Gain more control over irrigation with sensors

The aim of the trial was to achieve more consistent and slightly drier growing conditions in a sensitive crop such as Choisya. The objective was to produce a somewhat stronger and more resilient plant. This is easier said than done in practice. To provide additional support, we started using sensors from Yookr. 

The trial demonstrated how substrates, irrigation, drainage and growing conditions continuously interact. After irrigation, we observed that water remained on the ground cover for a relatively long period, resulting in some pooling. This contributed to increasing variations in moisture levels between pots. Water uptake also proved to be an additional point of attention when the growing medium was drier. To reduce pooling, we introduced new pots that sit slightly higher above the ground.

Looking back, we found that it is better to start using sensors in a relatively straightforward crop and build up experience from there. Nevertheless, the trial also showed that, with the right measurements and interpretation, sensors can provide valuable support.

The sensors also provided valuable insights during extreme conditions. Bram van Bommel, Senior Area Sales Manager, highlights one notable observation:

“During a period when temperatures reached 40°C and overhead irrigation was applied every hour, the substrate temperature data showed that the temperature peak was reduced.”

For Chiel Holtermans, Working Foreman Tree Nursery at EuroTree, learning how to use and interpret the data is particularly important:

“It has been an educational trial, but we still have a long way to go. We see a future for sensors once we get a better grip on how to use them. Sensors are not a solution in themselves, but they do provide greater insight and support when making decisions, particularly in challenging crops.”

The aim is not to base decisions on every individual sensor, but to use enough measuring points to create a representative picture of the crop. In this way, sensor data can increasingly be translated into information that growers can actually use.For BVB Substrates, this is also where the value of practical trials like this lies: working together with growers to investigate, learn and adjust. Rather than looking at the growing medium in isolation, we consider the entire growing system and the decisions made within it.

The trial will therefore continue next season with a more straightforward crop. Step by step, EuroTree, Yookr and BVB Substrates are working towards a practical application of sensor data that can support growers in their irrigation management.