WSNs & Agriculture

Wireless Sensor Networks & Agriculture – A White Paper by
Vertoda

Copyright © 2009 Sykoinia Limited 1

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Abstract

This white paper presents the potential applications Wireless Sensor Networks have in the field
of agriculture.


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Table of Contents
Glossary................................................................................................................................................... 7
1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................8
2. Information Systems in Agriculture: The Current Status ................................................................9
3. The Agricultural Sector..................................................................................................................10
3.1 Crop Management ................................................................................................................10
3.2 Irrigation Management.........................................................................................................11
3.3 Environmental Monitoring....................................................................................................12
3.4 Animal Management ............................................................................................................13
3.5 Quality & Supply Chain Management...................................................................................13
3.6 Building Management...........................................................................................................14
4. Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................15
References ............................................................................................................................................16


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Glossary

DSS Decision Support System
GIS Geographical Information System
GPS Global Positioning System
HVAC Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
MAP Modified Atmosphere Packaging
WSN Wireless Sensor Network


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1. Introduction

When Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) initially emerged as a viable technology one of the first
cited potential application areas was in the field of agriculture. However, agriculture is a vast area
and can be subdivided into many fields of expertise. This white paper examines the different
areas of agriculture and the role that WSNs can play in these areas. Research for this white paper
was primarily carried out by meeting commercial and government organisations in the
agricultural sector and by carrying out demonstrations of Vertoda and WSNs to these
organisations.


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2. Information Systems in Agriculture: The Current Status

Decision Support Systems (DSS) are used extensively in agriculture, in particular, for Crop
Management. DSS are used to monitor disease development such as potato blight and septoria
(A fungal disease). Traditional sensors are used to takes metrics such as water flow and
temperature. A key driver for many of these sensors would appear to be compliance, for
example, water quality is monitored to ensure that rivers are not being polluted.


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3. The Agricultural Sector

The following broad categorisations can be used for the use of WSNs in the agricultural sector:

 Crop Management
 Irrigation Management
 Environmental Monitoring
 Animal Management
 Quality & Supply Chain Management
 Building Management

3.1 Crop Management

WSNs can play a key role in crop management. Using Vertoda in conjunction with a WSN,
disease development can be detected and monitored. For example, a timer is currently used to
assess leaf wetness to detect the possibility of septoria. For many farming organisations, this data
is not relayed by the timer. On the other hand if a wireless sensor were to be used to detect leaf
wetness the data could be sent in real time to the farmer or decision maker.

Temperature, humidity, wind speed, rain fall, light and soil moisture are just some of the factors
that determine a successful growing season. The presence of frost and pests can result in serious
effects on crop yields. WSNs can gather all this data in real-time and Vertoda can store and
manage this information. Decisions can then be taken quickly to ensure an optimal response to
changing climate and environment.

One example of how crop management can be enhanced using WSNs is the project Accenture
[1] carried out in the Pickberry Vineyard in Northern California. Using WSNs, calculated
decisions were made on a vine-by-vine basis for assessing water needs and pests were detected in
a timely fashion. The Accenture report also points out that WSN data can be combined with
other data sources such as weather forecast data to predict the demand for water for the vines.

Given the sensitivity of viticulture to climatic conditions, WSNs are clearly relevant here.
However, WSNs play a key role in what is termed smart crops. Drought conditions are worsening
in areas such as Australia. Wireless sensing solutions such as Vertoda can provide a competitive
advantage to farmers by reducing labour costs, increasing yields, conserving water and improving
quality. Crops such as fruit and nuts, vines, vegetables, grains and oil seeds, nurseries and
floriculture would all benefit from management by WSNs.

Glasshouse Crops, in particular, require extensive management. The correct levels of carbon
dioxide, temperature and humidity have to be set and monitored. Clearly, this could be achieved
using WSNs in conjunction with actuators. Nutrient supply for crops also requires management.


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In addition to climatic monitoring WSNs can be used to measure the density of leaves in crops
Crop canopy can be used to determine the growing stage that the crop is at. The recording of
this data over time can be used to predict when crop harvesting should occur and can highlight
any unforeseen delays in the growing season.

