Solar for Irrigation

Agrivoltaic systems are a strategic and innovative approach to combine solar photovoltaic (PV)-based renewable energy generation with agricultural production. Recognizing the fundamental importance of farmer adoption in the successful diffusion of the agrivoltaic innovation, this study investigates agriculture sector experts' perceptions on the opportunities and barriers to dual land-use systems. Using in-depth, semistructured interviews, this study conducts a first study to identify challenges to farmer adoption of agrivoltaics and address them by responding to societal concerns. Results indicate that participants see potential benefits for themselves in combined solar and agriculture technology. The identified barriers to adoption of agrivoltaics, however, include: (i) desired certainty of long-term land productivity, (ii) market potential, (iii) just compensation and (iv) a need for predesigned system flexibility to accommodate different scales, types of operations, and changing farming practices. The identified concerns in this study can be used to refine the technology to increase adoption among farmers and to translate the potential of agrivoltaics to address the competition for land between solar PV and agriculture into changes in solar siting, farming practice, and land-use decision-making.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of applying different irrigation levels and soil mulches on vegetative growth, yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) valor cultivar. The experiment was carried out during two successive seasons of 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 under open field conditions in El-Bossily farm, Agricultural Research Center, El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt. The experimental design was split plot and consisted of three irrigation levels as main plots and three soil mulches as sub-plots with three replicates. Drip irrigation was practiced at 50, 75 and 100% of irrigation requirements (IR). The soil mulches consisted of black (PE-B) and transparent (PET) polyethylene as well as rice straw (RS). In both seasons, the application of different irrigation levels and mulch treatments affected significantly potato vegetative growth, tuber yield and nutrients content (N, P and K). The use of PE-B mulch resulted in significantly higher values of plant height, number of leaves, canopy fresh and dry weight per potato plant. Increasing IR of potato from 50% to 100% enhanced total and marketable yield. The highest WUE was obtained under PE-B mulch followed by RS and both of them were superior compared to the PET and bare soil. Regarding the interaction between irrigation and mulching treatments, the highest vegetative and tuber yield were obtained by PE-B treatment combined with 100% IR. However, the highest WUE was obtained by 75% IR combined with PE-B mulch.

Free to download eBook on Practical Solar Tracking Design, following the sun solar tracking system, sun tracking system, sun tracker system, solar tracker system, sun positioning system, and sun path tracking with follow the sun position calculation (azimuth, elevation, zenith), sun trajectory, sun following system, sunrise tracking, sunset tracking, sunlight-phases, dawn, dusk, moon-phase, twilight, moonrise, moonset calculator. Solar Tracking is a key Technology to unlock the full potential of RE in RES.
In harnessing power from the sun through a solar tracker or solar tracking system and following the sun, renewable energy system developers require automatic solar tracking software and solar position algorithms. As a result of the apparent motion of the sun, a sun path on-axis sun tracking system such as the altitude-azimuth dual axis or multi-axis solar tracker systems use a sun tracking algorithm or ray tracing sensors or software to ensure the sun's passage through the sky is traced with high precision in automated solar tracker applications, right through summer solstice, solar equinox and winter solstice using sun positional astronomy.

In general, this book may benefit solar research, sun surveying, sun position applet, solar energy harvesting, solar energy tracker and sun tracking solar panel applications in countries such as Africa, Mediterranean, Italy, Spain, Greece, USA, Mexico, South America, Brazilia, Argentina, Chili, India, Malaysia, Middle East, UAE, Russia, Japan and China. This book on practical automatic Solar-Tracking Sun-Tracking is in .PDF format and can easily be converted to the solar tracking system sun tracking system .EPUB .MOBI .AZW .ePub .FB2 .LIT .LRF .MOBI .PDB .PDF .TCR formats for smartphones and Kindle by using the ebook.online-convert.com facility.

