3503:
Precision Irrigation and Nutrient Management for Nursery, Greenhouse and Green Roof Systems: Sensor Networks for Feedback and Feed-Forward Control

Tuesday, August 3, 2010: 9:45 AM
Springs A & B
Dr. John D. Lea-Cox , University of Maryland, College Park, MD
George Kantor , Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
William Bauerle , Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Marc van Iersel, Ph.D Professor , Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Colin S Campbell , Decagon Devices, Inc., Pullman, WA
Taryn Bauerle, Assistant Professor , Department of Horticulture, Cornell University, Ithica, NY
Dr. David Ross , Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Andrew Ristvey , Wye Research and Education Center, University of Maryland, Queen Anne, MD
Doug Parker , Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Dennis King , Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland - Center for Environmental Studies, Solomons Island,, MD
Richard Bauer , Antir Software, Jarrettsville, MD
Steven Cohan , Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Paul Thomas , Horticulture, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
John M. Ruter , University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Matthew Chappell , Horticulture, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Stephanie Kampf , Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins,, CO
Michael A. Lefsky , Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Lauren Bissey , Decagon Devices, Inc, Pullman, wa
Todd Martin , Decagon Devices, Inc., Pullman
We have established a national transdisciplinary team to reduce irrigation water consumption and improve nutrient management in greenhouse and nursery production and monitor green roofs, while enhancing system performance, crop growth and quality.  We are using a systems-based, multi-disciplinary approach to implement wireless sensor networks in orchard-type (field) environments, in ‘open’ nursery container-production and green roof systems, and `closed' greenhouse environments.   This presentation will provide a global overview of the project and the major objectives, including (1) developing the  next generation of sensor networks and customizable software to meet irrigation monitoring and control requirements at the species level; (2) determining the performance and utility of moisture sensors for precision irrigation and nutrient management; (3) addressing spatial and temporal variability issues to optimize the numbers of sensors; (4) integrating micro-scale data with macro-scale models to predict short-term plant water use; (5) developing best management practices for irrigation and nutrient management monitoring, working with specialty crop partners to capture needs-based issues during on-farm system development; (6) quantifying improvements in water and nutrient management, nutrient runoff, plant quality and yield; (7) evaluating the private and public economic and environmental impacts of precision sensor-controlled practices, and identifying barriers to adoption and implementation of these practices.  The outcome will be a commercially available product for irrigation water management that is designed for diverse, intensive production environments, but broadly applicable to all high-value specialty crops.
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