Accurate and timely information can be hard to come by in a business that depends so much on the unpredictable forces of nature. Rainfall, wind speed, temperature, humidity, soil moisture, diseases and pest pressures are all critical factors in achieving beautiful landscapes for the customer and a profitable landscape management business, yet we have no control over them. Processed “Real Time” information is power for managers of landscape companies. It’s the starting point for every decision that needs to be made during the course of a business day.
To a certain extent, we have information about climatic conditions that occur above ground, but weather forecasting is, at best, an imprecise science. It is often based on data that is generated miles away from a property, and impacted by a host of topographic factors. The data collected and processed from locations miles away are used to make management decisions that can significantly impact irrigation cost and disease/pest control expenses.
The most accurate information, of course, comes from readings taken right on the property, on a regular basis. Until recently, that technology was only available through underground, cabled systems that were susceptible to damage, and wreaked havoc with the planted materials and turf during installation. In addition, landscape professionals have had virtually no way to monitor what was happening in the root zone until conditions were so seriously out of balance that the evidence was visible in the turf and planted materials. Fertigation and chemigation programs for disease and pest control can’t be optimized without data to determine whether the applications remain in or leach through the root zone.
In 1993, Adcon Telemetry, an Austrian company, introduced a communications platform and data processing system called addVANTAGE. This turnkey system provides cost-effective data collection, processing and delivery of “site specific/real-time” management information delivered to the manager’s office. This system also allows future growth of applications without having to re-invest in the core communications platform, resulting in low-cost expansion and application versatility.
Initially targeting major agricultural operations, the system allows growers to monitor conditions over extensive acreage through its unique “networking capability,” without having to physically walk the entire operation.
More recently, the company has marketed smaller systems that are geared to more compact operations, including golf courses, stadiums, resort and large commercial properties.
Early users of the system continue to use them. These patented devices can simultaneously read air temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind, radiation, barometric pressure, leaf or soil moisture, water levels, conductivity and pH balance. The data collected can be transmitted every 15 minutes to almost any computer with Microsoft Windows and a modem. After analyzing the data, the software then gives recommendations on the best time and amount for irrigation.
“With the use of solar-powered wireless sensors, landscaping professionals finally have accurate and timely data they can rely on to keep landscapes and turf healthy,” says John Mascoe, an agronomist and North American sales manager for Adcon. “Sensors that detect and record soil moisture and pesticide and nitrite levels provide accurate and timely information on the effectiveness of watering, fertilization and chemical applications. Information on water movement in the root zone gives a clear, real-time picture of whether an application will have the desired effect or whether it’s leached into the water table.”
The two-way communication system goes beyond just collecting data from the sensors, to actually delivering it to the landscape manager. Users can define their own threshold for direct soil moisture; if moisture exceeds or falls below optimum levels, the sensors detect it and the user is automatically paged with a message to open or close irrigation valves.
“It’s interesting technology,” says Dave Jones, Adcon’s environmental solutions sales manager. “In the past, any kind of environment monitoring required cabling and a permanent power source. The company took both of those away for ease of installation and placement. The use of solar takes care of the power source and telemetry allows flexible placement. The wireless network offers very accurate data. There are currently more than 4,000 stations in the U.S. alone.”While climatic data helps landscape managers make the most efficient use of water and fertilizer for growth, it’s also vital for disease and pest control. Potato growers in Manitoba already use the system to predict when conditions are right for late blight, a disease that can decimate a harvest, and can only be controlled through preventative treatment. With access to near real-time data, farmers have been able to save thousands of dollars by reducing the number of times they spray fungicide.
The net result is the ability to adjust quickly to changing soil and weather conditions, which translates into optimal production and lower maintenance costs.
The “Lite” Station, designed for smaller operations, offers a stand-alone network of sensors that can be placed in up to three locations around a property, and can be repositioned as needed to transmit data as often as once a minute to a main point of decision-making. Imagine how helpful that could be in managing “the world’s worst weed,” purple nutsedge.
Experts point out that applying herbicides to nutsedge during drought conditions can result in poor control; the best time to apply is when it’s actively growing in warm conditions with adequate soil moisture. The more information that’s available about the weather and soil conditions, the better the herbicides will do their job.
Maximizing manpower,
reducing risk
Another significant benefit of the data provided by remote sensors is that it allows landscape managers to more effectively use their most expensive asset — personnel. Managers can monitor activity and maintain systems at up to 95 locations off one base station in their office.
A quick review of the data can provide important details for planning a productive day for the staff.
“They can sit in their office first thing in the morning, get a status report of what went on the night before and what’s happening now to put people at the right place at the right time,” says Mascoe. “Imagine how much more you could get done in a day if you didn’t have to send someone out in a truck to check on valve heads. With this system, you only send someone out when there’s actually a repair that needs to be made.”
The precise information and detailed records provided by the system offers landscape managers another crucial benefit — regulatory compliance and reduced environmental liability. Permits are required for the use of several pesticides, and logs must be maintained of when and how they were used. In addition, many states levy heavy fines and civil penalties for commercial operations that contaminate nearby water supplies and ecosystems.
The intuitive software makes recommendations based on actual need and indicates when optimum coverage has been provided, keeping water, fertilizer and pesticides in the root zone. It also factors in wind speed and direction to recommend the best time for spraying chemicals to reduce the possibility of wind drift. The complete record of climatic conditions during chemical applications also provides critical evidence in a defense against a complaint or damage suit.
Adding to the value of the system, Adcon has partnered with Agrilink, an international agricultural consultancy firm. They have expertise in soil, irrigation, disease, pest and nutrition management, as well as strategic planning and total quality assurance. Agrilink experts offer on-going support to interpret the data clients are collecting around the clock from the field.
“We typically provide a report every 14 days that includes suggestions on such things as the levels of irrigation and the upper and lower limits of soil,” says Agrilink International, Inc., Chief Agronomic Officer Peter Moller. “The goal is to ensure success for the user and to provide a significant return on the investment in the system.”
By combining wireless technology with the artificial intelligence of intuitive software and the extensive experience of world-class agronomists, the company is using every available tool to manage the constant climate-related risks landscape professionals face every day.
“All these pieces are not new —we’re just trying to help people do a better job,” says Mascoe. “We’re not re-inventing the wheel; we’re just putting rubber on the tires.”
Editor’s Note: Britta Hubert is marketing vice president for Adcon Telemetry.October 2001