SOIL MOISTURE MANAGEMENT
Soil Profile Probe
600 - 800 mm
Installed along with a Data Logger. Automatically updates software every three hours. Probe readings are taken at 30-minute intervals.
Data Logger
2G & 3G
Uses a cellular connection to keep probe readings up-to-date. Solar and battery options are available. These loggers are also traceable via GPS.
Wireless RF
600 - 800 mm
Communicates via RF with a hand-held logger. This is an ideal solution for areas with poor cellular connectivity but requires manual downloading.
Software
How many probes do you need? Here are some guidelines:
Soil uniformity
Blocks/areas that have uniform soils need fewer probes per hectare than those with diverse soil types. Different soil types have various water-holding capacities, and their management will differ.
Crop
Different crop types, cultivars and age of crops have other water demands. Therefore, one probe to manage all the variables is not recommended.
Aspect & Slope
The aspect of orchids (direction of rows) affect water consumption. If there is a difference of aspect from one block to the next, more probes may be considered. Slope also affects water movement. We recommend that two probes be used on steep slopes, one to monitor the top and the other the bottom. This configuration prevents the top from running too dry and the bottom too wet.
Level of Management
High-value crops require a high management level. Your irrigation system determines the flexibility of control. Ultra-low-flow drip fertigation provides increased flexibility, enabling single blocks to be irrigated at a time. It is best to have moisture data from as many blocks as possible to make full use of the system’s flexibility. Pivots, on the other hand, provide less flexibility. It is unnecessary to have many probes in a system that can only irrigate at set cycle and standing times.