Review: Sensors for the improvement of irrigation efficiency in nurseries

Authors

  • Nkosinathi D Kaptein 1. Institute for Commercial Forestry Research, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; 2. Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum Research Unit, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
  • Marnie E Light 1. Institute for Commercial Forestry Research, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; 2. Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
  • Michael J Savage Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum Research Unit, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/wsa/2019.v45.i3.6750

Keywords:

automation, porous substrates, seedlings, small-volume container, timer system

Abstract

Traditional timer-based systems for irrigation management, which are more commonly used in commercial nurseries in South Africa, are not ideal as they may not irrigate seedlings efficiently. A sensor-based irrigation system is presented as an alternative, as this can provide several benefits to nurseries and nursery-grown seedlings. Small-sized soil water sensors that could fit in small-volume nursery containers (25 to 100 mL), and could be integrated into an automated irrigation system, are reviewed. Several experiments have been conducted internationally to measure soil water status of small-volume containers in soilless substrates, and a large body of knowledge is now available. In this review, we describe the principles of several currently commercially available sensors that can be adapted to this purpose, giving advantages and disadvantages of each type. We conclude that a sensor-based irrigation system has great potential to address the challenges associated with irrigation scheduling, while improving water usage in most nurseries.

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Published

2019-07-31

Issue

Vol. 45 No. 3 July (2019): Water SA

Section

Review

License

Creative Commons License

The content of this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence.  Users are permitted to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal under the terms of this Licence, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author, provided the source is attributed. Copyright is retained by the authors.

How to Cite

Kaptein, N.D., Light, M.E. and Savage, M.J. (2019) “Review: Sensors for the improvement of irrigation efficiency in nurseries”, Water SA, 45(3 July). doi:10.17159/wsa/2019.v45.i3.6750.