Journal of Agricultural Machinery
with the collaboration of Iranian Society of Mechanical Engineers (ISME)

Fabrication and Evaluation of a Photovoltaic System with a Single-Axis Solar Tracker for Automatic Irrigation

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article- En

Authors

H. Masoudi 1, 2
H. Sayyadi 1
S. M. Safieddin Ardebili 1

1 Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jam.2026.94888.1420
Abstract
Fossil fuel limitations and environmental concerns have increased interest in renewable energy sources like solar power for agricultural applications. This study presents the development and evaluation of a photovoltaic water pumping system equipped with a single-axis solar tracker, designed to automate irrigation in gardens and fields lacking access to the electrical grid. The system integrates solar energy absorption and storage, a solar tracker, and automatic irrigation units. Solar energy captured by the panel is transferred to a battery via a charge controller, then converted through a voltage converter and motor driver to operate the water pump. Experimental results indicate that the system’s energy intake peaks between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Under sunny conditions with an active tracker, the system stored 53.58 watts in the battery, compared to 43.4 watts with an inactive tracker, and 35.3 watts during cloudy weather. The study also found that the orientation of the solar panel relative to the sun and the use of the solar tracker significantly influenced energy collection, with statistical significance at the 5% level. Additionally, the type of soil moisture sensor impacted system performance, with a disturbance matrix demonstrating 100% irrigation accuracy. Overall, the solar tracker proved effective in sunny conditions, enhancing energy collection and system efficiency. The findings support the adoption of such systems for automatic irrigation, especially in remote or off-grid locations, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The integration of tracking technology and optimised sensor use can significantly improve the reliability and efficiency of solar-powered irrigation systems, making them a viable solution for modern agriculture.

Keywords

Arduino
Electrical motor
Soil moisture sensor
Solar energy
Water pump
Subjects

Authors retain the copyright. This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)

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Journal of Agricultural Machinery

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 20 May 2026

  • Receive Date 11 August 2025
  • Revise Date 21 February 2026
  • Accept Date 16 March 2026
  • First Publish Date 20 May 2026

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