Implementation of Wireless Sensor Networks for Irrigation Control in Three Container Nurseries

Abstract

<jats:p>Water quality and quantity are increasingly important concerns for agricultural producers and have been recognized by governmental and nongovernmental agencies as focus areas for future regulatory efforts. In horticultural systems, and especially container production of ornamentals, irrigation management is challenging. This is primarily due to the limited volume of water available to container-grown plants after an irrigation event and the resultant need to frequently irrigate to maintain adequate soil moisture levels without causing excessive leaching. To prevent moisture stress, irrigation of container plants is often excessive, resulting in leaching and runoff of water and nutrients applied to the container substrate. For this reason, improving the application efficiency of irrigation is necessary and critical to the long-term sustainability of the commercial nursery industry. The use of soil moisture sensing technology is one method of increasing irrigation efficiency, with the on-farm studies described in this article focusing on the use of capacitance-based soil moisture sensors to both monitor and control irrigation events. Since on-farm testing of these wireless sensor networks (WSNs) to monitor and control irrigation scheduling began in 2010, WSNs have been deployed in a diverse assortment of commercial horticulture operations. In deploying these WSNs, a variety of challenges and successes have been observed. Overcoming specific challenges has fostered improved software and hardware development as well as improved grower confidence in WSNs. Additionally, growers are using WSNs in a variety of ways to fit specific needs, resulting in multiple commercial applications. Some growers use WSNs as fully functional irrigation controllers. Other growers use components of WSNs, specifically the web-based graphical user interface (GUI), to monitor grower-controlled irrigation schedules.</jats:p>

Automated Irrigation Control for Improved Growth and Quality of Gardenia jasminoides ‘Radicans’ and ‘August Beauty’

“…Irrigation volume can be reduced using q threshold control while still producing salable plants for a variety of ornamental crops including Hibiscus acetosella 'Panama Red' (Bayer et al, 2013), Gaura lindheimeri 'Siskiyou Pink' (Burnett and van Iersel, 2008), Hydrangea macrophylla 'Mini Penny' (van Iersel et al, 2009), and Lantana camara (Bayer et al, 2014). To date sensor-controlled automated irrigation has largely been used in research; however, wireless sensor networks capable of controlling irrigation are being developed for practical implementation in commercial production (Kohanbash et al, 2013) and have been trialed in nurseries (Belayneh et al, 2013;Chappell et al, 2013b).…”

“…Management of irrigation water can also be beneficial for reducing the spread of soilborne pathogens. Losses resulting from soilborne pathogens can be 30% for problem crops such as dwarf gardenias (Gardenia jasminoides 'Radicans' and 'MADGA 1'), which are high-value yet problematic crops for many growers (Chappell et al, 2013b). Phytophthora cinnamomi was among the most prevalent pathogens in Gardenia jasminoides production at a commercial nursery in Georgia (Chappell et al, unpublished results).…”

“…Phytophthora cinnamomi was among the most prevalent pathogens in Gardenia jasminoides production at a commercial nursery in Georgia (Chappell et al, unpublished results). Control of q has been shown to reduce pathogen pressure and disease incidence not only limiting losses, but also reducing the need for pesticide applications (Chappell et al, 2013b). Economic analysis of wireless sensor network-controlled irrigation and standard nursery irrigation practices in a commercial nursery in Georgia found shortened production time, 50% reduction in loss resulting from disease, and reduced fertilizer and fungicide applications, which resulted in a 20.6% increase in profits .…”

“…Comparing the growth of Gardenia jasminoides 'August Beauty' and 'Radicans' grown at various q thresholds will provide further information about how irrigation can be applied more efficiently without negatively impacting plant quality. On-farm trials have shown that sensor-controlled irrigation can prevent root disease problems in Gardenia jasminoides and shorten the production cycle (Chappell et al, 2013b). However, there has been no research to determine the optimal q threshold for Gardenia jasminoides.…”

Social and Economic Aspects of Water Use in Specialty Crop Production in the USA: A Review

“…Water savings alone were not adequate to encourage investment in sensor networks; growers changed practice only when there was a financial incentive from reduced production time, lower plant losses, or reduced chemical inputs. Changes in practice (i.e., sensor network for irrigation control) were often applied to additional areas under production after the technology was proven effective, accurate, and easy to use and maintain [49][50][51]. Reduction in labor requirements and pumping costs were appreciable for sensor network applications in containerized pot-in-pot production system [52].…”