FLOOD IRRIGATION AUTOMATION
IS NOW SMART AND AFFORDABLE
What is Smart Syphon technology?
Smart Syphon’s are connected to a 90mm diameter pipe through the
bank with a rotating arm and riser fitted. The number of smart syphons
operating at once is limited by the length of cable and the stretch from
the rotational friction. Maximum number per gang appears to be 150 at
this stage. Each gang is turned on by rotating the arm from a vertical to
horizontal position. Flow rates can be adjusted through inserting
reducers into the riser and by adjusting the head height.
Each of the syphon gangs can be started and stopped either with the
push of a button at the controller or via an app on a mobile phone.
How does the technology fit
with cotton?
What is the fit of this technology into irrigated cotton?
Smart Syphon enables farms currently set up for siphon irrigation to move toward automation of irrigation with minimal in-field changes.
This technology will reduce the labour requirement to irrigate a siphon field, provide irrigation managers complete remote control and flexibility to match irrigation to crop requirements.
What are the key commercial
considerations?
What are the key considerations for adoption on a commercial basis?
Prior to installation growers should review the design of the head ditch area. Pipe through the bank placement, choice of restrictors, channel head heights and roto-buck slopes should all be considered. A well-designed plan will enable growers to more effectively match flow rates with soil infiltration and row length to optimise water application efficiency.
Installation can be achieved in a number of ways, to date we have investigated pushing the pipes through the bank, using a chain trencher to cut a slot for the siphon and completely rebuilding the field side of the head ditch to accommodate the siphons. Each have different fits and costs associated with them. A key consideration is maintaining the pipes in a gang on a consistent elevation and angle to the operating water level. Accurate pipe installation is a corner stone element to reducing capital and operating costs.
How much does the Smart
Syphon cost?
Irrigate with your smartphone
Start your smart syphons
Stop your smart syphons
Monitor your water level
Know when your water is through
Head Ditch Design
Erosion minimisation by reducing the water speed
Water level from start to end in relationship to the height of the risers
Minimum of 100mm fall across rotobuck to furrow
Minimum of 50mm fall from the pipe outlet to the rotobuck
One length for the riser ( for commercial efficiency)
Rise into the rotobuck for the pipe through the bank
Consistent bank profile for a single length of pipe ( for commercial and installation efficiency)