Arable, vegetable and fruit producers will now be able to more accurately manage water levels in their crops thanks to two new sensors from Sencrop.
The new Soilcrop sensor takes real-time measurements of soil moisture and temperature at depths of up to 60cm. This data will enable producers to trigger-irrigation at the right time, based on conditions, and turn it off when soil moisture reaches the correct levels.
It can also be used to identify the most suitable time for weather-dependent field work, including sowing and fertiliser applications.
“Soilcrop takes measurements every 15 minutes at depths of 10cm, 20cm, 40cm and 60cm, giving an accurate picture of soil moisture content and temperature throughout the profile,” notes Sencrop’s Mark Herriman.
“If used in conjunction with Raincrop, a sensor that measures rain, temperature and air humidity, the app can show in a user-friendly graph the forecast soil moisture, using real-time data and forecasts. Producers can therefore be even more precise when it comes to crop management decisions.”
Fruit and wine producers have particular challenges with frost, so the new Thermocrop offers an entry-level solution to predict frost damage up to four days in advance.
It measures air temperature and humidity every five minutes and is integrated into Sencrop’s weather management software to create personalised frost alerts within the app.
“Accurately anticipating the risk of frost is essential if you are to trigger your frost control measures at the right time, thereby protecting your crops while keeping costs to a minimum,” he explains.
