Abstract
Traditional timer-based systems for irrigation management, which are more commonly used in commercial nurseries in South Africa, are not ideal as they may not irrigate seedlings efficiently. A sensor-based irrigation system is presented as an alternative, as this can provide several benefits to nurseries and nursery-grown seedlings. Small-sized soil water sensors that could fit in small-volume nursery containers (25 to 100 mL), and could be integrated into an automated irrigation system, are reviewed. Several experiments have been conducted internationally to measure soil water status of small-volume containers in soilless substrates, and a large body of knowledge is now available. In this review, we describe the principles of several currently commercially available sensors that can be adapted to this purpose, giving advantages and disadvantages of each type. We conclude that a sensor-based irrigation system has great potential to address the challenges associated with irrigation scheduling, while improving water usage in most nurseries.
Highlights
Irrigation water is becoming increasingly scarce in South Africa, with the agricultural industry using approximately 62% of available fresh water (Pimentel et al, 2004; Fanadzo and Ncube, 2017)
Seedlings are grown in containers with small-volume cavities ranging from 25 to 100 Measurement volume (mL)
Commercial nurseries generally irrigate their seedlings based on the visual appearance of the substrate, their intuition and experience, and often rely on a fixed timer-based system (Jones, 2004; 2008; Lea-Cox et al, 2011; 2017)
Summary
Irrigation water is becoming increasingly scarce in South Africa, with the agricultural industry using approximately 62% of available fresh water (Pimentel et al, 2004; Fanadzo and Ncube, 2017). This review was to evaluate commercially available soil water sensors that can be connected to an automated irrigation system to measure and control water status in small-volume nursery containers to improve nursery water management. Irrigation in small containers may be scheduled using two properties, VWC or soil water potential, as described in detail by Jones (2004; 2008).
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