Another possible use for sensors is the reading of the colour of crops. There is currently
equipment for this but allied with a WSN this information could be deployed to a central system
in real-time. Moisture content can also be recorded as this affects price.

WSNs can also facilitate Precision agriculture. Precision agriculture entails making the
appropriate decision for the circumstances in hand rather than using a standard practice no
matter what the situation. Precision agriculture requires spatial data. Technologies such as GPS,
GIS and WSNs are used to assess and understand current conditions. Using this information,
decisions can be taken regarding crop sowing and fertiliser dispersion and yields can be more
accurately predicted.

WSNs, then, can be used at every stage of the crop growing cycle. The optimal time for planting
can be determined by monitoring climate and soil conditions and moisture concentration can be
monitored during harvesting. Clearly, then, WSNs not only can enhance current practices but
can also develop new ones such as smart crops and precision agriculture.

Complex alert decision making would be useful in the agriculture sector. For example, if
temperature and humidity occur at the different times an alert would be generated. At present,
for example, a DSS for potato growers determines whether one should spray potatoes or not.
The alert functionality provided by Vertoda can provide a much enhanced picture of the growing
environment and can help growers gain a more finely grained view of their environment.

3.2 Irrigation Management

Efficient irrigation management is vital for successful crop growing. Current best practice is to
use time irrigation of crops i.e. periodically irrigate the crops. However, a WSN can facilitate
monitoring of moisture levels for crops and, in conjunction with an actuator can take a decision
as to when it is appropriate to perform irrigation. This method can reduce water use. In addition,
over-irrigation of crops can lead to nutrients being leached from the soil. The judicious use of
water only when it is required can help to prevent this.

Different areas of an agricultural plot will have different irrigation requirements. WSNs,
therefore, can facilitate the irrigation of a subsection of the agricultural area rather than a blanket
irrigation policy for the entire area. Furthermore, given the flexibility of WSNs, which are, after
all, ad-hoc networks, crop growers can deploy motes in specific areas when they are needed.
Additional nodes can also be added so that an agricultural operation can expand their WSN as
required.


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WSNs can also be used for water catchment areas. As its name implies, a water catchment area
collects rain water or melted snow. Some agricultural organisations have mini water catchments
that are used for research purposes. The base station for monitored water catchments would
typically have a flow meter. In one organisation we spoke to, this base station monitored an area
of 15 square kilometres and required one central repository for the data being recorded. In such
a situation, a WSN could send the data to Vertoda for processing. Actuators would be required
in conjunction with sensors for water catchment management.

The reasons for the development of water catchments include the provision of water for a local
population and the testing and monitoring of water quality. The latter is typically required for
compliance purposes to ensure that farmers and local government institutions are complying
with the law. Flow sensors are currently deployed inside and outside the pipes in water
catchment areas. Using WSNs, both volume and direction of water flow can be monitored and
the presence of pollution such as phosphorus and sulphur could be detected. This data can be
delivered to end user in a timely fashion using Vertoda and WSNs. Moreover, the Alert
Management functionality provided by Vertoda would be also useful for monitoring the water
flowing on a surface.

Irrigation management is particular relevant for horticulture. For example, both glasshouse crops
and potatoes require irrigation management.

3.3 Environmental Monitoring

Environmental monitoring is becoming an ever more critical part of the agricultural operation,
both from a compliance perspective and from a customer expectations point of view. WSNs can
be used for monitoring water and air pollution, for monitoring hazardous water disposal and for
measuring ground dynamics such as glaciers, avalanches and moving ground. WSNs can also be
deployed in remote environments and their data relayed to Vertoda using a cell phone,
broadband or satellite communication.