From sun tracing software perspective, the sonnet Tracing The Sun has a literal meaning. Within the context of sun track and trace, this book explains that the sun's daily path across the sky is directed by relatively simple principles, and if grasped/understood, then it is relatively easy to trace the sun with sun following software. Sun Surveyor and Sun Position computer software for tracing the sun are available as open source code, sources that is listed in this book. This book also describes the use of satellite tracking software and mechanisms in solar tracking applications using Sun Microsystems and other processor architecture.
Using solar equations in an electronic circuit for solar tracking is quite simple, even if you are a novice, but mathematical solar equations are over complicated by academic experts and professors in text-books, journal articles and internet websites. In terms of solar hobbies, scholars, students and Hobbyist's looking at solar tracking electronics or PC programs for solar tracking are usually overcome by the sheer volume of scientific material and internet resources, which leaves many developers in frustration when search for simple experimental solar tracking source-code for their on-axis sun-tracking systems. This booklet will simplify the search for the mystical sun tracking formulas for your sun tracker innovation and help you develop your own autonomous solar tracking controller.

By directing the solar collector directly into the sun, a solar harvesting means or device can harness sunlight or thermal heat. This is achieved with the help of sun angle formulas, solar angle formulas or solar tracking procedures for the calculation of sun's position in the sky. Automatic sun tracking system software includes algorithms for solar altitude azimuth angle calculations required in following the sun across the sky. In using the longitude, latitude GPS coordinates of the solar tracker location, these sun tracking software tools supports precision solar tracking by determining the solar altitude-azimuth coordinates for the sun trajectory in altitude-azimuth tracking at the tracker location, using certain sun angle formulas in sun vector calculations. Instead of follow the sun software, a sun tracking sensor such as a sun sensor or camera with vision based sun following image processing software can also be used to determine the position of the sun optically. Such optical feedback devices are commonly used in solar panel tracking systems and dish tracking systems.

Dynamic sun tracing is also used in solar surveying and sun surveying systems that build solar radiance, irradiance and DNI models for GIS (geographical information system) and database systems. In such solar resource modelling systems, a pyranometer or solarimeter is used in addition to measure direct and indirect, scattered, dispersed, reflective radiation for a particular geographical location. Sunlight analysis is important in flash photography where photographic lighting are important for photographers. GIS systems are used by architects who add sun shadow applets to study architectural shading or sun shadow analysis, solar flux calculations, optical modelling or to perform weather modelling. Such systems often employ a computer operated telescope type mechanism with ray tracing program software as a solar navigator or sun tracer that determines the solar position and intensity.

Many open-source sun following and tracking algorithms and source-code for solar tracking programs and modules are freely available to download on the internet today. The purpose of this booklet is to assist developers to track and trace suitable source-code and solar tracking algorithms for their application, whether a hobbyist, scientist, technician or engineer. The solar library used by solar position calculators, solar simulation software and solar contour calculators include machine program code for the solar hardware controller which are software programmed into Micro-controllers, Programmable Logic Controllers PLC, programmable gate arrays, Arduino processor or PIC processor. PC based solar tracking is also high in demand using C++, Visual Basic VB, as well as Windows and Mac based software for sun path tables on Matlab, Excel. Some books and internet webpages use other terms, such as: sun angle calculator, sun position calculator or solar angle calculator. As said, such software code calculate the solar azimuth angle, solar altitude angle, solar elevation angle or the solar Zenith angle (Zenith solar angle is simply referenced from vertical plane, the mirror of the elevation angle measured from the horizontal or ground plane level). Similar software code is also used in solar calculator apps or the solar power calculator apps for IOS and Android smartphone devices. Most of these smartphone solar mobile apps show the sun path and sun-angles for any location and date over a 24 hour period. Some smartphones include augmented reality features in which you can physically see and look at the solar path through your cell phone camera or mobile phone camera at your phone's specific GPS location.

