Modeling and Proof of Concept of a Passive Irrigation Controller for Efficient Water Use in Low-Income Areas

Irrigation has been shown to contribute to the alleviation of poverty around the globe. However, its success is limited by water scarcity. Human Centered Design (HCD) principles were employed to address agriculture's involvement in global water scarcity from an engineering standpoint, particularly in low-income areas. An irrigation controller was developed in partnership with a low-income community in Nicaragua to regulate soil water potential (SWP). Ground research and interviews inspired the adaptation of passive technology using locally available materials such as PVC fittings. A prototype was constructed and presented to the community for feedback. A semi-empirical model of the controller was developed and experimentally verified to enable sizing of the components and evaluation of the system capabilities. The controller model was coupled to an environmental model to predict the performance. The model results show the controller has a potential water savings of up to 69%.M.A.S.2019-03-26 00:00:0