DewPointe is a sustainable irrigation system that attracts moisture from the atmosphere with the hygroscopic properties of charcoal and turns that moisture into water for crops. It targets the lack of readily available water and encourages smallholder farmers to cultivate while keeping costs low.
The current dry spell in the Longido District of Tanzania has hindered many smallholder farmers from efficiently cultivating crops year round. With the limited water supply, the priority of expensive tap water is always drinking water and sustaining livestock. This unfortunately leads to agriculture being overlooked. I wanted to create a solution that would encourage crop production year round through a low cost, passive irrigation system. It was important to provide a solution that fits the needs and the lifestyle patterns of the Longido people while aiming to encourage food security and create revenue in crop yield while conserving water.
The Longido District falls within a climate with a high humidity index of about 80%. With the available moisture in the atmosphere, my project aims to harness that moisture and use it to water crops. The element that is responsible for this is charcoal for its hygroscopic properties. My testing has revealed that 2 kg of this treated charcoal can absorb 1L of water during a 10 hour period at 80% humidity. The charcoal pellets would be placed in a breathable bag to allow moisture to pass through. During the night, the charcoal will be exposed to humidity and the moisture will naturally attract to the charcoal. During the day, charcoal will be enclosed and sunlight will cause trapped moisture to evaporate and condense. The microgroove surface that water will condense on will direct dripping of water and target the crops roots for efficient water use. One system can sustain crops within a radius of 1m therefore, they would be carefully positioned in the field.
The Longido District falls within a climate with a high humidity index of about 80%. With the available moisture in the atmosphere, my project aims to harness that moisture and use it to water crops. The element that is responsible for this is charcoal for its hygroscopic properties. My testing has revealed that 2 kg of this treated charcoal can absorb 1L of water during a 10 hour period at 80% humidity. The charcoal pellets would be placed in a breathable bag to allow moisture to pass through. During the night, the charcoal will be exposed to humidity and the moisture will naturally attract to the charcoal. During the day, charcoal will be enclosed and sunlight will cause trapped moisture to evaporate and condense. The microgroove surface that water will condense on will direct dripping of water and target the crops roots for efficient water use. One system can sustain crops within a radius of 1m therefore, they would be carefully positioned in the field.
The existing industry focus on water-from-air is biased towards creating solutions that are relatively complicated and expensive drinking water systems. Drinking water usually requires a much larger yield and different levels of filtration which increase cost. Water-from-air for horticulture is an important niche which has been neglected. There is no need for purification. This system properly accommodates this certain climate and life pattern which is the reason for the low tech solution that is also environmentally friendly. All aspects of this design use found and recyclable materials while aiming to encourage food security. There are no mechanical components which lower the cost and it is a very easy to use system that requires little user interaction and maintenance. With the success of this system, farmers can now be encouraged to grow during the drier spells and have larger crop yields which in turn can lead to more food and income for the community.
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