Smart irrigation: monitoring irrigation using plant, soil and climate sensors

• Grant number: 24/10180-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agricultural Engineering - Soil and Water Engineering
• Agreement: MCTI/MC
• Principal Investigator: Isabella Clerici de Maria
• Grantee: Phillipe Marques de Rezende
• Host Institution: Instituto Agronômico (IAC). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/09319-9 - Center of Science for Development in Digital Agriculture - CCD-AD/SemeAr, AP.CCD

Abstract

The modernization of agriculture has incorporated the concept of sustainability, integrating all factors that affect crop production, with emphasis on the use of water in agricultural systems. Water use efficiency in irrigated crops is essential for environmental conservation. New digital agriculture technologies have improved management and decision-making tools for planning and conducting irrigation. However, it is still necessary to monitor continuously the water conditions of crops using soil and plant sensors. The objective of this proposal is to characterize the water stress index of crops and determine irrigation efficiency in the selected agro-technological district, associating the stress index with digital thermographic images. Data from the FLIR camera will be used to assess the water status of plants, associating temperature data with the crop water stress. The water stress index and thermographic images are expected to function as parameters for planning and monitoring irrigation in agro-technology districts.