Software algorithms predicting position of the sun in the sky are commonly available as Java applets, C++ code, Basic, GBasic and QBasic code, Matlab and Simulink procedures, TRNSYS simulations, Scada system apps, Labview module, mobile and iphone apps, tablet apps, and so forth. At the same time, PLC software code for a range of sun tracking automation technology (mechatronic, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic drives and motors) can follow the profile of sun in sky for Siemens, HP, Panasonic, ABB, Allan Bradley, OMRON, SEW, Festo, Beckhoff, Rockwell, Schneider, Yokonawa, or Muthibishi platforms. Sun path projection software are also available for a range of processors, including Siemens S7-1200 or Siemens Logo, OMRON PLC, Ercam PLC, AC500plc ABB, National Instruments, PIC processor, Arduino, and so forth. Analogue or digital interfacing ports on these processors allow for tracking orientation angle feedback through one or a combination of angle sensor or angle encoder, shaft encoder, precision encoder, optical encoder, magnetic encoder, direction encoder, rotational encoder, tilt sensor, inclination sensor, or pitch sensor. Note that the tracker's elevation or zenith axis angle may measured with an altitude angle, declination angle, inclination angle, pitch angle, or vertical angle, zenith axis. Similarly the tracker's azimuth axis angle be measured with a azimuth angle sensor, horizontal angle, roll angle sensor.

Many solar tracker applications cover a wide spectrum of solar energy and concentrated solar devices, including solar power generation, solar desalination, solar water purification, solar steam generation, solar electricity generation, solar industrial process heat, solar thermal heat storage, solar food dryers, hydrogen production from methane or producing hydrogen and oxygen from water (HHO). Many patented or non-patented solar apparatus include tracking in solar apparatus for solar electric generator, solar desalinator, solar steam engine, solar ice maker, solar water purifier, solar cooling, solar refrigeration, USB solar charger, solar phone charging, portable solar charging tracker, solar cooking or solar dying means. Your project may be the next breakthrough or patent, but your invention is held back by frustration in search for the sun tracker you require for your solar powered appliance, solar generator, solar tracker robot, solar freezer, solar cooker, solar drier, solar freezer, or solar dryer project. Whether your solar electronic circuit diagram include a simplified solar controller design in a solar electricity project, solar power kit, solar hobby kit, solar steam generator, solar hot water system, solar ice maker, solar desalinator, hobbyist solar panels, hobby robot, or if you are developing professional or hobby electronics for a solar utility or micro scale solar powerplant for your own solar farm or solar farming, this publication may help accelerate the development of your solar tracking innovation.

Abstract— For optimal design and management of
hydrologic balance and scheduling irrigation models, the
need to measure Evapotranspiration is of great
importance. It helps in predicting when and how much
water is required for any particular irrigation scheme.
Reference Evapotranspiration is a standard nomenclature
defined by FAO to provide a reference frame although it
is not a full proof equation. Several scientists have
developed multiple equations based of three primary
directions viz. temperature based methods, radiation
based methods and mass – transfer methods. Here in this
paper, we have carried out a review on most of the
popular equations and the objective is to elucidate the
advantages and drawbacks each one of them register
when put into use. The reference equation for
standardization considered here is FAO 56 Penman
Montheith equation. Thirty other equations from the
three schools have been analysed here. Statistical
Regression Analysis methods and coefficient of
determination (R2), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and
index of agreement (d) are the analytical parameters
those are to be used while estimating their acceptance in
evaluating the throughputs.

Bangladesh has a primarily agrarian economy. Irrigation plays a very important role in our agriculture as well as on economy. During dry season, irrigation of the whole country faces an acute crisis due to load shedding of 1400 MW [1]. As Bangladesh has good solar resources, with high availability during the peak irrigation season, therefore, solar pumping of water for irrigation is an innovative and environment-friendly solution for its largely agro-based economy. Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (IDCOL) is providing financial support to solar irrigation. Already 450 irrigation pumps have been installed by IDCOL in different divisions of Bangladesh. In this paper, 450 project's data has been analyzed and the findings are shown by different graphs. Different division's radiation, water-head and required water are mainly focused in the analysis which will be very useful for upcoming irrigation projects. To accomplish the analysis on solar irrigation, several field visits were done at Poradaho, Kushtia, Bangladesh. This is a project of Bright Green Energy Foundation (BGEF) and financed by IDCOL. Numerous important prospects of solar irrigation besides Diesel-based Irrigation in Bangladesh have come out from this comparative study.

