROLLING CIRCUIT OF AUTOMATIC IRRIGATION SYSTEM..................20
FIGURE 12: WATER LEVEL SENSOR................................................................................................21
FIGURE 13:SIMULATION RESULT WHEN IT OPERATES....................................................................22
Y

TABLE 4. 1; COST ANALYSIS.........................................................................................................23

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ACRONOMYS
LED--------------------light emitting diode

LDR--------------------light dependent resistor

NC----------------------normally closed

NO----------------------normally open

AC---------------------alternative voltage

DC---------------------direct voltage

VCC ------------------supply voltage

VO---------------------voltage of operation

VR----------------------variable resister

RL----------------------relay

V+---------------------non inverter terminals voltage of op amps

V- ----------------------inverter terminals voltage terminals of op amps

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ABSTRACT

Automatic irrigation system supplies water as needed by plant, thus optimizing plant growth &
help conserve water and energy. It improves the traditional irrigation system in Ethiopia enabling
the irrigation system to have high efficiency and low water usage. The existing irrigation system
is tedious, time consuming and very wasteful in water usage. In an automated irrigation system,
the most significant advantage is that water is supplied only when the moisture in soil goes
below a pre-set threshold value. This saves a lot of water. Farmers have been using irrigation
technique through the manual control in which the farmers irrigate the land at regular intervals
by turning the water-pump on/off when required. This process sometimes consumes more water
and the water supply to the land is belated due to which the crops dry out

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CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND
Agriculture is the most important source for Ethiopia. Almost above 80% of Ethiopian people
are administered based on agriculture [1]. When the rate of population increase, the need of
food demand increase. So as to compensate for the increasing food demand, the rate of food crop
production should be increase. A method to reduce the problems associated with farming & as
well to increase food crop production is automated irrigation system. Water is the most important
element in our life. Without it, we cannot survive.

As it is know, most of the gardener uses manual system to irrigate their plant in the garden that
the system is inefficient. When we irrigate manually, the possibility to over watering is high.
Some plant can drown when we supply too much water to them. In order to overcome this
problem, automatic plant irrigation system is used. Soil moisture detector is used to control the
watering system. There is also a tank that will act as a reservoir tank in case of water problem. In
this tank, there is a sensor (level sensor) to ensure the water level is always at its maximum level.
Due to lack of water storage capacity and large spatial and temporal variations in rainfall, there is
no enough water for most farmers to produce more than one crop per year with frequent crop
failures due to dry spells and droughts. Moreover, there is significant erosion, reducing the
productivity of farmland. In that sense, Ethiopian farmlands do not have scientific method of
effective irrigation system and depend only on the seasonal rainfalls.

1.2 STATIMENT OF PROBLEM

Farmers traditionally use directing flood water for supplementing their crops irrigation. These
irrigation systems have many drawbacks like wastage of water, high labor cost, timing problem,
uniformity of water supply, so that each plant will not get the amount of water it needs either too
much or too little, since the system is uncontrolled,.

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1.3 MOTIVETION
The farmers working in the farm lands are only dependent on the rains and not interested well
for irrigation of the land. The increasing demand of the food supplies requires a rapid
improvement in food production technology. In Ethiopia agriculture plays an important part in
shaping up the economy. But still we are not able to make full use of agricultural resources.

1.4 OBJECTIVE

1.4.1 General Objective

 The main objective of this project is to design automatic irrigation system using soil
moisture sensor and a level sensor in combination with a solenoid valve.

1.4.2 Specific Objective

The specific objectives of the project are:

 Using sensor to design automatic irrigation system

 To design, calculate the components
 To design the system by considerable cost
 Design to well accept on the market

1.5 SCOPE
The automatic irrigation control system has been used in farmlands. Sensor used for the control
of irrigation system is soil moisture sensor. Temperature of 30°C is used as the indicator value of
turning on and off the valve. The pumping motor pumps out water and fills the tanker when the
level is below 10m.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The project has so many significances in terms of different aspects. Some of them are:

 Saves water the study shows that automatic irrigation systems use less water than
conventional watering methods.

