AquaTag Sensor Helping Turkish Farmers to Save Water
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Technology
Wageningen University developed an irrigation strategy for Turkish vegetable growers with small, soil bound crops. The farmers used the new AquaTag soil moisture sensor
Using soil moisture sensors to control irrigation, up to 50 percent of the water used can be saved directly, and indirectly fertilizer use as well.
The international research programme Farm level optimal water management assistant for irrigation under deficit (Flow-Aid), coordinated by Wageningen University from 2006 till 2009, showed that this is possible, while still keeping the yield and quality at a good level.
Especially in (semi) arid areas horticulture can benefit. Sensors are relatively expensive, and measure only locally, while the moisture content can vary greatly within a valve section.
Simple sensor for small-scale farmers
The Aquatag is a new, patented concept of a contactless soil moisture and EC meter, originally developed for Dutch container plants.
The AquaTag is inexpensive and can be applied in large numbers to more accurately determine the average moisture content of a valve section.
In this project, Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture developed an irrigation strategy for the horticulture sector in Turkey with small, soil-bound crops.
The aim was to keep the technology accessible and ultimately to make it available worldwide for growers, to whom saving water, fertilizers and energy is of major importance.
Source: Dutch Water Sector
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