In the Italian pilot site located in Alberese Terre Regionali Toscane (Tuscany), monitoring is being carried out on the performance of organic tomato and melon crops subjected to the trial on precision irrigation of the DATI project.
The plants here are subjected to three different water systems:
- 100% irrigation (traditional agribusiness input of water)
- 75% irrigation versus traditional input of water
- 50% irrigation versus traditional input of water
The data that are currently being collected relate to the ability of the plants to retain water based on the different water stress they are subjected to, the soil moisture and the resulting response they have.
The technologies by which measurements are being made in this field are:
- Ground sensors, placed at various points in the irrigation system that measure soil moisture, covering a radius of about 20 cm each
- Drones equipped with thermal, rgb, multispectral, low cost lidar, and high resolution rgb sensors
Alongside the new technologies, as further proof of the reliability of the data collected, soil cores are sometimes drilled to measure moisture in a traditional way.
This experimental and monitoring work will lead to the collection of data regarding the productive capacity of the plants under consideration in terms of quality and quantity.
The ultimate goal of the project is to propose new technologies and techniques that aim to save water without compromising product quality and quantity.
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