Smart irrigation system facilitates blueberry farming in C China's Hubei

Photo shows pots of blueberries in a greenhouse at the Hubei Guoqiao Facility Blueberry Base in Xiangyanghu town, Xian'an district, Xianning city, central China's Hubei Province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Pei)

The harvest of 130,000 pots of blueberries is drawing to an end at the Hubei Guoqiao Facility Blueberry Base in Xiangyanghu town, Xian'an district, Xianning city, central China's Hubei Province, bringing total output to 150,000 kilograms.

"We've built smart greenhouses spanning 300 mu (20 hectares), where a smart integrated water-and-fertilizer system keeps the entire farm running efficiently," said Chen Guoqing, head of the base.

The system delivers roughly 260 tonnes of water daily through precision drip irrigation, cutting water consumption by 70 percent and fertilizer use by 50 percent compared with conventional methods — while also reducing reliance on manual labor. A manager can now monitor and control water and fertilizer management across the base with just a few taps on a smartphone.

Photo shows pots of blueberries in a greenhouse at the Hubei Guoqiao Facility Blueberry Base in Xiangyanghu town, Xian'an district, Xianning city, central China's Hubei Province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Pei)

Photo shows a smart water-and-fertilizer integration system for blueberries in a greenhouse at the Hubei Guoqiao Facility Blueberry Base in Xiangyanghu town, Xian'an district, Xianning city, central China's Hubei Province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Pei)

Photo shows pots of blueberries in a greenhouse at the Hubei Guoqiao Facility Blueberry Base in Xiangyanghu town, Xian'an district, Xianning city, central China's Hubei Province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Pei)

Photo shows smart water-and-fertilizer integration equipment for blueberries in a greenhouse at the Hubei Guoqiao Facility Blueberry Base in Xiangyanghu town, Xian'an district, Xianning city, central China's Hubei Province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Pei)