Intelligent moisture - sensor for water efficient use during irrigation

Climate forecasts predict for Germany, but also for other countries, that temperature will increase resulting to drier summers and wetter winters. Therefore is expected that at global level, the trend of maximizing yield and optimizing irrigation in agriculture, as well as the irrigation on home garden and sport areas will increase. Due to water scarcity measurements should be taken to avoid perishing of water resources and optimize water potential.

The objective of the project is to develop a smart soil moisture sensor which is measuring simultaneously volumetric water content (θ) and soil water retention curve (ψ). The sensor will be equipped with a microcontroller ,which is self learning and adjusting the information based on soil hydraulic properties (water tension curve).

The sensor will be able to determine the optimum irrigation time and the optimum irrigation amount of water based on an intelligent algorithm, which changes the irrigation intensity based on soil hydraulic properties.

Budget: 74 800 €