Solar energy powered irrigation of agricultural lands near stream beds: The Diyarbakır Silvan district example

In this study, the technical and economic feasibility of a solar-powered snail pump system was investigated as a sustainable solution to the high costs and environmental issues caused by dependence on fossil fuels and grid electricity in agricultural irrigation. The research was conducted on a 20-decare corn field located by a stream in the Silvan district of Diyarbakır province. In this context, an off-grid drip irrigation system was established, consisting of 3.6 kWp monocrystalline photovoltaic panels and a 2 HP DC snail pump, and its performance was compared with a control group using a conventional electric pump. According to the findings, the operating cost of the solar-powered system was zero (0.00 TL/da), whereas the control group incurred an energy cost of 150.00 TL per decare. The corn yield in the parcels irrigated with the solar-powered system (480 kg/da) was higher compared to the control group (440 kg/da). Moreover, the Water Use Efficiency (WUE) value was also higher in the solar-powered system (1.50 kg/m³). As a result, this thesis has demonstrated that solar-powered snail pump systems are a sustainable and viable irrigation alternative in terms of both agricultural productivity and economic/environmental benefits, particularly in regions like Silvan with high solar potential.