Irrigation & Drainage Systems Engineering

Roberts B

Publications

• Research Article
  An Automated System for Irrigation Control in Containerized Ornamental Crop Production
  Author(s): Roberts B, Schnipke D and van Iersel MRoberts B, Schnipke D and van Iersel M
  
  Building on existing technology that utilizes capacitance sensors and low-cost microcontrollers, we designed, assembled and tested a self-contained irrigation system for controlling substrate volumetric moisture content in container-grown ornamental plants. In the prototype system described here, compatible software is embedded within the microcontroller, real-time measurements appear on a liquid-crystal display screen, and data are stored on a secure digital card, thereby allowing irrigation threshold settings to be changed without the need for reprogramming the microcontroller. The system components are readily available and affordably priced, making the unit a useful management option for improving irrigation scheduling for growers that do not wish to invest in more costly wireless network systems. In evaluation trials using 5-week-old containerized zinnia seedlings, the automated .. Read More»
  DOI: 10.4172/2168-9768.1000215

  Abstract PDF