We use a number of different sensors to directly measure variables both in the rooting environment (such as soil moisture, temperature and electrical conductivity -- i.e. nutrient concentration) and also from the aerial environment (e.g. sunlight, air temperature, relative humidity and windspeed).
The plant integrates these variables on a continuous basis to limit water loss through evaporation. Of course water loss is a natural consequence of photosynthesis, but when water is limiting, the stomata in the leaf close to reduce this water loss to a minimum. |
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This of course then limits the potential growth of plants, which is why we irrigate plants on a regular basis -- to maximize their potential growth. The problem for us, of course, is knowing when to water. In fact, we know from our initial data that we water too much (we currently estimate that to be between 5 and 20 times actual plant water requirements) -- but our problem is to know when, and how much water to apply.
This the data that we get from these sensor networks. By monitoring the plant system in real-time, we can then more precisely apply small volumes of irrigation water when the plant needs it. |
