Cloud-based irrigation system doubles crop yield, cuts water use by 80%

At the trial farm in Tamil Nadu, eight vegetable crops were grown using the precision irrigation system

Scientists from the Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh (UK) have developed a cloud-based micro-irrigation system, which when tested on a farm in south India helped cut water use and doubled crop yield. 

The system combines a highly localised weather forecast with local know-how on irrigation needs and soil conditions. Local farmers’ knowledge on irrigation and soil conditions for each of these crops were scheduled on the cloud-based system, an official statement said. 

Trials were conducted under the Innovate UK-funded Smart Control of Rural Renewable Energy and Storage (SCORRES) project. 

“We tested eight crops with our precision irrigation system,” said Eddie Owens, director of Heriot-Watt