PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL

AVOCADAVOCADOO

ApplicationApplication of the of the

Phytomonitoring Phytomonitoring techniques for techniques for

adjustment and adjustment and validation of validation of

irrigation schedulingirrigation scheduling

Phytech LTDPhytech LTD..20052005

PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL

Phytomonitoring is the Information and Decision Support System based on direct measurement of plant conditions

PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL

1 x RS-ATH-5R1 x RS-ATH-5R Air TemperatureAir Temperature

and Humidity Sensorand Humidity Sensor(-10 to 50 °C ; 0 to 100 %RH)(-10 to 50 °C ; 0 to 100 %RH)

1 x RS-ATH-5R1 x RS-ATH-5R Air TemperatureAir Temperature

and Humidity Sensorand Humidity Sensor(-10 to 50 °C ; 0 to 100 %RH)(-10 to 50 °C ; 0 to 100 %RH)

2 x RS-DE-1R 2 x RS-DE-1R DendrometerDendrometer

(0 to 10 mm stroke)(0 to 10 mm stroke)

2 x RS-DE-1R 2 x RS-DE-1R DendrometerDendrometer

(0 to 10 mm stroke)(0 to 10 mm stroke)

2 x RSD-SMS-2R Soil 2 x RSD-SMS-2R Soil Moisture SensorMoisture Sensor(0 to 50 vol. %)(0 to 50 vol. %)

ORORRS-TM-2R Twin RS-TM-2R Twin

TensiometerTensiometer(0 to 84 cbar)(0 to 84 cbar)

2 x RSD-SMS-2R Soil 2 x RSD-SMS-2R Soil Moisture SensorMoisture Sensor(0 to 50 vol. %)(0 to 50 vol. %)

ORORRS-TM-2R Twin RS-TM-2R Twin

TensiometerTensiometer(0 to 84 cbar)(0 to 84 cbar)

StationaryStationaryData ConcentratorData Concentrator

StationaryStationaryData ConcentratorData Concentrator

Recommended setup for Recommended setup for AvocadoAvocado

PhytoGraph™ PhytoGraph™ SoftwareSoftware

PhytoGraph™ PhytoGraph™ SoftwareSoftware

PortablePortableData ShuttleData Shuttle

PortablePortableData ShuttleData Shuttle

PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL

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4.0

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Tru

nk

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rela

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row

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Irrigation scheduling Irrigation scheduling based on the trunk daily contraction based on the trunk daily contraction

Trunk diameter diurnal curve reflects the appropriate variations of plant water content. Normally, trunk contracts at daytime due to water loss by transpiration and swells at night while replenishing water reserves.Amplitude of such variations is proportional to water deficit. Thus, the daily contraction amplitude (DCA) may be used as a criterion for scheduling irrigation.In the practical example, shown in the figure, the grower irrigated his plants when DCA exceeds ~200µm.

SOIL MOISTURE

WATERING

160 µm350 µm

200 µm

PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL

Continuous recording allows disclosing the intimate effects of plant water state and growth that may be interesting for keen growers.

Other resources of continuous Other resources of continuous monitoringmonitoring

The response of the blossomed avocado tree to irrigation, applied at severe khamsin, is shown in details in the right chart. Correct irrigation allowed to keep the pants safe and to recover their water state after khamsin.

TRUNK

VPDVPD

Soil moisture

PHYTOMONITORING™ in CROP GROWTH CONTROL

SummarySummary

• The recommended PhyTalk Decision-Support unit (DSU) includes the following sensors:

• 2 x Dendrometers (0-10 mm; 1-2 µm resolution)

• 1 x Soil moisture sensors

• Air Temperature and Humidity Sensor

•This DSU allows adjusting irrigation regime according to a preset level of the trunk diameter daily contraction (Adato’s method)

•Trunk diameter trend and diurnal fluctuations may be used for evaluation of environmental effects on plant water state and growth as well as for detecting plant water stress.