Artificial intelligence in the irrigation management in chili pepper and lettuce culture

• Grant number: 19/11830-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2019
• End date: July 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agricultural Engineering - Soil and Water Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Patricia Angélica Alves Marques
• Grantee: Stella Capozzi Franke
• Company: Dietech Automação Industrial e Robótica Ltda
• CNAE: Atividades de apoio à agricultura ; Atividades de apoio à pecuária ; Fabricação de aparelhos e equipamentos de medida, teste e controle
• Associated research grant: 18/13090-1 - Development of a wireless network of micro weather stations for irrigation management, AP.eScience.PIPE

Abstract

Irrigation management aims to maximize plant production at the lowest possible cost, both in environmental and economic aspects. Thus, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in meteorological stations, capable of monitoring the environment in real time and adapting to the different phenological stages of the plant can be a viable alternative technically and economically. This work aims to analyze the impact of an automatic irrigation management system, based on AI, on the growth and quality of chili fruits (Capsicum annuum L. All Big) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivated in a greenhouse . This research is part of the approved PIPE 2 project in progress (20018 / 13090-1). whose researcher in charge is Dr. Thiago Alberto Cabral da Cruz. The experiment will be performed in completely randomized blocks, with two treatments that will be applied to the both cultures. In the first treatment, the irrigation management will be done by calculating the evapotranspiration of the crop with the aid of the modified Penman-Monteith equation and a Campbell Scientific weather station while in the second treatment, the irrigation depth to be applied will be determined from a system of low financial cost that uses artificial intelligence and fusion of sensors. During all the cycle the development of the crop, the commercial quality, the volume of water required and the intervals between irrigations will be evaluated. At the end of the cycle, dry and fresh mass, water use efficiency, water productivity and economic analysis of the use of the technology will be evaluated through a detailed analysis of irrigation costs. (AU)