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 Improves growth- Smaller amounts of water applied over a longer amount of time
provide ideal growing conditions. Also, because the flow is continuous, water
penetrates deeply into the soil to get well down into the root zone.
 Water is only delivered where it's needed.
 Helps control fungal diseases, which grow quickly under moist conditions.

1.7 LIMITATIONS
As the design has seen throughout the development of this study, the system must be suffered
from the following limitations/challenges.
 After the farm is irrigated, there may be a rainfall on the farm.
 During cultivation, harvesting and weeding time the system may irrigate the farm and
this leads to human intervention to the system.

 The irrigated farm will not be irrigated uniformly due to the structure of the irrigated
area.

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CHAPTER TWO

2. LITERATURE REVIEW
The importance of the previous is essential to the content of the project. The related literatures
and similar studies mentioned in this study support the theories and assumptions within. The
information gathered in this chapter helps provide absorbing motivation to follow the conduct of
the study due to the information [7] .
An automated irrigation system refers to the operation of the system with no or just a minim
manual intervention apart from field investigation which requires human critical thinking.
Almost every system can be automated with the help of electronic sensors and some electro-
mechanical devices. It makes the irrigation process more efficient and workers can concentrate
on other important farming tasks. There are two classes of automatic irrigation systems. They are
high technology automatic irrigation system and low technology automatic irrigation system.
time based system, open loop system and close loop system are an example of high-technology
principles and automatic gravitational thank irrigation system and clay pot and porous capsule
irrigation are an example of low technology principle
Irrigation time clock controllers, or timers, are an integral part of an automated irrigation system.
A timer is an essential tool to apply water in the necessary quantity at the right time. Timers can
lead to an under- or over-irrigation if they are not correctly programmed or the water quantity is
calculated incorrectly.
In an open loop system, the operator makes the decision on the amount of water to be applied
and the timing of the irrigation event. The controller is programmed correspondingly and the
water is applied according to the desired schedule. Open loop control systems use either the
irrigation duration or a specified applied volume for control purposes. Open loop controllers
normally come with a clock that is used to start irrigation. Termination of the irrigation can be
based on a pre-set time or may be based on a specified volume of water passing through a flow
meter (Bowman, 2006) [6].
Bowman (2006) describes that in closed loop system the operator develops a general control
strategy. Once the general strategy is defined, the control system takes over and makes detailed
decisions on when to apply water and how much water to apply. This type of system requires
feedback from one or more sensors. Irrigation decisions are made and actions are carried out

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based on data from sensors. In this type of system, the feedback and control of the system are
done continuously.
This old system has been modernized and reapplied in water scarce areas. The technology
consists of using clay pots and porous capsules to improve irrigation practices by increasing
storage and improving the distribution of water in the soil. This low-volume irrigation
technology is based on storing and distributing water to the soil, using clay pots and permeable
containers interconnected by plastic piping.
This is an intermittent gravity-flow irrigation system. It has been used almost exclusively for
small-scale agriculture and domestic gardening. Prior to the development of this technology,
electronically controlled valves were used to produce intermittent water flows for irrigation.
These valves are expensive and require some technical training to operate [4].

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CHAPTER THREE

3. SYSTEM DESIGN

3.1 CIRCUIT DIAGRM

3.1.1 over all circuit diagrams

This project is to design and test automatic water irrigation system.figure1 below shows the
circuit diagram of the system. The approach is that to irrigate the farm land when the condition
is fulfilled. those conditions are when the watermark moisture sensor, the rain sensor, the light
sensor and the wind speed sensor sensed the dryness of the soil, the absence of rainfall, the
minimum intensity of light and low wind speed in the recommended set values respectively, the
system start to irrigate the farm by opening the solenoid valve and by turning ON the pumping
motor.

Figure : circuit diagram of the system

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3.1.2 Water Level Control Circuit for Water Reservoir

This circuit controls the level of the water in the water reservoir (water tanker) by placing the NC
limit switch only on the above part of the tank since the water comes in to the reservoir through
open channel with the help of gravitational force. The LED represents the solenoid valve in this
circuit.[1]

Figure : Water Level Control Circuit

3.2 BASIC BLOCK DIAGRAM

The hard ware development described in this section shows the electronic control circuit
necessary for the automatic farm irrigation system to function in accordance to some important
parameters. The automatic irrigation system follows the specified block diagram as shown.

