Methods of using solar energy to improve agricultural production

Solar energy applications help farmers in agriculture in several ways, saving them costs and effort, and helping them to be environmentally friendly.

Solar energy in agriculture

Agriculture requires intensive energy due to agricultural activities such as pumping water for irrigation, cooling, drying agricultural products, and others. Dependence on traditional energy sources exacerbates the risk of climate change, which will harm agriculture and farmers as well, so they must rely on renewable energy sources, The most widespread of these sources in agriculture is solar energy, as it has several applications in improving agricultural production and providing energy.

Why should agriculture move towards solar energy?

Farmers and agriculture face several energy issues, including:

• High diesel and petrol costs, in addition to electricity.
• Climate changes caused by fossil fuel consumption, and their negative impact on agriculture.
• Air pollution from burning fossil fuels or water pollution from fertilizers used in crop production.

Farmers can reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and turn towards renewable energy such as solar power or wind turbines, and the use of LED lighting and sustainable farming techniques such as organic farming.

Benefits of using solar energy in agriculture

Benefits to agriculture and farmers include:

• Reducing energy costs on farms.
• Low maintenance rate and level because there are no moving parts in the solar panels.
• Save water because photovoltaic panels' shade can lower crops' and animals' need for water, particularly in desert areas.
• Possible extension or modification of growing seasons by altering the temperature, shading, and water absorption of the soil around the panels.
• Increasing farmers' ability to grow high-value, shade-tolerant crops.
• An opportunity to market crops to sustainability-conscious consumers.
• Safer on the soil, as it does not pollute it, or add toxic elements to it.
• Improving soil health, for example, grazing sheep under solar panels increases soil uptake of organic carbon.
• Improved soil health leads to better yields.
• Growing different types of shade-tolerant crops, while extending growing seasons and reducing water requirements.

Solar energy applications in improving agricultural production and energy saving

There are various ways that solar energy can be applied to agriculture:

Irrigation

Irrigation based on solar energy is one of its most important applications in improving agricultural production, as it can operate electric irrigation pumps to pump water from reservoirs to fields.

Solar irrigation can be applied to all farmers because it is affordable compared to other energy options such as diesel fuel, which may be difficult to secure in some rural areas.

Tillage

The plow is one of the most used mechanisms in agriculture, and it may be the most important one, as plowing the land consumes large amounts of fuel, but it can be replaced by relying on solar energy to till the land.

Plastic houses

Some plants grow inside greenhouses under specific environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. To secure these factors, farmers operate fans, heaters, and other technologies that require electrical energy that can be obtained from solar energy.

Luminance

Special solar panels can be installed to illuminate the fields at night, in addition to lighting the agricultural house.

Milking cattle

Today, there are solar milking machines, that reduce milking time without hassle, are inexpensive, and can be operated by one person. In total, this machine can milk 20 to 30 cows in an hour.

Territory protection

Many farmers surround their fields with electric fences, and with solar energy, these fences can be powered using them. An electric fence delivers a short but intense shock when humans or animals touch it, deterring them from approaching but ensuring that no loss of life occurs.

Tractors

The tractor is one of the most important machinery used in agriculture. It is made to offer strong tractive effort at low speeds for towing a trailer or agricultural equipment like a plow. The tractor can now be powered by solar energy.

Pesticide sprayer

Huge pumps for spraying pesticides run on gasoline, but today it is possible to switch to solar-powered sprayers, thus reducing pollution.

Insect traps

Solar insect traps use the latest in ultraviolet light technology, emit specific wavelength frequencies that attract flying insects, and turn them on and off automatically. This feature makes it possible to capture pests and insects that harm the crop and then drop those insects or pests into a lethal solution under the light.

Desiccants

Some crops need to be dried to increase their shelf life, such as wheat and rice. They usually dry under the sun, but in cold regions, special dryers are required. The energy needed to operate them can be generated from solar energy.

Cooling systems

Many crops require refrigeration after harvesting until they can be transported and sold. Solar energy will provide the electricity needed to operate these cooling systems.