Drip and sprinkler automation for farms and micro-irrigation projects
Wireless valve controllers, scheduling by volume or time, fertigation and filter control, and remote pump starting, run from one app for a single farm or a whole cluster.
Why automate a drip or sprinkler system
Drip and sprinkler systems are designed to deliver a precise depth of water to each block. Manual operation erodes that precision: valves run long or short, fertigation is uneven, and filters are flushed late. The result is lower water-use efficiency than the design promised.
Nebulotix automation runs each block to its planned volume or duration, sequences blocks within the pump's capacity, doses fertiliser in proportion to flow, and backwashes filters on differential pressure. Farmers and FPO managers see what was applied, where and when.
What is supplied
Wireless valve controllers
Battery or solar-powered nodes driving latching solenoids on block valves, communicating over LoRa to a field gateway.
Head unit controller
Manages pump start/stop, main valve, filter backwash and fertigation injector from flow and pressure inputs.
Sensors
Flow meter, pressure transmitters across filters, optional soil moisture probes and a local weather station.
Mobile pump starter
GSM or LoRa motor starter with dry-run, voltage and phase protection for the field pump.
App and dashboard
Block-wise schedules, applied volume, fertigation logs and alerts on phone or browser.
| Item | Typical configuration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Valve nodes | 1 – 4 outputs each | Latching solenoid, 9–12 V DC pulse |
| Radio | LoRa | Range depends on terrain; confirmed by site survey |
| Fertigation | Venturi or dosing pump | Proportional to flow meter pulses |
| Filter control | Δp switch / transmitter | Disc, screen or media filters |
| Pump starter | GSM / LoRa | Single or three phase |
| Power | Battery / solar | Field nodes need no mains supply |
Typical values. Final selection follows site survey, hydraulic review and the project specification.
Functions
Volume and time scheduling
Each block runs to a set volume or duration, sequenced to stay within pump capacity.
Proportional fertigation
Injector dosing tied to measured flow so nutrients follow water.
Filter backwash
Automatic flush on differential pressure or interval.
Weather and moisture inputs
Skip or shorten cycles after rain or when the root zone is wet.
Pump protection
Dry-run, over/under-voltage and phase-loss trips with alerts.
Applied-water records
Seasonal water and nutrient logs per block for agronomy and subsidy documentation.
Survey, supply, operate
Survey and design
Hydraulic review, instrument and valve placement, radio coverage study.
Supply and install
Field equipment installed, commissioned and tagged on GIS.
Operate and maintain
Remote monitoring, preventive maintenance and operator training through O&M.
Can existing drip systems be automated?
Usually yes. Manual block valves are replaced or fitted with solenoid actuators, and a head unit is added at the filter station. A site visit confirms valve sizes and pressure.
Do farmers need internet at the field?
No. Field nodes talk to a local gateway by radio, and schedules run on the controller. The gateway needs 4G or Wi-Fi only to sync with the app.
Is this suitable for FPOs and clusters?
Yes. Several farms can be managed from one account with separate schedules and records for each member.
Related solutions
Tell us about your scheme
Share location, scale and project stage. An engineer will reply with a scope.