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Figure : over all diagrams

3.3 COMPONENT USED
The components in the design have used in this project are op- amp, transistor, solenoid valve,
resistors, relays, sensors and limit switch based on their application in automatic farm irrigation
system. The other material we have been using for our simulation is protous software.

3.3.1 Sensor
A Sensor is a device, which responds to an input quantity by generating a functionally related
output usually in the form of an electrical or optical signal. A Sensor converts the physical
parameter humidity and level of water into a signal which can be measured electrically.
Placement of Sensors
Sensors should be placed at the right place for efficient data transfer to the controlling circuit.
Therefore,
The moisture sensor is placed in the depth of the soil at the 3/4 length of root of the plant
according to the length of the plant root and the life time of crop plantation for suitable and
adequate distribution of water throughout the irrigated area or farm.

 The LDR is placed on a clear place on the ground or on top of water tanker or water
reservoir for easy exposure to sun light at any time without any obstacle. This is
important to irrigate the farm at the right time that is if there is light intensity beyond the

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present value the farm should not be irrigated and the evaporation of water can be
reduced.
 The wind sensor is placed on top of the water tanker or water reservoir to be exposed to
the local wind easily and to facilitate the right voltage can be transmitted to the control
circuit by wire or cable and the decision of irrigation can be made by the control circuit
based on the voltage generated by the motor which coupled with the wind sensor.
 The rain sensor can be placed on the water tanker /water reservoir or on other places in
which irrigation sprinklers are not placed or out of the irrigated land to be exposed to
natural rainfall only for proper function in this automatic irrigation system and the data
about rain can be transmitted to the control circuit by wires or cables.

3.3.2 Variable Resistor

A variable resistor is a device that is used to change the resistance according to our needs in an
electronic circuit. It can be used as a three terminal as well as a two terminal device. Mostly they
are used as a three terminal device. Variable resistors are mostly used for device calibration.

3.3.3 Resistor
A resistor is a two-terminal electric circuit component that offers opposition to an electric
current. Resistors are available in several common forms: wire wound resistors are formed from
windings of fine wire; film resistors, commonly found in consumer electronic devices, use
lengths of carbon or metal film deposited on a resistive base. Resistors absorb power from a
circuit and convert it into heat; they are normally rated for the maximum amount of power that
they can safely handle. Special resistors are also produced for the integrated circuit.

Figure : Resistor

3.3.4 Op-Amp
Operational amplifiers are linear devices that have all the properties required for nearly ideal DC
amplification and are therefore used extensively in signal conditioning, filtering or to perform
mathematical operations such as add, subtract, integration and differentiation.

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Figure : op amp
The LM7171A operational amplifier is used as a comparator for this study. This comparator is
used to compare the moisture level of the soil, the presence of rainfall, the presence of light
intensity and the speed of local wind to the set voltages based on the set value of the electrical

variables from field sensors by which information are gathered.

Properties of Comparator:
If the non-inverting input is greater than the inverting input (V+ >V-), then VO = Vcc and the
output is high.

3.3.5 Transistor
Transistors are semiconductor devices used to amplify and switch electronic signals and
electrical power. It is composed of semiconductor material with at least three terminals for
connection to an external circuit. Transistors are used as a switch to integrate the factors that
affect the irrigation system directly or indirectly such as wind, light intensity and rain fall.

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Figure : Transistors
The 2N1711 transistor is intended for use in high performance amplifier, oscillator and switching
circuits. This model of transistor is used as a switch to integrate the factors that affect the
irrigation system directly or indirectly such as wind, light intensity, rainfall and moisture level of
the soil to determine the irrigation by generating the pumping motor.

3.3.6 Relay
A relay is a switch that open and close circuits electromechanically or electronically. Relays
control one electrical circuit by opening and closing contacts in another circuit. As relay
diagrams show, when a relay contact is normally open (NO), there is an open contact when the
relay is not energized. When a relay contact is Normally Closed (NC), there is a closed contact
when the relay is energized. In either case, applying electrical current to the contacts will change
their state. Relays are generally used to switch smaller currents in a control circuit and do not
usually control power consuming devices [2].

