Turkish vegetable growers save upto 40 percent water with the AquaTag sensor

Wageningen University developed an irrigation strategy for Turkish vegetable growers with small, soil bound crops. The farmers used the new AquaTag soil moisture sensor.

Using soil ​moisture ​sensors to ​control ​irrigation, up ​to 50 percent ​of the water ​used can be ​saved directly, ​and indirectly ​fertilizer use ​as well. ​

The ​international ​research ​programme Farm ​level optimal ​water ​management ​assistant for ​irrigation ​under deficit (​Flow-Aid), ​coordinated by ​Wageningen ​University from ​2006 till 2009, ​showed that ​this is ​possible, while ​still keeping ​the yield and ​quality at a ​good level. ​

Especially in ​(semi) arid ​areas ​horticulture ​can benefit. ​Sensors are ​relatively ​expensive, and ​measure only ​locally, while ​the moisture ​content can ​vary greatly ​within a valve ​section. ​

Simple sensor ​for small-scale ​farmers ​

The Aquatag ​is a new, ​patented ​concept of a ​contactless ​soil moisture ​and EC meter, ​originally ​developed for ​Dutch container ​plants. ​

The AquaTag ​is inexpensive ​and can be ​applied in ​large numbers ​to more ​accurately ​determine the ​average ​moisture ​content of a ​valve section. ​

In this ​project, ​Wageningen UR ​Greenhouse ​Horticulture ​developed an ​irrigation ​strategy for ​the horticulture ​sector in ​Turkey with ​small, soil-​bound crops. ​

The aim was ​to keep the ​technology ​accessible and ​ultimately to ​make it ​available ​worldwide for ​growers, to ​whom saving ​water, ​fertilizers and ​energy is of ​major ​importance. ​