Do soil moisture sensors have a role in containerised nursery production?
The focus on water use efficiencies has become more stringent recently and there is a call for all industries to be accountable for their water use, however the finger has definitely been pointed to the irrigation industries and outdoor water use. In response to a need to offer improved water use efficiency techniques and encourage adoption, Nursery & Garden Industry Australia NGIA has commissioned the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries to undertake work in assisting adoption of innovative irrigation technologies. In this Nursery Paper Michael Danelon, Nursery & Garden Industry NSW & ACT NGINA Industry Development Officer IDO, explores the use of soil moisture sensors and the ability of these devices to be applied to soilless based containerised nursery production to appropriately monitor and schedule irrigation and hence optimise crop production whilst achieving water use efficiency.