An endangered frog and soil water potential

Soil water potential, an endangered frog and climate change are three topics rarely discussed together. Yet, recent research from the University of Western Australia found that the successful breeding of an endangered frog is intricately linked with soil water potential which, in turn, may be altered by climate change dynamics. Understanding the interplay of these…

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Stem water content: a new sensor for plant water relations

A new stem water content sensor has been released by Implexx Sense. The new sensor will enhance the understanding of plant water relations and will also assist plant physiologists, ecohydrologists, modellers and more.   what is stem water content? Stem water content, also known as sapwood water content or moisture, gravimetric or volumetric water content,…

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Reducing water inputs with on demand irrigation scheduling

New research has shown up to 40% reduction in irrigation can be achieved with soils or plant based decision making. Water resources are becoming increasingly expensive and scarce. To reduce costs and save on water, it is possible to alter irrigation scheduling (i.e. timing and dosing). Yet, when altering or decreasing irrigation it is critical…

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Irrigation with sap flow sensors: a video explainer

SFM1 Sap Flow Meter

Irrigation managers face two questions: when and how much to irrigate. A new video, available on YouTube and with a weblink below, explains how sap flow sensors can be used for irrigation scheduling and dosing. Sap flow sensors measure crop water use or transpiration. With a sap flow sensor, it is possible to determine how…

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Sap flow, evapotranspiration and irrigation management

Grape Crop Water Use

Irrigating scheduling and amount can be accurately determined by combining sap flow (crop water use) sensors and evapotranspiration (ETo) data. This article outlines how growers, researchers or physiologists can use the Implexx Sap Flow Sensor, alongside the ATMOS 41 weather station, or the Implexx Evapotranspiration (ETo) station. Although this article has a focus on grapevines,…

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Biosphere 2 and sap flow sensors: how do tropical trees behave under drought?

  monitoring water uptake and transport of a model rainforest ecosystem Author: Kathrin Kühnhammer PhD Student at TU Braunschweig, Environmental Geochemistry, Germany   Pictures of a) tropical rainforest glass house in the Biosphere 2 complex, b) inside the tropical rainforest model ecosystem and c) water content and sap flow sensor as well as borehole to…

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CO2 sensors in a greenhouse laboratory

Edaphic Scientific supplies a large range of carbon dioxide (CO2) detectors that are suitable for greenhouses and glasshouses. In this article, our supplier of CO2 detectors, CO2Meter, interviewed researchers from NC State University on how they deploy CO2 sensors in their greenhouses. This article originally appeared on the CO2Meter.com website.   One intriguing CO2Meter collaboration…

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Implexx Sap Flow Sensor: a new sap flow sensor for the digital age

A new sap flow sensor has been released by Implexx Sense! The Implexx Sap Flow Sensor is a low cost, easy to use and maintain sap flow sensor designed by scientists and engineers from the Australian company, Implexx. Implexx Sap Flow Sensor was designed with the scientists and grower in mind – it has all…

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Sap flow data show grapevines can tolerate extreme heatwave events

sap flow and heatwaves

Monitoring sap flow on grapevines during extreme heatwave events has demonstrated that vines can tolerate extreme conditions when soil moisture levels were high. These results were found via the grapevine and heatwave monitoring project in the Riverina region of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Heatwaves are “three or more days of high maximum and minimum…

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A new introductory video on sap flow

What is sap flow? Is it water or sugars in the plant? What is the difference between sap flow and transpiration? Why measure sap flow? If you are new to the world of sap flow science, then the team at Implexx and Edaphic Scientific have released a new video for you. Sap Flow: An Introduction…

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Leaf temperature sensors and water wise research

Leaf Temperature Sensor

Plant physiologists and irrigation scientists need accurate and reliable leaf and canopy temperature sensors for scientific research. Recently, the LT-1T Leaf Temperature Sensor from Edaphic Scientific was deployed by researchers at the CSIRO for a project on irrigation management of tomato crops. The LT-1T is a small, temperature sensor that firmly clips onto a leaf.…

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Grapevines, sap flow and heatwaves

Heatwaves can have a significant impact on grapevines, scorching leaves and decreasing growth and yield. Grape growers deploy various strategies to protect their vines during extreme heat events which can include spraying canopies with “sunscreen”. Although these strategies have merit, they often involve investment in additional infrastructure or are laborious to employ. Another strategy involves…

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Detection of tree disease with sap flow sensors

Sap flow sensors can be used to study the hydraulic function of healthy versus diseased trees. Sap flow sensors can detect a decrease in hydraulic function associated with disease prior to the onset of outward, physical symptoms. Sap flow sensors, therefore, provide a tool for researchers to better understand the physiology of disease in trees.…

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Growers workshop 2017

Edaphic Scientific participated in a series of workshops for macadamia and grape growers in November and December, 2017. The workshops covered topics such as heatwaves, irrigation and advanced technology to measure the water potential of crops. The workshops were organised by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) New South Wales, and the Australian Macadamia Society.…

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Dendrometers: multi-purpose sensors

Fruit Physiology

Dendrometers are a multi-purpose sensor for measuring plant growth and water use. They are a precision sensor to measure small expansion and contractions in plant tissues over a daily cycle. They can also measure growth over several days, weeks and months. Therefore, dendrometers can be used for irrigation and fertigation management, as well as providing…

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Measuring transpiration of small plants

Sap Flow Meter

Continuous measurements of the water use, or transpiration, of small or herbaceous plants can be difficult. A small weighing lysimeter, also known as a balance or scale, can be used however these often require a researcher to manually read the LCD screen or to have the instrument connected to a PC or laptop. Data collection…

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Flowers and transpiration

flower transpiration

Surprisingly little research has been dedicated to flower water relations. This is despite the vast amount of research on water relations at the whole-plant level, stomatal conductance at the leaf level, and even the water relations of fruits. Flowers have been largely neglected probably due to the difficulty of accurately measuring transpiration rates with a…

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5 common mistakes when measuring soil moisture

Soil Water Content Turf

Soil moisture, or soil volumetric water content, is easily measured with probes, sensors or handheld meters. These meters are as simple as pushing the probe or sensor into the soil, pressing read on the handheld meter, and you’re done. As easy as this appears, there are surprisingly many pitfalls and traps that can lead to wrong…

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how plants communicate

can plants communicate with one another? This question is not as outrageous as it might at first seem. Certainly, plants are not like The Ents in the Lord of the Rings, coming to life and talking with one another. But scientists have amassed a large amount of evidence to suggest that plants do communicate with…

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