How to Implement an Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) Irrigation System for Rice? An All-in-One Analysis of Hydrostatic Level Sensors, Automatic Irrigation, and Field Data Integration

Taiwan is a vital part of Asian rice culture, with rice serving as one of its primary staple crops. However, against the backdrop of climate change and shifting demographics, rice production is facing numerous challenges:

• Aggravated Disruptions from Extreme Weather: Rice growth is highly sensitive to fluctuations in water volume and temperature. Droughts, short-duration intense rainfalls, and unpredictable weather patterns are increasing risks to both yield and quality.
• Rising Irrigation Costs: Certain regions rely heavily on groundwater. The cost of pumping water is high, and farmers face increasingly severe competition and restrictions regarding water resources.
• An Aging Rural Labor Force and Labor Shortages: Tasks such as transplanting seedlings, field scouting, and irrigation depend heavily on a dwindling number of elderly farmers, making field management progressively difficult.
• Carbon Emissions from Continuous Flooding: The traditional method of long-term continuous flooding generates significant methane emissions, making it a major source of greenhouse gases within the agricultural sector.

Under these circumstances, "how to stably grow high-quality rice using less water" has become a shared challenge for both rice farmers and policy makers—and this is precisely why Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation is gaining significant attention.



・・・



Must rice fields always be submerged in water? In the minds of many farmers, "flooding management" is an indispensable part of rice cultivation. However, as extreme weather and water resource pressures intensify, the government has begun promoting a new farming practice—Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD).

This technique emphasizes moving away from keeping rice fields continuously flooded. Instead, whether to irrigate is determined by the actual needs of the crop: "irrigate when water is needed, and let the field dry naturally when it is not." While this approach sounds simple, it actually tests one's ability to precisely grasp field conditions and manage data. For the government and research institutions, the biggest challenge is not just changing mindsets, but rather: how can we identify the irrigation parameters and control methods that are "suitable for every region across Taiwan"?



・・・



In recent years, an increasing number of studies have pointed out that through proper wet-and-dry management, rice fields can not only use less water and emit less carbon, but also maintain or even increase yields.

• Water Conservation: It can reduce irrigation water use by an average of 15% to 30% per crop season, lowering the risk of water shortages during dry seasons. For areas facing water allocation difficulties or high well-water pumping costs, it can effectively alleviate irrigation pressure.
• Carbon Reduction: Long-term flooding easily generates methane; however, AWD irrigation can reduce these emissions by 30% to 70%. This serves as an effective method to lower carbon footprints for production areas that are currently promoting agricultural sustainability or need to meet carbon footprint assessment requirements.
• Stable Yields: Proper water control stimulates root systems to grow deeper, enhancing the crop's drought resistance and lodging resistance, while also reducing the incidence of diseases. When paired with proper fertilization strategies, it can actually create opportunities to increase yields.
• Easier Management: When paired with automated sensing and control equipment, it reduces the frequency of manual field scouting and minimizes the risk of making incorrect irrigation judgments. This is particularly helpful for operators facing labor shortages or those who need to manage multiple field sectors simultaneously.



・・・



Currently, AgriWeather has assisted research institutions in the Yilan and Taichung regions by deploying complete monitoring and control systems to test different AWD irrigation strategies.

The equipment used includes:

• Hydrostatic Level Sensor: Buried approximately 10 cm below the soil surface to continuously detect the underground water level.
• Automatic Irrigation Control System: Can be configured with specific conditions (such as when the water level drops below 15 cm) to automatically trigger irrigation.

This system features:

• Real-Time Data Transmission: Sensing data can be transmitted back to the cloud platform in real time, making it easy for researchers to remotely monitor every single irrigation log and water level change.
• Data Visualization: The system visualizes information such as irrigation conditions, trigger frequencies, and water level fluctuations, while preserving historical records for subsequent analytical use.
• Experimental and Modeling Support: It assists researchers in building irrigation models tailored to different climates and soil types based on variations in water levels and growth stages. Furthermore, it can configure multiple control groups to validate differences in water consumption and yield under varying strategies.



・・・



Many research institutions encounter the following challenges during the field extension phase:

• Data is too scattered, making it difficult to compile and track.
• Farmers report that the system is too complex and hard to learn.
• There is a desire to plan long-term controlled trials, but human resources for equipment maintenance are limited.

AgriWeather provides not just sensors, but a complete solution:

• Comprehensive Integration: Combining data integration, automatic control, and anomaly early-warning functions.
• User-Centric Design: Designing farmer-friendly interfaces and operational workflows.
• On-Site Support: Assisting with demonstration site deployment and instructional training to accelerate technology transfer.

Our role is to be the data wingman for research institutions and the digital partner for farmers.

Welcome Research Collaborations and Field Trial Discussions

Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) is more than just a water-saving strategy; it is a vital key to sustainable agriculture. AgriWeather is fully prepared to assist research institutions in exploring localized irrigation models and transforming them into practical solutions for farmers.

AgriWeather: Cultivating a Better Future with Data!

To learn more or to arrange a pilot trial site, feel free to contact us!



・・・



Q1: Can rice really grow without being continuously submerged in water? Won't it wither and die?
A1: Yes, it can! Rice is actually resilient to short-term water scarcity. Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation controls water volume under the condition that it "does not affect growth," ensuring the crop will not dry out to the point of causing issues.

Q2: How do we know when it is time to irrigate? Do we rely on manual observation?
A2: The traditional approach involves using a perforated pipe inserted into the soil to observe the water level. However, we provide an Electronic Water Level Gauge paired with logic control. When the water level drops below a designated value, irrigation is automatically triggered, making the process both time-saving and precise.

Q3: Can farmers actually manage to use this kind of system? Is it too complex?
A3: We can design "Research-grade" and "Farmer-friendly" interfaces depending on the user. The latter features simple operations and can be paired with mobile notifications and instructional assistance.

Q4: In which regions has AgriWeather deployed this system so far?
A4: Currently, AgriWeather has deployed and conducted trials with research institutions in regions such as Yilan and Taichung, and we are continuously expanding our scope of collaboration.