In the ever-evolving landscape of precision agriculture, a groundbreaking development has emerged that promises to revolutionize the way farmers approach irrigation and fertilization. Researchers have unveiled an innovative online automatic water–fertilizer mixing device that can directly mix raw water with fertilizer stock solution, addressing a longstanding challenge in the industry.
The device, designed by Jianian Li and colleagues from the Faculty of Modern Agricultural Engineering at Kunming University of Science and Technology, is a game-changer for fertigation systems. Traditional systems often overlook the influence of target ions in raw water, leading to inaccuracies in fertilizer proportioning. This new device, however, employs ion-selective electrodes and flow meters for real-time detection and feedback of ion concentrations and flow rates. “This ensures that the fertilizer solution is prepared with high precision, even when using raw water,” Li explains.
The device uses a fuzzy PID control method to dynamically adjust the pulse frequency of metering pumps, thereby changing the injection volume of nutrient solution. This sophisticated control strategy, combined with a well-designed piping system, ensures stable and smooth fertilizer injection. The researchers reported that the device achieves an average steady-state error of no more than 4% and an average steady-state time of approximately 40 seconds when preparing single-element or mixed fertilizer solutions.
One of the most significant advantages of this device is its ability to reduce fertilizer proportioning errors by up to 66.84% for nitrate ions and 62.71% for calcium ions compared to theoretical errors of fertilizer preparation with raw water. This level of accuracy is not only superior to the performance requirements specified in the national industry standard DG/T 274-2024 but also represents a substantial leap forward in the field of precision agriculture.
The commercial implications for the agriculture sector are profound. Farmers can now achieve more precise and efficient fertilization, leading to improved crop yields and reduced environmental impact. The device’s adaptability to various irrigation water sources makes it a versatile tool for farmers worldwide. “This technology has the potential to transform the way we approach water-fertilizer integration, making it more accessible and effective for cost-sensitive agriculture,” Li adds.
The research, published in the journal ‘Agriculture’, provides a robust theoretical basis and technical support for future developments in water-fertilizer integration systems. As the agriculture industry continues to embrace technological advancements, this innovative device is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of precision agriculture. The study not only highlights the importance of addressing the influence of raw water on fertilizer proportioning accuracy but also paves the way for further innovations in the field.