In recent years, irrigation at Idromeccanica Lucchini has undergone a true evolution. A virtuous path that has led Lucchini to expand its scope, introducing innovative, high value-added solutions: automation, fertigation, advanced water management, and – as always – a holistic, tailor-made agronomic approach built around the real needs of each customer.
Irrigating in a greenhouse does not simply mean “applying water.” It means, above all, making decisions. Doing it correctly can have a decisive impact on crop productivity, quality, and sustainability.
For this reason, at Idromeccanica Lucchini, irrigation is addressed as a structured process, starting from technical design and extending all the way to agronomic decision support. This approach aims to understand the true water requirements of plants, avoiding waste and crop stress.
Proper design: numbers come first
The first step is always system design. Nothing is left to chance.
Today, dedicated calculation software makes it possible to:
- determine the coefficient of uniformity
- verify water distribution
- simulate the real behavior of the system based on the layout and type of sprinklers
These tools allow for the design of truly efficient systems, in which every plant receives the correct amount of water, without deficit or excess zones.
Flow rate and irrigation time: how much and how long to irrigate
Once the distribution is defined, we move on to calculate the flow rate, which is the water flow rate per square meter.
This is where method really makes the difference. By knowing the flow rate, cross-referencing uniformity data, and considering the actual irrigated surface, it becomes possible to accurately determine the real operating minutes of the system.
No more “gut-feeling” irrigation or habits passed down over time, but concrete data that answers a key question:
do we really need to irrigate for two hours, or is much less time sufficient?
This method optimizes consumption, energy and plant health, arriving at conscious water management.
DSS: decision support that guides irrigation
The second step is even more advanced: the use of DSS – Decision Support Systems.
DSS are systems developed by agricultural consulting companies that:
- Analyze crop-specific data
- take into account the phenological stages
- Provide guidance on when and how much to irrigate
In particular, they find great application in above-ground crops, where irrigation is not only about water, but also:
- pH
- conductivity
- nutrients
- environmental parameters
DSS do not decide instead of the farmer, but support the decision-making process, making it more accurate, faster and based on real data.
A look into the future: a data-driven horizon
To date, DSS is still an evolving field for Idromeccanica Lucchini, but the direction is clear. The future of irrigation is data-driven. And we want to be part of it.
A horizon in which plant design, automation and agronomic support talk to each other, mutually and simultaneously, transforming data into concrete operational choices.
It is a desirable path, one that Lucchini wants to chart with passion and ambition, continuing to build ever more advanced skills and solutions. For our stakeholders and the entire planet, the only common home we have.
Because watering well today means better decisions tomorrow.