Figure : Relay

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Electromechanical relay of modelG3PB is used for this study to connect and disconnect the
pumping motor according to the signals received from sensors and it is used to integrate the
sensors used in this study. It is energized when it receives voltage signal and it de-energized
when the voltage signal is not reached to it.

3.3.7 AC motor
An AC motor is an electric motor driven by an alternating current (AC). AC motors come in two
types which are synchronous motors and induction motors. The AC motors are used differently
based on what type of AC motor it is. There are two types of AC motors, depending on the type
of rotor used. One of them is induction which is simple, reliable and relatively low cost. Then we
use the motor for water pumping.

3.3.8 Solenoid Valve

A solenoid valve is an electromechanical device used for controlling liquid or gas flow. The
solenoid valve is controlled by electrical current, which is run through a coil. When the coil is
energized, a magnetic field is created. The solenoid valve uses an electric current which moves
the solenoid. This pulls a piston preventing it from stopping the flow of air and fluid. The valve
will need a constant flow of electrical current to remain open because when there is no current
flow, the electromagnetic field scatters and the valve returns to its original position. When
electrical current is removed from the coil, the valve will return to its de-energized state.

3.3.9 Water Tank/Reservoir

A water tank or reservoir is a container for storing water. The need for a water tank is providing
storage of water for agricultural irrigation and for other applications. Various materials are used
for making a water tank: plastics, fiber glass, concrete, stone, steel and etc.

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Figure : Water tanker/reservoir

3.3.10 Water Pipe
Water pipes are pipes or tubes that carry pressurized water to the farm land from the reservoir

3.3.11 Intake Water Screening System

Intake screens are designed to remove floating or suspended debris in a channel of flowing
water. They protect pumps and other downstream equipment from debris in surface water intakes
and other applications. Wood chips, leaves, aquatic plants and floating impurities are removed by
the screening process.

3.3.12 Light Intensity Detection Sensor Using LDR

The resistance of the Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) varies according to the amount of light
that falls on it. The aim of using this circuit is to stop irrigation in day time or to reduce water
wastage if irrigation is in day time since there is high water evaporation and it is not
recommended to irrigate in day time for plants.

3.3.13 Water Sprinkler

In the sprinkler method of irrigation, water is sprayed into the air and allowed to fall on the
ground surface somewhat like rainfall. The spray is developed by the flow of water under
pressure through small holes or outlets. The pressure is usually obtained by pumping.

3.3.14 Limit Switch

Limit Switches are electro-mechanical devices that consist of an actuator mechanically linked to
a set of contacts. It uses to control the level of water at reservoir. The 5586 model of limit switch

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is used for this project to control the level of the reservoir/water tanker and it is placed in the top
of the reservoir or water tanker

3.4 WORKING PRINCIPLE

The automatic irrigation system is works by its own principle for irrigating farm land and to stop
irrigation. In order to supply water to the farm land some condition must be full filled. Those
conditions are
 There is no light intensity
 There is no soil moisture with some specified condition
 There is no wind speed with some specified condition
 There is no rain fall
When all of these conditions are satisfied simultaneously the system is work. Otherwise the
system cannot be work. Because of their construction base on each other for starting motor to
pump water through the sprinkler to the farm land.
LDR of this project is work based on the light intensity. as the light intensity increase the
resistance of LDR decrease then the voltage due to LDR resistor is low so the system can’t work
even if all the condition are satisfied and if the light intensity decrease the LDR resistor increase.
Then the voltage due to LDR resistor high the system is work when all other condition are
satisfied.
Soil moisture sensor is work by sensing moisture of the soil and varying the value of resistance.
If soil has high moisture the value of resistance is decrease and the voltage due to this resistance
cannot energize the relay so the system cannot work. If the soil moisture is decrease the value of
resistance increase the voltage due to these resistors can energize the relay. The system properly
work when all other condition are satisfied
If there is high wind speed it enforces water to supply the place where it does not wanted to
irrigate. Due to these reason the DC voltage which used to control the wind speed is generated by
motor and the motor varying the value of voltage depending on the wind speed. In this project
the system is operate between 6V to 12V .for considerable value of wind speed (13km/hr)
The irrigation system is driven by an AC motor-based centrifugal pump which pumps water
from the water reservoir to pressurize the water sprinklers distributed in the farmland irrigated
areas. The irrigation system does not use gravitational force to irrigate the farmland, instead

