Web-Based System for the Remote Monitoring and Management of Precision Irrigation: A Case Study in an Arid Region of Argentina

This article presents a description of the design, development, and implementation of web-based software and dedicated hardware which allows for the remote monitoring and control of a drip irrigation system. The hardware consists of in-field stations which are strategically distributed in the field and equipped with different sensors and communication devices; a weather station and drip irrigation system complete the setup. The web-based software makes it possible to remotely access and process the information gathered by all the stations and the irrigation controller. The proposed system was implemented in a young olive orchard, located in the province of San Juan, an arid region of Argentina. The system was installed and evaluated during the seasons 2014–2015 and 2015–2016. Four regulated irrigation strategies were proposed in the olive orchard to test its behavior. In this pilot experiment, the precision irrigation system was a useful tool for precisely managing the irrigation process, applying only the required amount of water (precise irrigation). Regulated deficit irrigation experiments, on the other hand, have demonstrated the sensitivity of olives to water restriction. The precision irrigation system made it possible to control soil moisture levels, avoiding water stress in the control treatment.