Sep 5, 2024

MSU develops low-cost sensors for irrigation efficiency, disease management

Michigan State University AgBioResearch scientists discover dynamic solutions for food systems and the environment. Their work is shared through articles on the MSU website. In a recently published article, Cameron Rudolph discusses the low-cost sensors MSU researchers have developed to help farmers with irrigation efficiency and manage diseases better.

“Unpredictable precipitation is one of the most challenging elements of being a farmer. Not enough moisture, and plant growth is hindered. Too much can saturate the soil while setting the stage for diseases to thrive.

Recently, Michigan growers have experienced both extremes. Some of the driest and wettest months on record have occurred in the last few years. For plant diseases such as tar spot in corn and white mold in soybeans, periods of high moisture are particularly problematic.

Both tar spot and white mold can go from a few infected plants to entire fields in a short timeframe. Once they’re present, growers are mostly relegated to mitigation rather than eradication.

In drier times, when diseases may be less prevalent, farmers often look to irrigation to supplement lagging rainfall. But fine-tuning these systems can be tricky, and too much added water can lead to unintended disease consequences.

To address this, MSU researchers have developed and are testing a low-cost irrigation monitoring system called LOCOMOS. The work is led by Younsuk Dong, an assistant professor and irrigation specialist in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.

With LOCOMOS, the in-field sensors measure soil moisture, leaf wetness and other environmental conditions. The data is then analyzed by software that generates precise irrigation recommendations and delivers them to growers via an easy-to-use smartphone app. The development of the system and app was facilitated through a partnership with the MSU Innovation Center.”

Click here to read the full article.