ISHS Acta Horticulturae 797: International Workshop on Greenhouse Environmental Control and Crop Production in Semi-Arid Regions
DEVELOPMENT OF AN AUTOMATED IRRIGATION SYSTEM USING WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY AND ROOT ZONE ENVIRONMENT SENSORS |
| Authors: | D. Feliciano Cayanan, M. Dixon, Y. Zheng |
| Keywords: | automation, capacitance sensors, dielectric, ECH2O-TE, FDR, soil moisture, volumetric water content |
| Abstract:
Irrigation management is one of the most important aspects in producing a successful crop. Wireless environment sensors and automated irrigation technology are essential tools for efficiently and strategically optimizing modern greenhouse irrigation. Despite this critical nature, there is currently no reliable, plant-based automated irrigation system that utilizes wireless technology and can provide an optimally balance root zone moisture content in greenhouse or nursery crop production systems. In this paper we present a conceptual design of an automated irrigation system and some preliminary testing results. At the University of Guelph, we have developed a proto-type automated irrigation system using wireless sensor modules and in situ root zone soil moisture capacitance sensors, EC and temperature sensors. The wireless sensor module was also developed by us in this project. The wireless sensors were deployed throughout the greenhouse and the root zone data was transmitted to a computer control system. The data was logged and analyzed to precisely determine if an irrigation event was required. In addition, real-time graphs of the substrate water content, EC and temperature are generated along with excel spread sheets of the data and errors logged, which were conveniently accessible. | |
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