Smart Agriculture “Helps to Save Water and Increase Efficiency in Farmland Irrigation

In the past two years, Hoxud County in Xinjiang has continuously improved the level of agricultural science and technology modernization with the goal of promoting agricultural efficiency and income. At present, with the successful introduction of local “smart agriculture”, farmers have been truly benefited.

Walking into the “smart agriculture” demonstration field of Hoxud County Xinjiang Qingyuan Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., we saw green and growing crops full of vitality, the automatic water fertilizer machine was “working hard”, and the farmers not far away were smiling happily. Now with this high-tech technology, farming is simple, and water and fertilizer are integrated. There is no longer a need to water or fertilize. The water and fertilizer integrated machine not only reduces the cost of farming for our people, but also reduces physical labor. As long as we operate the instruments well, this farming method can be unimaginable in the past. It has caught up with the new era, Aihemeti Aimudu, a company base employee who is checking the growth of crops in the field, said happily.

It is understood that “smart agriculture” mainly includes smart irrigation equipment, which can effectively promote the application of “water fertilizer integration” technology. Compared to traditional fertilization and watering, “water fertilizer integration” technology can reduce water infiltration and evaporation, improve water utilization efficiency. Under open-air conditions, micro irrigation fertilization and flood irrigation can save water by about 50%. In terms of fertilizer conservation, it reduces the volatilization and loss of fertilizers, as well as the loss caused by excessive nutrients. It has the advantages of simple fertilization, timely fertilizer supply, easy absorption by crops, and improved fertilizer utilization rate. In terms of reducing the occurrence of diseases and pests, sprinkler irrigation reduces air humidity, greatly suppressing the occurrence of crop diseases, reducing the investment of pesticides and labor for disease prevention and control. The implementation of the “integration of water and fertilizer” technology not only improves the utilization rate of crop nutrients, but also reduces the residue of fertilizers in the soil, reduces water pollution, saves manpower and resources to a certain extent, and greatly reduces agricultural production costs.

Ru Jianzhong, the head of the family farm at the base of Xinjiang Qingyuan Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., has been dealing with arable land for over twenty years. In previous years, he used the traditional method of flood irrigation, which was time-consuming and laborious, causing him great trouble. Nowadays, Ru Jianzhong can complete the irrigation management work of 1200 acres of land by himself, which is both time-saving and labor-saving.

In the past, when watering in irrigation areas, every household needed someone to take care of it. Now that I have installed a water fertilizer integrated machine and a smart ball valve, I can remotely control it from home using my phone, and I can complete the watering in the irrigation area anytime and anywhere, which is very convenient.

Producing grain through “technology” is an important way to ensure national food security. The management and application of “integrated water and fertilizer” technology is the only way to build high standard farmland, develop modern water-saving agriculture, transform agricultural development methods, and promote sustainable agricultural development. This year, Hoxud County invested 5.03 million yuan to build and implement an 8300 mu “smart agriculture” demonstration area, focusing on supporting applications of technologies such as intelligent irrigation, intelligent water fertilizer integration, field monitoring, seven meteorological elements, pest monitor, moisture sensor, etc. At present, the crops in the demonstration area are growing well, and “smart agriculture” is widely recognized by growers.