Design and Development of an Efficient and Cost-Effective Microcontroller-Based Irrigation Control System to Enhance Food Security
The development of the agricultural sector in Ghana
has been reliant on the use of irrigation systems to ensure food
security. However, the manual operation of these systems has not
facilitated their maximum efficiency due to human limitations.
This paper seeks to address this problem by designing and
implementing an efficient, cost effective automated system which
monitors and controls the water flow of irrigation through
communication with an authorized operator via text messages. The
automatic control component of the system is timer based with an
Atmega32 microcontroller and a real time clock from the SM5100B
cellular module. For monitoring purposes, the system sends periodic
notification of the system on the performance of duty via SMS to the
authorized person(s). Moreover, the GSM based Irrigation
Monitoring and Control System saves time and labour and reduces
cost of operating irrigation systems by saving electricity usage and
conserving water.
Field tests conducted have proven its operational efficiency and
ease of assessment of farm irrigation equipment due to its costeffectiveness
and data logging capabilities.
[1] Think Exist, (February 05, 2012),
http://thinkexist.com/dictionary/meaning/irrigation/
[2] Agodzo, S. K. and Bobobee, E. Y. H. (1994). Policy issues of irrigation
in Ghana: 1960-1990. Proceedings of the XIIth World Congress on
Agricultural Engineering, Milano, 28 August-1 September 1994. CIGR
Vol. 1 pp 335-343.
[3] Clothier, B. E. (1989). Research imperatives for irrigation science.
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage 115(3): 421-448.
[4] FAO. (2005). Aquastat: Country data on Ghana. FAO, Rome. Cited
from www.fao.org/ag/agl/aglw/aquastat/countries/ghana/index.stm (date
accessed: 20/11/2011).
[5] FAO. (1987). Consultation on irrigation in Africa. Irrigation and
Drainage paper 42. FAO, Rome.
[6] FAO. (1985). Survey of irrigation development costs in Nigeria, Ghana,
Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Gambia. FAO, Rome.
[7] Ferguson, C. A. (1989). Modelling water utilization in large-scale
irrigation systems. A qualitative response approach. Water Resources
Bulletin (AWRA). 25(6): 1199-1204.
[8] Kyei-Baffour, N. (1994). Future irrigation prospects and actions in
Ghana. In proceedings of the 1st National Conference on Agricultural
Engineering at the Department of Agricultural Engineering, KNUST,
Kumasi from 25-29 September 1994. (eds Dzisi, K. A., Twum, A. and
Lamptey, D. L.) pp 65-75.
[9] Memuna, M. M. and Cofie, O, O. (2005).Effects of farming practices on
the performance of rice (Oryza sativa) in selected farms of Ashaiman
Irrigation Project. In Hunger without Frontiers. (Eds. Bobobee, E. H. Y.
and Bart-Plange, A.). GSAE/WASAE, Kumasi, Ghana p.244-254.
[10] Types of Irrigation, (February 07, 2012), http://types-ofirrigation.
blogspot.com/
[11] SMS Based Wireless Home Appliance Control System (HACS),
(October 29, 2011), www.iisit.org/Vol6/IISITv6p887-894Khiyal592.pdf.
[12] Zazueta, F. S.; Smajstrla, A. G., and Harrison, D. S. (1983):
“Microcomputer control of irrigation systems. 1: Hardware and software
considerations”, Proc. Soil & Crop Science Society, Florida Volume 43,
1983: pp. 1
[13] Miranda, F.R.; Yoder, R.E.; Wilkerson, J.B. and L.O. Odhiambo (2005):
“An autonomous controller for site-specific management of fixed
irrigation systems”, Computers and Electronics in Agriculture Volume
48, pp. 183–197.
[14] Kim, Y. and Evans, R.G. (2009): “Software design for wireless sensorbased
site-specific irrigation”, Computers and Electronics in Agriculture
Vol. 66, pp.159–165.
[15] Umair, S. Muhammad and Usman, R. (2010): “Automation of Irrigation
System Using ANN-based Controller”, International Journal of
Electrical & Computer Sciences IJECS-IJENS, Volume 10, No: 02, pp.