Two field experiments were carried out in El-Bosaily farm in the Northern coast of Egypt
during 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 seasons to study the response of the faba bean (Vicia faba L.,)
Sakha 3 cultivar to five different sowing dates (1st of October, mid of October and 1st of November,
mid of November and 1st of December) and three applied irrigation levels 0.60, 0.80 and 1.00 of IR
which applied by drip irrigation system. Plant height, leaf area index, total plant dry weight, biological
and seed yields, seed carbohydrate and protein contents as well as water use efficiency were
determined.
The results were as follows:
Vegetative growth traits as well as biological and seed yield of faba bean values were decreased as
sowing date delayed beyond the 1st of November. Meanwhile application of 0.60 of (IR) irrigation
treatments led to decline vegetative growth traits as well as biological and seed yield. Nevertheless,
the 1.00 irrigation treatments gave the highest grain yield. The final results showed that the 0.60
irrigation level gave the highest water use efficiency (WUE). Increasing irrigation water above
0.60 led to decrease in values of water use efficiency. Meanwhile, the highest water use efficiency
was obtained from the third sowing date (1st November) followed by second sowing date (mid.
October) while the lowest WUE value was obtained by the fifth sowing date (1st December).
Finally, the highest value of protein and carbohydrate contents in the faba bean seeds were obtained
by the lowest irrigation level (0.60IR) combined with the third sowing date (1st November).

Water scarcity is a worldwide problem and the best solution is to make an efficient use of water in the agricultural sector. The use of deficit irrigation is a suitable method in water scarcity conditions. In this chapter, two optimization models are explained for surface deficit irrigation to maximize the net income and application efficiency and minimize the total costs. Therefore, it developed the production function of the crops and a model for simulation of advance phase in surface irrigation. The output of these models gives us the design variables of surface irrigation. Two case studies will be presented to show the result of application of the models for a given region of Iran. These studies validate the fact that deficit irrigation is an efficient method in water scarcity conditions. By: Dr. Kaveh Ostad-Ali-Askari

The study set out to explore the connection between water and energy productivity in irrigated agriculture and to sample the views of stakeholders as to the challenges and priorities for action.
The study methodology involved interviews of experts and practitioners across the irrigation sector coupled with a structured literature review to cross-confirm findings. Respondents were generous with their time and ideas. In addition to expressing strong support for and interest in the initiative they provided a wide array of relevant information and suggestions.
The general conclusion is that there is significant potential to increase water and energy productivity in irrigated agriculture through efficiency measures, the electrification of pumping and the adoption of solar power. Achieving this demands a coordinated RD&E program supported by alignment of water and energy policy at the highest level.

In order to optimize the usage of water in agriculture, it is necessary to increase the efficiency of irrigation systems, especially those of surface irrigation. One of the steps to be made to achieve this goal is the optimal design of surface irrigation. It this article the design variables of furrow irrigation, that includes length of furrow, inflow rate and irrigation time (time of cutoff), were calculated to minimize the irrigation costs, the objective function, and to obtain a maximum application efficiency. The objective function encompasses water, labor, head ditch and furrow digging (ditch constructions) costs. Labor cost is irrigation time's function and the latter is dependent on water advance period in the furrows. Therefore, it is necessary for the objective function to apply explicit and accurate equation in order to calculate time of advance. Because in none of the accurate methods for furrow irrigation design, such as zero-inertia modeling, the advance time is explicitly calculated, therefore in this research the equation obtained by Valiantzas, which he extracted from the results of zero-inertia modeling, was used. In the objective function in addition to the design variables the specifications of soil, furrow and net irrigation requirement also exist. Therefore, it is possible to calculate design variables and afterwards the irrigation efficiency for different soil types and plant types. In this article this task was performed with different soil types and in accordance with different requirements for irrigation and the results are presented in the tables.