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utilizes the pump to provide pressure into the water sprinklers. Each water sprinklers are
properly spaced so as to cover consistent irrigated area

CALCULATIONS
The overall circuit of this project designed by determining in terms of voltage. This voltage is
connected to op- amps that have two terminals; those terminals are non inverters terminal (v+)
and inverters terminal (v-). Taking Supply voltage is 12v over all circuit, and resistor 10 ohm on
all inverter of op-amps for this designs, the inverter voltage of this design is calculated by
voltage division rule;

V-= (Vcc * Ri)/(Ri+Rj)

where R i and Rj resistor connected to the terminals of op amp from

the bottom and above respectively

V- = (12*10)/(10+10)=6v

The non inverter terminals are connected to variable resister (VR) which is varying based on the
sensor condition and also calculating by voltage division rule and give the response of operation
by comparing with inverter.

V+ = (VCC *VR) / (VR+Rj)

If V+ >V- the system is work

If v+<v- the system doesn’t work

CHAPTER FOUR
4. SIMULATION RESULT AND DISCUSSION
The automatic farm irrigation system is to irrigate the farm on its given recommended moisture
level by using sensors. The three variables which are moisture level of the soil, rainfall, local

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wind speed and the surrounding light intensity are controlled by an overall controlling circuit of
automatic irrigation system controlling circuit. The watermark moisture sensor senses the
moisture level of the soil the LDR senses the local light intensity, the rain
Sensor senses the existence of rainfall.

4.1 SIMULATION RESULTS

4.1.1 Light Intensity Detection Sensor Using LDR (light dependent resistor)

a) Condition satisfied b) when condition not satisfied

Figure : Light intensity detection circuit
The simulation result above is show irrigation system by considering only light intensity. The
resistance of the Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) varies according to the amount of light that
falls on it. The aim of using this circuit is to stop irrigation in day time or to reduce water
wastage if irrigation is in day time since there is high water evaporation and it is not
recommended to irrigate in day time for plants. Using LDR to sense the existence of light which
implies that when there is light in the irrigation farm, the resistance of the LDR gets decreased in
accordance with the light intensity. So, the variable resistor (VR1) with 2000 ohm capacity is

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used to set the light intensity on which irrigation must stop. By using voltage divider formula, the
value of VR1 is set to stop irrigation by taking R1 and R2 any values arbitrarily and 1000 ohm
resistance is taken for this project. This project uses 2000 Ohm potentiometer to set the light
intensity and setting it at 1.47k ohm in order to stop irrigation in day time above 400 lux. Our
typical light sensor has the resistance value of 2.263 k ohm at 400 lux and the input voltage of
non-inverting terminal of the op-amp can be calculated as:
V+= (LDR*VCC)/ (LDR+VCC) = (2263*12)/(2263+1470)=7.3V
This implies that when V+>V-, the comparator bias the transistor to be closed switch mode to
energize the relay (RL1) to start irrigation since it’s NO contact point is connected in series with
RL5 that makes the motor ON for the value of intensity starting from 400 lux to the lower
values. This is done if there is no rainfall, high wind and the dryness of the soil gets increased.
When the intensity of light become increased the resistance of the LDR become decreased and
this leads the non-inverting input voltage of the op-amp become lowered which is less than the
inverting input voltage .Therefore, the relay retain ideal and there is no any irrigation at all and it
can be calculated as follow at a light intensity of 4000 lux.
V+= (LDR*VCC)/ (LDR+VR2)= (338*12)/ (338+1470)=2.24V