45-51, Available online: www.ijens.org/104602-5757%20IJECSIJENS.
pdf (date accessed: 28/06/2013)
[16] Wen, Nannan; Li, Daoliang; Ma, Daokun; and Ding, Qisheng (2011) “A
Wireless Intelligent Valve Controller for Agriculture Integrated
Irrigation System ”, Computer and Computing Technologies in
Agriculture IV IFIP Advances in Information and Communication
Technology Volume 347, pp. 659-671
[17] Ingale, H. T. and Kasat, N. N. (2012): “Automated Irrigation System”,
International Journal of Engineering Research and Development,
Volume 4, Issue 11 (November 2012), pp. 51-54, e-ISSN: 2278-067X,
p-ISSN : 2278-800X, www.ijerd.com
[18] Singh, Sukhjit and Sharma, Neha, (2012): “Research Paper on Drip
Irrigation Management using wireless sensors”, International Journal of
Computer Networks and Wireless Communications (IJCNWC), ISSN:
2250-3501, Vol.2, No: 4
[19] Hedley, Carolyn; Ekanayake, Jagath; and Roudier, Pierre (2012):
“Wireless Soil Moisture Sensor Networks For Precision Irrigation
Scheduling”, Available online:
www.massey.ac.nz/~flrc/workshops/12/Manuscripts/Hedley_2012.pdf
(date accessed: 28/06/2013)
[20] Clark, Gary; Rogers, Danny; Alam, Mahbub; Fjell, Dale and Briggeman,
Steven (2013): “A Mobile Irrigation Lab For Water Conservation: I.
Physical and Electronic Tools”, Available online at www.ksre.k-state.edu/mil/Resources/Conference%20Papers/16.pdf (date accessed:
28/06/2013)
[21] Guerbaoui, M.; El Afou, Y.; Ed-Dahhak, A.; Lachhab, A. and
Bouchikhi, B. (2013): “PC-Based Automated Drip Irrigation System”,
International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology (IJEST)
ISSN: 0975-5462 Vol. 5, No.01, pp. 221-225.
[22] Divya, V. and Umamakeswari, A. (2013): “Smart Irrigation Technique
Using Vocal Commands”, International Journal of Engineering and
Technology (IJET), ISSN: 0975-4024, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 385-390.
[23] GSM Based-Automatic Irrigation System, (October 29, 2011),
http://www.scribd.com/doc/63175740/Gsm-Based-Automatic-Irrigation-
System(date accessed: 29/10/2011).
[24] Automatic Irrigation Management System, (October 29, 2011),
wwu.edu/changj7/project/docs/proj-%20description.pdf
[1] Think Exist, (February 05, 2012),
http://thinkexist.com/dictionary/meaning/irrigation/
[2] Agodzo, S. K. and Bobobee, E. Y. H. (1994). Policy issues of irrigation
in Ghana: 1960-1990. Proceedings of the XIIth World Congress on
Agricultural Engineering, Milano, 28 August-1 September 1994. CIGR
Vol. 1 pp 335-343.
[3] Clothier, B. E. (1989). Research imperatives for irrigation science.
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage 115(3): 421-448.
[4] FAO. (2005). Aquastat: Country data on Ghana. FAO, Rome. Cited
from www.fao.org/ag/agl/aglw/aquastat/countries/ghana/index.stm (date
accessed: 20/11/2011).
[5] FAO. (1987). Consultation on irrigation in Africa. Irrigation and
Drainage paper 42. FAO, Rome.
[6] FAO. (1985). Survey of irrigation development costs in Nigeria, Ghana,
Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Gambia. FAO, Rome.
[7] Ferguson, C. A. (1989). Modelling water utilization in large-scale
irrigation systems. A qualitative response approach. Water Resources
Bulletin (AWRA). 25(6): 1199-1204.
[8] Kyei-Baffour, N. (1994). Future irrigation prospects and actions in
Ghana. In proceedings of the 1st National Conference on Agricultural
Engineering at the Department of Agricultural Engineering, KNUST,
Kumasi from 25-29 September 1994. (eds Dzisi, K. A., Twum, A. and
Lamptey, D. L.) pp 65-75.
[9] Memuna, M. M. and Cofie, O, O. (2005).Effects of farming practices on
the performance of rice (Oryza sativa) in selected farms of Ashaiman
Irrigation Project. In Hunger without Frontiers. (Eds. Bobobee, E. H. Y.
and Bart-Plange, A.). GSAE/WASAE, Kumasi, Ghana p.244-254.
[10] Types of Irrigation, (February 07, 2012), http://types-ofirrigation.
blogspot.com/
[11] SMS Based Wireless Home Appliance Control System (HACS),
(October 29, 2011), www.iisit.org/Vol6/IISITv6p887-894Khiyal592.pdf.
[12] Zazueta, F. S.; Smajstrla, A. G., and Harrison, D. S. (1983):
“Microcomputer control of irrigation systems. 1: Hardware and software
considerations”, Proc. Soil & Crop Science Society, Florida Volume 43,
1983: pp. 1
[13] Miranda, F.R.; Yoder, R.E.; Wilkerson, J.B. and L.O. Odhiambo (2005):
“An autonomous controller for site-specific management of fixed
irrigation systems”, Computers and Electronics in Agriculture Volume
48, pp. 183–197.
