From Irrigation to Intelligent Batch Fertigation (ElecSys Lab)
Most farmers already understand irrigation — supplying water to crops when nature doesn’t. Many now use fertigation, blending nutrients into that water to boost growth.
But traditional fertigation systems often:
- Waste nutrients due to leaks or over-application
- Struggle with inconsistent EC or pH levels
- Depend heavily on manual checks or fixed schedules
- Can’t easily respond to sunlight, crop stage, or moisture sensors
That’s where ElecSys Lab’s Batch Control System comes in —
to transform fertigation from an automated drip to a precision science.
Fertigation = Fertilization + Irrigation
The process of delivering fertilizers (nutrients) through irrigation water directly to the plant root zone.
- Feeds while watering — saves time and labour
- Delivers nutrients exactly where plants need them — the roots
- Minimizes waste — no runoff or over-fertilizing
- Improves uptake — roots absorb dissolved nutrients faster
- Prepare nutrient mix in advance
- Verify EC, pH, temperature before delivery
- Deliver in controlled volumes to each zone
- Fertigation = drip IV
- Batch irrigation = prepared meal
Fertigation defines what to deliver.
Batch irrigation defines how, when, and to whom.
- Water fill + nutrient dosing in mixing tank
- EC, pH, and temperature checked
- Delivery triggered via solar/moisture/timer
- Sent to zones one by one
- Logs data and tunes future batches
- Sensor-triggered delivery (solar, timer, moisture)
- EC/pH-validated batches
- Sequential zone delivery (FSM logic)
- Smart logging for future optimization
| Traditional Fertigation |
Batch Irrigation |
ElecSys Batch Fertigation |
| Complex injectors |
Manual, basic |
Combines both worlds |
| Low recipe control |
Fixed output |
Solar/timer/sensor triggers |
| Prone to overdosing |
Non-responsive |
Feedback-based automation |
| Hard to scale |
Limited zones |
Modular, scalable |
| Concept |
BATCH |
ZONE |
| Definition |
One full nutrient prep cycle |
A physical irrigation section |
| Focus |
Mixing and validation |
Delivery |
| Timing |
Happens before irrigation |
Happens after batch ready |
| Method |
Fill, dose, mix, check |
Valve/timer-controlled |
| Reuse |
One batch → many zones |
Each gets a portion |
- Physical crop areas (beds, rows, blocks)
- Each has a dedicated valve/pump
- Irrigated one-by-one, not simultaneously
- Batch Preparation → Water fill, dose nutrients, EC/pH/temp check
- Trigger Wait → Solar/timer/manual
- Sequential Delivery → Zone 1 → Zone 2 → …
- Loop → Start next batch after full delivery
The ElecSys Lab Batch Fertigation system is designed for maximum precision, safety, and flexibility across a wide range of substrate-based cultivation setups.
- EC and pH Sensors – Installed in the mixing tank to monitor and validate every batch
- Solenoid Valves – Zone-specific valves for precise, sequential nutrient delivery
- 10.2" Touchscreen HMI – Simple interface for full system configuration and manual overrides
- Float Level Sensors – Multiple float sensors monitor water, nutrient, and tank levels to prevent dosing failures or pump damage
- Optional Solar Radiation Sensor – Triggers batch preparation and irrigation based on cumulative light energy
- Remote Monitoring & Data Logging – Access live data, review historical performance, and receive alerts from anywhere
Operators can:
- Manually trigger or skip irrigation events
- Adjust settings directly from the HMI panel
- View real-time status of sensors and valves
- Complete Nutrient Care – EC/CF + pH + nutrient temperature regulation across 6+ irrigation zones
- Time and Solar-Based Triggers – Configurable irrigation windows using solar radiation counters or time schedules
- Built-In Solar Trigger Module – Eliminates need for separate solar controllers
- Multi-Timezone EC/pH Control – Different nutrient targets based on time of day
- Fallback/Guard Timer – Ensures delivery if solar sensor fails or is obstructed
- Voice Prompts for Critical Events – Hands-free alerts and guided troubleshooting
- Sensor Cable Monitoring – Detects disconnection or failure of any connected sensor
- Automatic Temperature Compensation – Accurate EC/pH readings regardless of ambient conditions
- Integrated Climate Monitoring – Onboard temp, humidity, and solar readings
- Touchscreen Simplicity – Full control without cryptic codes or complex navigation
- Liquid Level Auto-Shutdown – Prevents damage to pumps and highlights refill or leakage issues
- Data Visualization – Hourly and daily trend charts for system insights
- Remote Access & Alerts – Browser/mobile access with free alerts for 1 year ($25/month thereafter)
- Local Storage & USB Export – Over 5 years of onboard data, downloadable in Excel format
- Third-Party Integration – Open interface for iHydro and other automation systems
- NZ Design and Support – 24×7 assistance from the original developers
- Modular Expansion – Add up to 7 additional batch units at ~60% per-unit cost
- Warranty – 12 months on probes, 2 years on full system
ElecSys Lab’s Batch Fertigation system transforms fertigation into a data-driven, crop-responsive process — engineered for everyday farming and commercial scalability.