Application of soil moisture sensor greenhouse

Background:

When using a soil moisture sensor greenhouse, growers typically determine the set point at which irrigation begins. Many growers choose it empirically. However, research shows that in a typical peat-based growing medium, 5% to 10% is very dry and 40% is close to container capacity. Most crops begin to show signs of drought when moisture levels fall below 20% to 25%. However, hibiscus is very sensitive to moisture levels. This presents a great opportunity to use irrigation to control height.

Automating irrigation can save time and labor in greenhouses. If you’re considering automating your irrigation, a moisture sensor might be an option to help you decide when to water. Humidity sensors have been around for a while, but the technology has improved a lot in the last 10 to 15 years.

What can a humidity sensor do for me?

Moisture sensors continuously monitor water levels in the root zone of plants, allowing your irrigation system to respond to small changes in substrate moisture. Plant water use varies as plant growth and environmental conditions change. The timers that are often used for automatic irrigation do not respond to changes in light, temperature or relative humidity, so they cannot deliver exactly the amount of water the crop needs. Watering the plants without over- or under-watering is a challenge when using a timer; however, this is not an issue with the humidity sensor, as irrigation is automatically triggered when the water level in the pot drops below a certain threshold.

One of the biggest advantages of using moisture sensors over other irrigation technologies is that they give you more control over your irrigation. You can decide how dry the substrate is depending on what suits your crop and your preferences. You can also specify how long the irrigation system will be on after the measured moisture content in the substrate reaches this set point. Using this method has the potential to use less water than traditional irrigation techniques.

How do I integrate the sensor into my greenhouse?

Integrating the sensors into the greenhouse may be the trickiest step. But fortunately, it’s getting easier. Hopefully it will continue to get easier in the future. A common concern among growers is the number of sensors required. There is no easy answer to this question. But we’ve had success growing crops in commercial nurseries. We can use a sensor to trigger irrigation.The size of individual irrigation zones depends on the microclimate differences across the greenhouse.

For example, plants near a cooling pad with cool, humid air will need less water than plants near an exhaust fan. One thing you might want to avoid, though, is watering multiple plants with a single sensor. It may be possible, but it will be difficult. Because plant species grow at different rates, water consumption varies greatly. We can take soil moisture sensors and greenhouses can be used very well in greenhouse environments.