Objective(s):
The objective of this workshop is to introduce how sensor-based technologies can be used in plant ecophysiological research for horticultural crop production systems.

Plant ecophysiology is the study of how the environment, both physical and biological, interacts with plant physiological responses, such as plant growth, water relations, gas exchange, stress, and defense. In particular, it examines at how the climate and nutrients affect the plant’s physiological processes and how plants respond to highly variable environmental conditions. In order to understand how the environment interacts with plant physiology, researchers have developed innovative new technologies for sensing the environment and plant health. Sensors are devices that measure physical properties and record quantitative information. For example, one type of soil sensing technology detects moisture indicating when to irrigate and could increase irrigation efficiency for horticultural crops. Although collecting sensor data can be easy, data are only useful if the sensors are properly calibrated, placed in the correct setting for a particular parameter, and the limitations of sensors are understood. This workshop will cover topics such as how to select the best sensor(s) for a particular research purpose, how to determine the optimal number of sensors to be used, and how to use sensors to collect accurate and precise data.