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4.1.2Moisture Level Detection Using Moisture Sensor

a) Condition satisfied b) condition not satisfied

Figure : moisture level detection
The simulation result above is show irrigation system by considering only soil moisture. In the
comparator circuit as shown above, we use the voltage divider (R4 & R5) on the inverting input
to set the threshold voltage of the specified soil moisture. The soil moisture sensor and the
variable resistor are connected to the non-inverting input to the circuit, of the Op-Amp. If the
voltage value of the inverting terminal is high, the output of the Op-Amp is low, and vice versa.
The recommended moisture level of different types of soils is taken in to account when irrigation
takes place. For this project, the recommended moisture level of soil is 50 to 80 cent bars and it
has an average resistance value of 1.1675 ohm measured by watermark soil moisture sensor and
it can be denoted by Rs. For this specific soil resistance the system irrigate the farm. To set the
irrigation moisture level, potentiometer with 2000 ohm capacity is used to set the non-inverting
input voltage of the comparator for biasing the transistor in forward mode in order to energize
the relay (RL2) and it is set at 1ohm.The values of R4and R5 in the voltage divider circuit can be
any arbitrary values and for this project the values of R4 and R5 is 1000 ohm to divide the source
voltage equally. By using voltage divider formula, the non-inverting input terminal voltage can
be calculated and set to start irrigation as:
V+= (Rs+Vcc) / (Rs+VR1) = (1.2*12)/(1.2+1)=6.55v

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Since V+>V-, the transistor become forward biased and the relay gets energized at the same time
to start irrigation since it’s NO contact point is connected in series with RL5 that makes the
motor ON for the value of moisture resistance 1.2 ohm and higher values. This is occurred if
only if there is a value of rainfall, wind speed and light intensity are in the range of the normal
value. When the moisture level of the soil gets increased the respective resistance value becomes
decreased as result irrigation can be stopped and it can be calculated as follow by taking the
resistance of 0.4 ohm to stop irrigation.
Let V2 is the voltage generated from the motor which is connected with the anemometer that
indicates the existence of wind which affects the sprinkler irrigation state. The voltage generated
from the motor is 11.5V at the wind speed of 13Km/Hr. at which sprinkler irrigation can be
affected and at this voltage value and above the system needed to stop irrigation. The motor
which is used in our controlling circuit can generates the voltage up to 12.7v.Which means that
when the motor generates the voltage from 11.5v up to the maximum generation (12.7v) the
irrigation system must be stopped, because high wind speed affects the sprinkler irrigation
system. For this project, wind speed detector anemometer coupled with small a motor to generate
DC voltage used to determine the speed of the wind. The motor can generate different voltages
in magnitude according to the speed of the local wind and we choose the speed that affects the
sprinklers operation and we use it to set wind speed for stopping irrigation. By using voltage
divider formula and by using the values of R8 and R11 the wind speed is set.
This controlling circuit integrates all the factors stated and described above for effective
irrigation system. This system controls all the factors which influence the irrigation and it can
provide proper irrigation. The system is designed to block or stop irrigation if one or two or three
of the factors (rain, wind and light) are present in the set forms or magnitudes. This system can
irrigate the farm when there is no wind, rain and light based on the set values and if the dryness
of the soil gets increased until the recommended moisture level is reached.

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4.1.3 over all Simulation result

Figure : Overall Controlling Circuit of Automatic Irrigation System

As we observed from the above circuit diagram when the watermark moisture sensor, the rain
sensor, the light sensor and the wind speed sensor sensed the dryness of the soil, the absence of
rainfall, the minimum intensity of light and low wind speed in the recommended set values
respectively, the system start to irrigate the farm by opening the solenoid valve and by turning
ON the pumping motor. The Green LED indicates the pumping motor and the yellow LED
indicates the opened solenoid valve when the system is irrigating the farm as shown above
From overall automatic irrigation system we observe the following result depending on version
of each sensor.
 For soil moisture sensor it operates only above 10kilo-ohm
 For wind speed it operates only between 6-12V.
 For rain fall it operates only bellow 24kohm
 For light sensor it operates when LDR resistor above 12.5khom

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Figure : water level sensor

The water reservoir filling was also simulated using the Proteus software when the reservoir is
not full this system opened the solenoid valve to be filled with the water from the river through
open channel by gravitational force. The greenness of the LED is representing the energizing of
the solenoid valve and it is in open state due to its working principle to allow the water to pass
through to fill the reservoir. It must be emphasized that this solenoid valve is not the valve
described in the irrigation system circuit. This valve is exclusively used only in filling the
reservoir tank.
As we observed on the above simulation result, when the water reached at the top of the reservoir
the floating material opened the NC limit switch to close the solenoid valve to stop filling the
reservoir. The black LED represented the phenomenon of stop filling the reservoir. However, as
soon as the water level disconnected the NC limit switch, which means that the water level is
below the maximum level then the valve status has to be On to allow water from the river
streams to fill-up the reservoir so as to maintain full-tank status.