The growth and productivity of some bread wheatcultivars(Triticum vulgare L) is affected by sowing date and irrigation requirements. Field experiment is conducted at Dokki Protected Agriculture Site, Giza Egypt during the winter season in 2010/11-2011/12. The treatments of the experiment composed of four wheat cultivars (Sakha 93, Sakha 94, Giza 168 and Gemiza 9) and three sowing dates 1 st , mid of November and 1 st of Decemberas well as four irrigation treatments (0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 of water requirements (WR). Plant growth parameters i.e. plant height, leaf Area Index (LAI), plant fresh weight, plant dry weight, number of days to 50% heading and number of days to 50% maturity and grain yield were determined beside water use efficiency. The obtained results showed that the 1.2 of water requirements gave the highest grain yield and vegetative growth while, the 0.6 of water requirements gave the highest water use efficiency; increasing irrigation water above 0.6 from water requirements led to decrease water use efficiency. Moreover, the highest yield was obtained by the second sowing date followed by the third sowing date. The lowest quantity of seasonal water consumption was recorded by the first sowing date while the second date gave the highest seasonal water consumption. Moreover, the results showed that Giza 168 cultivar occupied the first rank and gave the highest fresh and dry weight followed by Gemiza 9 cultivar. The lowest fresh and dry weights were produced by Sakha 93 cultivar. Finally, the highest value of protein contents in the wheat seeds was obtained by the lowest irrigation level combined with the second sowing date. While the highest carbohydrate contents were obtained by 120% WR for the both tested seasons.

Mineral quartz is a hard / rigid crystalline stone accessible in large quantities all over the world in a variety
of shapes. This mineral is a common element on the soil of earth  consisting  of more than 26 % of the earth layer  and is
usually  originate  at  the  earth’s  surface  with  other  elements  mostly  with  oxygen  thus  commonly  known  as  silicate  /
silicon dioxide (SiO2).  It  is largely composed of silicon  which  is known to be an  ideal  semi-conductor  of  electricity
because in silicon electrons are relatively  confined  closely  until some change in their environment causes them to flow
freely.  This  special / unique  characteristic of silicon  makes  it the most suitable element in  electronic  and photovoltaic
industry where it is used in many applications depending upon its purity level with respect to silicon.
The  world  is  blessed  with  large  deposits  of  Quartz  which  are  spread  from  USA  to  Brazil  and  India  to
Afghanistan in many shapes and varieties. These varieties of shapes are being used in so many ways depending upon the
composition  and  elemental  distribution.  Similarly,  Pakistan  is  also  blessed  with  reasonable  proven  mineral  quartz
deposits  of  around  175  million  metric  tons  but  unfortunately  it  is  not  being  used  as  per  its  chemical  composition  /
potential. The reason may be due to  the  lack of awareness  among local people that how much this mineral is important
viz-a-viz non-availability of proper extraction / conversion facilities require for the extraction of MGS from this mineral
quartz.  Due to  the  lack of  awareness  and  lack of extraction / conversion facilities in  Pakistan,  this  mineral  quartz  is
being used  as  refractory bricks, in glass and ceramic industries  and in  different types of  construction  works, while a
major part of it is exported to other countries of the world.
The  presence of  more than 95  % of silicon  dioxide  in  quartz  of Pakistan  certify  establishment of  extraction /
conversion facility  in  the country  which lead to  the extraction of  MGS never been done  so far  in the country.  If MGS
with silicon purity level of around 96% is achieved through this extraction process,  further purification processes can be
applied which is a step towards achieving Electronic Grade Silicon and Solar Grade Silicon. This will open a new era of
advancement  in  the  field  of  electronic  and  photovoltaic  industry  in  Pakistan  thus  strengthening  the  economy  of  the
developed country like Pakistan