Smart Irrigation Technology, Ensuring Water Availability: An Automated Approach for Greenhouse Water Management

This study evaluated the efficiency of an automated irrigation system compared to a mechanized system, applied to Raphanus sativus (radish) under controlled conditions. Both systems used an irrigation schedule based on evapotranspiration calculated using the Penman-Monteith method and the specific needs of the crop. The key difference between the systems was that the automated system adjusted irrigation according to soil moisture content, thus optimizing water use. Results showed that the automated system achieved significant savings of 42.14% (56.77 L) compared to the mechanized system, without affecting the yield or morphological characteristics of the radishes. Harvesting, conducted 28 days after germination in 1.20 m² plots, yielded a total of 40 radishes, and statistical analysis indicated that there were no significant differences in production between plots. The research suggests that irrigation efficiency and soil conditions can be further improved by incorporating a greater number of factors into the irrigation schedule, such as temperature, air humidity, irrigation intensity and frequency, and irrigation schedule. These factors must be adapted to climatic variations, seasons and lunar phases to optimize performance. The development and implementation of smart technologies, such as the automated irrigation system presented in this study, are essential for the efficient management of water resources, especially in agriculture, which is the main consumer of fresh water globally. This type of innovation not only contributes to sustainability and water conservation, but also ensures the future viability of agricultural production in a world increasingly affected by climate change.