High-Tech Crop Monitors

High-Tech Crop Monitors CROPS Miscellaneous “We’re on the cutting edge of irrigation management using high-tech sensors attached to plants that measure water stress in growing crops ” says Amit Shiloni of Phytech “Our stem diameter sensors are being used on corn soybeans cotton milo dry beans and industrial hemp ” The sensor is attached to the plant stalk It measures water moving through the plant by detecting microscopic changes in the stalk diameter The amount of shrinkage throughout the day correlates to the actual stress level of the plant “The data we collect from those sensors is transmitted through our communications systems to our servers then it’s analyzed using crop specific algorithms ” Shiloni says “Plant status is shown in a color coding index with red representing high stress and green normal This information is sent to an app on a grower’s smartphone where he can analyze it to determine when and how much irrigation is needed to optimize production ” Phytech devices have been used for the last 3 years in Texas Nebraska and Kansas Shiloni says the sensors greatly aided irrigation management and resulted in fewer days of growing season stress helping producers avoid over-watering and saving on irrigation costs Shiloni says the company already has more than 50 000 sensors being used by customers in California and the Midwest They also have sensors for fruit trees and vines “This is the most reliable and robust way to manage irrigation needs because it measures plant or tree conditions in ‘real time’ taking into consideration all the different field conditions that can affect the growing plant’s water needs It’s more precise than depending only on soil moisture or weather conditions ” Shiloni adds Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Phytech 1141 E Batavia CT Tulare Cal. 93274 ph 308 999-7408; www phytech com

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