Leaf sensor

A leaf sensor is a phytometric device (measurement of plant physiological processes[1]) that measures water loss or the water deficit stress (WDS) in plants[2] by real-time monitoring the moisture level in plant leaves. The first leaf sensor was developed by LeafSens, an Israeli company granted a US patent for a mechanical leaf thickness sensing device in 2001.[3] LeafSen has made strides incorporating their leaf sensory technology into citrus orchards in Israel.[4] A solid state smart leaf sensor technology was developed by the University of Colorado at Boulder for NASA in 2007. It was designed to help monitor and control agricultural water demand.[5] AgriHouse received a National Science Foundation (NSF) STTR grant in conjunction with the University of Colorado to further develop the solid state leaf sensor technology for precision irrigation control in 2007.[6]

Precision monitoring

Water deficit stress measurements
AgriHouse Smart Leaf Sensor (SG-1000)

A Phase I research grant from the National Science Foundation in 2007 showed that the leaf sensor technology has the potential to save between 30% and 50% of irrigation water by reducing irrigation from once every 24 hours to about every 2 to 2.5 days by sensing impending water deficit stress.[7] Leaf sensor technology developed by AgriHouse indicates water deficit stress by measuring the turgor pressure of a leaf, which decreases dramatically at the onset of leaf dehydration. Early detection of impending water deficit stress in plants can be used as an input parameter for precision irrigation control by allowing plants to communicate water requirements directly to humans and/or electronic interfaces. For example, a base system utilizing the wirelessly transmitted information of several sensors appropriately distributed over various sectors of a round field irrigated by a center-pivot irrigation system could tell the irrigation lever exactly when and what field sector needs to be irrigated.[8][9]

Irrigation control

In a 2008 USDA sponsored field study AgriHouse's SG-1000 Leaf Sensor attached to dry beans demonstrated a 25% savings of irrigation water and pumping cost.[10] In 2010 the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado granted AgriHouse Inc an exclusive license of its patented leaf sensor technology.[11]

Precision irrigation monitoring using the SG-1000 leaf sensor and commercial data loggers for irrigation control has been achieved in recent years.[12] Researchers have found a direct correlation between leaf thickness and Relative Water Content (RWC) of plant leaves using the SG-1000 Leaf Sensor under field conditions.[13]

Water and Energy Conservation

The agriculture sustainability benefits of water and energy savings have been established using the SG-1000 leaf sensor under field conditions and in greenhouses. Plant science researchers and agronomists have utilized the SG-1000 Leaf Sensor for studying the relationship between water content and leaf cell turgidity potential and leaf thickness. Plant leaf characteristics including water potential and osmotic water potential relationships have been studied with the device.[14]

See also

Footnotes
  1. "Physiological functions characteristic of plants, 2009, National Center for Biological Information (MeSH)".
  2. Cochard H, Coll L, Le Roux X, Améglio T (January 2002). "Unraveling the effects of plant hydraulics on stomatal closure during water stress in walnut". Plant Physiol. 128 (1): 282–90. doi:10.1104/pp.010400. PMC 148995. PMID 11788773.
  3. US patent 6185833, Bravado, B.A., Sharon, Y., Seligmann, R., "Leaf thickness sensing device", issued 2001-02-13
  4. Cohen, D. (2001). "Fruit Drinking". New Scientist (2290).
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-12-08. Retrieved 2009-08-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "AgriHouse Inc. Wins NSF Grant to Develop CU Water Management Technology". University of Colorado TTO. June 7, 2007.
  7. "Turning A New Leaf" (PDF). National Science Foundation. June 7, 2007.
  8. Jones, W. (2009). "New Device Lets Plants Talk: Smart sensors let crops text-message growers for more water". IEEE Spectrum.
  9. M. O'Brien; M. Walton (2010). "New Leaf Sensor Alerts When Plants Are Thirsty". National Science Foundation.
  10. "AgriHouse awarded exclusive licensing for leaf sensor technology". Northern Colorado Business Report. January 12, 2010.
  11. "AgriHouse Inc. Completes Exclusive License for Univ. of Colorado Water Management Technology". Seed Today. January 11, 2010.
  12. "Sensors Enable Farmers to Text Messages to Farmers". NASA Spinoff Publication. January 2012.
  13. Seelig, Hans-Dieter; Stoner, Richard J.; Linden, James C. (July 2012). "Irrigation control of cowpea plants using the measurement of leaf thickness under greenhouse conditions". Irrigation Science. 30 (4): 247–257. doi:10.1007/s00271-011-0268-2.
  14. Seelig, Hans-Dieter; Wolter, Adelheid; Schröder, Fritz-Gerald (5 March 2015). "Leaf thickness and turgor pressure in bean during plant desiccation". Scientia Horticulturae. 184: 55–62. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2014.12.025.
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