Sao Paulo, Brazil
June 20, 2022
This project is located in Sao Paulo, there is a 120-hectare orchard. While the area has a subtropical climate, it grapples with erratic rainfall: short, intense downpours in summer are followed by prolonged dry spells (often 3–4 months) where weekly evaporation rates soar to 80–100mm, driven by daytime temperatures of 30–35°C. For citrus trees, stable water is needed during critical stages such as flowering and fruit development. Drought can cause leaves to wither, and excessive watering after rain runoff may lead to root rot, thereby affecting yield and fruit quality.
Before partnering with GoldRainirrig, the orchard relied on flood irrigation: large pipes released water across entire rows, soaking the soil unevenly. This method wasted 30% of water to runoff and evaporation, and its imprecision meant some trees got too little water (producing small, pale fruit) while others drowned (leading to 15–20% fruit drop). Worse still, the system requires high-power water pumps to push water across the vast orchard, thereby reducing the farm’s profits.
GoldRainirrig’s solution centered on micro sprinkler with stake assembly kits. These micro sprinklers were mounted on low stakes, directing a gentle, targeted spray (1.5–2 meters in diameter) around each tree’s root zone and canopy. Unlike flood irrigation, the spray delivered water slowly, letting the soil absorb it fully; it also cooled the tree’s canopy slightly, mitigating heat stress during dry spells.
Farmers have noticed that the color of the citrus fruits has improved significantly and is no longer the patchy pale hue. As the trees received continuous water and their roots were not damaged, the amount of fruit drop decreased by 12%. The orchard has also reduced its water consumption by nearly 20%, saving over 500,000 cubic meters annually. At the same time, it has cut the same energy costs, thanks to the low water pressure requirements of the micro sprinkler system which enables the farm to use smaller and more efficient pumps.
In a region where climate variability is growing, the micro sprinklers turned unpredictability into control, ensuring consistent harvests and protecting the farm’s role in Sao Paulo’s vital citrus supply chain.
