Internet Software & Data Management

  • We provide web based software solutions, we manage your data but you own it.
  • You have control of your data and can export it at any time.
  • The monitoring system can be as simple or more involved if like. What do you want to measure and manage?
  • Sensors are combined onto the same software platform, allowing for easy internet access to all monitoring sites
  • Software is easy to use and the data can be accessed from any device.
Software Examples:
Soil Moisture Probe Data - what's it really telling me....?

  • Below are screen captures of soil moisture data are from various brands of soil moisture probes.
  • This information is an example only and an indication of the type of data that can be generated from a soil moisture sensor
  • This data should not be used as a direct reference to other individual sites.
  • The data displayed below is technical interpretation of the sensor data generated from that individual site
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Daily Crop Water Use
Example Data - Daily Crop Water Use
  • This data is a soil moisture sum graph
  • The graph is generated from 96 data points/day (automated logger readings of 4 X readings/hr X 24hrs)
  • The sum graph displays a total of the individual sensors positioned within the soil profile at individual depths                   eg: 20/30/40/60/80cm
  • The graph shows daily crop water use ('stepping effect') from a soil moisture probe - plant 'drinking effect'
  • The actual 'step' size will vary - proportional to daily water use of the plant, which is influenced by many factors.
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Data Curves & Trend Lines
Example Data - Data Curves & Trend Lines
  • The rate of 'stepping' or change is reflected in the different shapes of the data curve.
  • This various shape of the curves is a reflection of crop root activity levels and soil moisture extraction rates
  • In this example the smaller/shorter data steps show that the crop is experiencing some type of soil moisture stress, post flood irrigation event and prior to the next irrigation occurring.
 
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Sensor Repeatability Points
Example Data - Sensor Repeatability Points
  • Soil moisture sensor repeatability is important for data accuracy.
  • The graph displays the 'relative change' or trend in soil moisture and not an absolute value as it's not required for irrigation scheduling
  • The refill line 'value' or data point, is determined by the individual sensors and the shape of the data curve.
  • This refill line will be a different 'millimeter' value for different soil types and crops.
  • The refill line ‘value’ is a predictable data reference point leading up to for future irrigation events, because it is relative to the shape of the curve and repeatable.
  • This predictable data reference point, relative to the graph is important for sensor accuracy
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Irrigation Events & Rainfall
Example Data - Irrigation Events and Rainfall Infiltration
  • Rainfall can be variable at the best of times....
  • Graph displays five separate sensor depths in the soil profile - 20/30/40/60/80cm
  • This graph shows the effect that individual rainfall events can have on the soil profile, throughout the growing season
  • The monitoring of rainfall at a site, when combined with a soil moisture probe gives a clear picture of both rainfall infiltration and crop soil moisture interaction.
  • In this instance, the use of this data allowed for the irrigation interval to be confidently extended beyond the previously predicated irrigation date. The power of an site specific rain gauge and soil moisture probe can not be underestimated.
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Water Infiltration Rates
Example Data - Water Infiltration Rates
  • The following separate layer graph demonstrates how the infiltration rate of a soil can be determined
  • By measuring the time taken for each layer in the soil profile to show an increase in soil moisture, we can determine the infiltration rate of the soil.
  • In this example three days after the initial irrigation event the soil moisture level peaks at the 40cm depth
  • The measurement of soil Infiltration rates and irrigation/rain events is an effective tool in managing plant water requirements 

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Drip Irrigation Wetting Onion
Example Data - Drip Irrigation & Wetting Onion
  • Diagram outlines the possible wetting pattern distribution for generic soil types - sand, loam & clay
  • Regarding site selection, it is a particular challenge when using soil moisture monitoring equipment in drip irrigation
  • The wetting pattern distribution needs to be considered when installing soil moisture monitoring equipment
Wetting pattern development depends on a number of important factors:
  1. Emitter spacing (30cm VS 70cm)
  2. Emitter output ability
  3. Placement of emitters – subsurface tape or above ground emitters
  4. Irrigation frequency
  5. Crop water extraction rates
  6. Soil hydrology
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Incorrect sensor installation
Example Data - Drip Irrigation - Incorrect site installation & sensors installed to far away from Drip Emitter
  • What not to do, regarding installation of a soil moisture probe that is installed too far away from the drip tape emitter.
  • You can see quite clearly that the irrigation events only just make to the moisture sensor itself, yet with rainfall and or even the manual application of water (from a bucket) - all of the sensors reacted accordingly.
  • In this instance, the soil moisture monitoring equipment works correctly - it's the installation at the site that's the issue.
  • Solution - reinstall the probe closer to the drip tape and 'wetting onion' (based on soil type) where the crop roots are active.
  • You will not get any useful irrigation management information from a site, when the equipment is installed in this way.
Example Data - Dryland Cropping Data & what the probe can show?
  • Sowing timing - amount of available soil moisture at any given period
  • Crop selection - what to sow and when based on available subsoil moisture levels, can you grow a higher value crop with confidence?
  • Variable nitrogen input throughout the season - based on soil moisture levels and yield potential.
  • Using the soil moisture data as a risk management tool - will this fertiliser application be of benefit given the yield potential?
  • Measuring subsoil moisture on a continuous basis, takes the guess work out of determining seasonal plant available water
  • Measuring effective rainfall and where it might be stored in the soil profile - eg: rain event registered at 60cm depth
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Over Irrigation - 'Before & After'
Example Data - Over Irrigation - 'Before & After'
  • This data shows the 'before and after' where to much water was initially being applied.
  • You are able to see that the frequency of the irritations was changed to allow the plant to take up moisture and also nutrients from fertigation - 'stepping effect' becomes visible. Soil is not water logged and now has oxygen present
  • Prior to this, the water applications were draining out the bottom of the soil profile >80cm
  • The soil moisture probe not only initially monitored existing techniques, but also displayed what changes exactly occurred once the irrigation frequency was reduced. So the ability to measure and manage change.