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Figure : Simulation result when it operates

This simulation result show that all conditions are satisfied and the systems is operating properly
.it mean that soil is dry, no light intensity ,no rain fall, and no high wind speed. Therefore the
system is pumping the water and irrigating to the farm land. at all when all conditions are
satisfied this design operates.

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4.2 COST ANALYSIS

This project is not implemented. In steady of implementation it’s shown by simulation, to
implement this design the cost of the component is as follows.

No Material Model quantity Price

1 Resistor ASIMMDLS AND POT 13 168.80
2 Relay G3PB 5 126
3 Transistor 2N1711 3 31.5
4 Solenoid valve L177VO7VO8 2 69.3
5 LED Diode led 2 36
6 Switches Active 2 56
7 Rectifier L293D 1 318.15
8 Voltage regulator LM 020L 1 220.92
9 Filter Crystal 1 31.50
10 Water mark sensor 6440 1 819
11 LDR sensor Active 1 210
12 Rains sensor SW120R 1 190
13 Limit switch 5586 1 173.25
Total --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------= 2281.67
Table 4. ; Cost Analysis

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CHAPTER FIVE

5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 CONCLUSION
We conclude that in this project we have studied and simulated an automatic farm irrigation
system using electronic circuit. The integration of different factors for efficient irrigation has
been mastered during the design and simulation. The objective is to use sensors such as
watermark moisture sensor, Light dependent resistor sensor, rain sensor and wind speed sensor
as signal receivers in farm for automatic farm irrigation system. Based on our project, op-amp is
reliable to use as a voltage comparator because the cost and operation is better compared to PLC
and Microcontroller. The results show that the sensors are able to receive the required signals
from the irrigated farm and it can operate its operation as it is required.
The results show that the system can detect moisture level of the soil, presence of rain fall, light
intensity and wind speed very well in different electrical values.
This project can have many uses in practical fields, from saving time to saving money and in
increasing of crop production.

5.2 RECOMMANDATION
The automatic farm irrigation system still can be improved for future development. Some
modification and renovation on the system have to be made in order to acquire powerful system
of automatic farm irrigation. Therefore a list of recommendations is given as below:
1. The system should be tested to be practical in agricultural sectors to assist the economic
activities of the country and therefore stakeholders.
2. The system can be used to spray the fertilizers on the farm in scientific way for proper growth
of the plants to increase agricultural production as a whole.
3. The system should be installed by skillful and knowledgeable persons in the field which have
different types of soil to set the system at the recommended values of moisture level of the soil,
local light intensity and local wind speed and it should be also repaired by these persons when
problems occurred on the system.

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REFERENCE
[1].http://www.scribd.com/doc/213067786/CD-15-Water-Tank-Depth-Sensor.

[2]http://www.galco.com/comp/prod/relay.htm

[3]. Awulachew, Mersey, Kumara, VanKoppen, Penning deVriesand Boelee (2005), Experiences
and Opportunities for Promoting Small-Scale/Micro Irrigation and Rainwater Harvesting for
food Security in Ethiopia, IWMI.

[4].J.G. Ciezki and R.W. Ashton, “A Survey of AC Drive Propulsion Options,” presented at the
3rdNaval Symposium on Electric Machines, December 4-7, 2000

[5] Adriano ldr, cadmium sulfide photo resistor, LDR, ldr circuit, ldr sensor, ldr datasheet since
2013.

[6] ZELLA, L.; KETTAB, A.; CHASSERIAUX, G. (2006): Design of a Micro-Irrigation System
Based on the Control Volume Method. In: Biotechnology, Agronomy, Society and Environment

[7].institute of engineering and technology dr.ram menorah lohiya Avadh University, faizabad
batch- 2009-2013 project

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