Applied soil moisture sensors
Sustainable wet crop cultivation in the Qaraghandy region of Kazakhstan
Description
A farmer has developed an advanced irrigation management system on a large-scale farm in the Qaraganda region of Kazakhstan that utilizes moisture sensors and weather stations, providing real-time, accurate soil moisture readings at various depths that are transmitted automatically to the computers of the farmer and an agronomist. The farmer utilizes the system for potato cultivation. By monitoring the moisture content of the soil, the farmer can determine the precise irrigation needs of their crops, preventing over or underwatering. The system has been instrumental in improving crop yields, most notably potatoes and alfalfa, ensuring they receive the exact amount of water needed. The farmer used data from Metos weather stations and tested different soil sensors until he identified what worked best for his potato farm.
Technology
The system employed in the farmlands of the Qaraganda region makes use of a combination of advanced moisture sensors and a comprehensive set of weather stations. Integrated with computer software, these devices offer real-time soil moisture data at various depths, and the readings are relayed automatically and wirelessly to both the computers of the farmer and an agronomist, ensuring immediate access to crucial irrigation information. The weather station, which serves as the central hub, measures the moisture content of the soil every 10 cm up to a depth of one meter, and the collected data is then analysed alongside operational weather data, facilitating precise irrigation decisions. This centralized system is connected to a server where the data are constantly updated, allowing agronomists to make informed irrigation decisions without the need for manual soil inspections.
Target
The main user of the moisture sensor-based irrigation system is the farm, although there is potential for the use of the system on other farms in Central Kazakhstan, as well as agronomists, especially those who cultivate moisture-loving crops. The system has been specially developed for large-scale farms that work with analytical information systems and experienced management personnel. Given its impact in the Qaraganda region, there is potential for the broader adoption of such a system on farms in similar climates, although it is notably less practical for smaller farms without the necessary infrastructure and expertise.
Business model
The weather station costs about USD 3500 while one humidity sensor costs in the region of EUR 1500. Thus, a system comprising a weather station and a moisture sensor will cost around USD 5000. The farmer has invested around KZT 10 million (USD 23 500) into this technology, and according to an economic analysis, has achieved annual cost savings of KZT 12 million (USD 28 200). Thus, the farmer recovered the cost of the equipment in less than a year of use.
Impact
This good practice addresses the challenges posed by Kazakhstan's harsh continental climate, enabling the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices, providing savings in such valuable resources as water and electricity, and enhancing the overall farm productivity. The implementation of this practice has helped the farmer improve the quality and yield of the potatoes produced on his farm. In 2021, the farmer achieved yields of 43–45 tons per ha, reportedly much higher than a few years earlier, before he started making use of moisture sensors for the management of irrigation. His later use of moisture sensors to control the irrigation of alfalfa improved the quality and volume of the crop by 20–30 percent. The adoption of moisture sensors has also improved the efficiency of water and electricity usage on the farm. The irrigation project has created additional jobs for women, as the farm needed to take on additional workers in its potato storage facility. While only 5 percent of the workforce were women before the project started, women now make up 30 percent of the team.
Four Betters
Better production
