McLean, Andrew D. 2009. T&D Snippets—Is It Time To Water? Wireless Soil Moisture Monitors Provide the Answer. 0924 2S12. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Technology and Development Program.
Is It Time To Water? Wireless Soil Moisture Monitors Provide the Answer
By Mary Ann Davies and Ted Etter
How do you know when your nursery plots need water? You probably have the field crew go out to each plot to check the soil moisture before deciding whether the irrigation needs to be turned on and for how long. The Coeur d'Alene Nursery asked the Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC) to find a way to make this process more accurate and efficient.
The HOBO Micro Weather Station was field tested at the Forest Service nursery in Coeur d'Alene, ID. This weather station, which comes with a soil moisture probe and optional soil temperature sensor, communicates data wirelessly to a base station at the nursery headquarters.
Keywords: Coeur d’Alene Nursery, equipment development, evaluations, nurseries, solar power