[14] Kim, Y. and Evans, R.G. (2009): “Software design for wireless sensorbased
site-specific irrigation”, Computers and Electronics in Agriculture
Vol. 66, pp.159–165.
[15] Umair, S. Muhammad and Usman, R. (2010): “Automation of Irrigation
System Using ANN-based Controller”, International Journal of
Electrical & Computer Sciences IJECS-IJENS, Volume 10, No: 02, pp.
45-51, Available online: www.ijens.org/104602-5757%20IJECSIJENS.
pdf (date accessed: 28/06/2013)
[16] Wen, Nannan; Li, Daoliang; Ma, Daokun; and Ding, Qisheng (2011) “A
Wireless Intelligent Valve Controller for Agriculture Integrated
Irrigation System ”, Computer and Computing Technologies in
Agriculture IV IFIP Advances in Information and Communication
Technology Volume 347, pp. 659-671
[17] Ingale, H. T. and Kasat, N. N. (2012): “Automated Irrigation System”,
International Journal of Engineering Research and Development,
Volume 4, Issue 11 (November 2012), pp. 51-54, e-ISSN: 2278-067X,
p-ISSN : 2278-800X, www.ijerd.com
[18] Singh, Sukhjit and Sharma, Neha, (2012): “Research Paper on Drip
Irrigation Management using wireless sensors”, International Journal of
Computer Networks and Wireless Communications (IJCNWC), ISSN:
2250-3501, Vol.2, No: 4
[19] Hedley, Carolyn; Ekanayake, Jagath; and Roudier, Pierre (2012):
“Wireless Soil Moisture Sensor Networks For Precision Irrigation
Scheduling”, Available online:
www.massey.ac.nz/~flrc/workshops/12/Manuscripts/Hedley_2012.pdf
(date accessed: 28/06/2013)
[20] Clark, Gary; Rogers, Danny; Alam, Mahbub; Fjell, Dale and Briggeman,
Steven (2013): “A Mobile Irrigation Lab For Water Conservation: I.
Physical and Electronic Tools”, Available online at www.ksre.k-state.edu/mil/Resources/Conference%20Papers/16.pdf (date accessed:
28/06/2013)
[21] Guerbaoui, M.; El Afou, Y.; Ed-Dahhak, A.; Lachhab, A. and
Bouchikhi, B. (2013): “PC-Based Automated Drip Irrigation System”,
International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology (IJEST)
ISSN: 0975-5462 Vol. 5, No.01, pp. 221-225.
[22] Divya, V. and Umamakeswari, A. (2013): “Smart Irrigation Technique
Using Vocal Commands”, International Journal of Engineering and
Technology (IJET), ISSN: 0975-4024, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 385-390.
[23] GSM Based-Automatic Irrigation System, (October 29, 2011),
http://www.scribd.com/doc/63175740/Gsm-Based-Automatic-Irrigation-
System(date accessed: 29/10/2011).
[24] Automatic Irrigation Management System, (October 29, 2011),
wwu.edu/changj7/project/docs/proj-%20description.pdf
@article{"International Journal of Electrical, Electronic and Communication Sciences:68410", author = "Robert A. Sowah and Stephen K. Armoo and Koudjo M. Koumadi and Rockson Agyeman and Seth Y. Fiawoo", title = "Design and Development of an Efficient and Cost-Effective Microcontroller-Based Irrigation Control System to Enhance Food Security", abstract = "The development of the agricultural sector in Ghana
has been reliant on the use of irrigation systems to ensure food
security. However, the manual operation of these systems has not
facilitated their maximum efficiency due to human limitations.
This paper seeks to address this problem by designing and
implementing an efficient, cost effective automated system which
monitors and controls the water flow of irrigation through
communication with an authorized operator via text messages. The
automatic control component of the system is timer based with an
Atmega32 microcontroller and a real time clock from the SM5100B
cellular module. For monitoring purposes, the system sends periodic
notification of the system on the performance of duty via SMS to the
authorized person(s). Moreover, the GSM based Irrigation
Monitoring and Control System saves time and labour and reduces
cost of operating irrigation systems by saving electricity usage and
conserving water.
Field tests conducted have proven its operational efficiency and
ease of assessment of farm irrigation equipment due to its costeffectiveness
and data logging capabilities.
", keywords = "Agriculture, control system, data logging, food
security, irrigation system, microcontroller.", volume = "8", number = "8", pages = "1350-8", }