A key challenge for agriculture is soil degradation. Agricultural activities and overgrazing are two
of the principal causes of soil degradation. One activity that can contribute to soil degradation is
the spreading of fertilizer and slurry on agricultural land. Spreading time refers to the dispersal of
slurry and fertiliser on agricultural land and the selection of the best time of year for the carrying
out of same. A suboptimal spreading time can lead to soil moisture degradation and deficits.
Furthermore, the nitrogen released from organic manure is currently difficult to detect. In
addition to taking measurements, WSNs can also detect chemicals. Soil moisture degradation and
the presence of chemicals can all be detected by WSNs and then relayed in real time to Vertoda.

As well as degradation, soil moisture tension – how dry the soil is – needs to be measured.
Currently this metric is measured by a tensiometer. As soil dries, its tension increases, and it
becomes harder for the plants to extract water from the soil. The amount of energy a plant must
spend to extract water from the soil is directly linked to soil tension. When soil tension becomes
too great, plants can no longer extract water from the soil, even if water is present in the soil.
This means that the water is simply not available to the plants, which react by slowing or ceasing


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their growth. For crop production, this can be costly, since the gradual daily accumulation of
small growth losses can have a significant impact on crop yield at harvest time. Soil tension
measurement, therefore, is required for good irrigation management. WSNs can relay this data in
a timely fashion to ensure that plants and crops can access the water they need.

3.4 Animal Management

WSNs can also play a role in animal management and animal health applications. For example,
sensors can be used to determine when cattle are in heat. This is referred to as the estrous cycle.
The real-time detection of when cattle are in heat would be very valuable for determining
appropriate times for artificial insemination. The detection of diseases such as mastitis and other
infections is another useful service that WSNs could provide to the farming sector.

The tagging of farm animals has existed for many years. However, the monitoring of animal
weight is an additional function that WSNs could supply. Given that the weight of animals is a
key determinant of the price farmers and farming organisations receive, the monitoring of weight
over time would be very relevant for decision making regarding feeding. However, there are
some issues regarding the practical implementation of such a system.

Sensors could also be used for the detection of milk levels. Oral emissions (methane) could also
be measured. Furthermore, WSNs could also assist in the provision of a monitoring system for
calving. A remote camera could provide video analysis and alerts to give real-time birth
information. This could also be used for other farm animals such as sheep and pigs.

Wireless sensors can also be used to monitor animal health. Larger agricultural organisations can
have many animals dispersed in sometimes remote locations. Using WSNs, any problems can be
relayed to Vertoda when they occur if animal are tagged appropriately.

3.5 Quality & Supply Chain Management

Agricultural products often have stringent requirements in terms of temperature and humidity
when they are being transported. In particular, for frozen and chilled goods, the chill chain is a
key element of supply chain management in agriculture. Chilled and frozen foods need to be
maintained at a constant temperature from the processing plant to the supermarket. WSNs are
ideally suited for monitoring products in such a scenario.

In addition to taking temperature, humidity and wind speed measurements to monitor the chill
chain, WSNs can be used for fleet management to monitor vehicle speed and location using
GPS. The condition of vehicles can also be remotely monitored using WSNs so that
preventative maintenance can take place when needed. Containers for products can be secured
using WSNs. For example, a motion sensor can detect when a container is tampered with.

Another potential role that WSNs can play is in the area of Modified Atmosphere Packaging
(MAP). MAP is the modification of the composition of the internal atmosphere of a food or
drug package in order to improve its shelf life. In essence, the technique replaces oxygen with


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nitrogen or carbon dioxide so as to inhibit the growth of bacteria. This rebalancing of gases can
be difficult to achieve and requires the measurement of the presence of these gases, a
measurement that WSNs could certainly assist with.

WSNs can also play a role in food quality. The presence of elements such as gluten or peanuts
can be detected. Harmful elements that can be inadvertently introduced in the food chain can
also be detected in a timely fashion. Shelf life can be extended by ensuring that perishable goods
are kept at an appropriate temperature. More and more legislation is being introduced to ensure
food quality and safety. Traceability of foodstuffs at every stage of the production process is
required. Stringent conditions are set for the maintenance of products. WSNs can provide a
solution to ensure compliance and Vertoda can recorded this data for traceability and legal
purposes.

3.6 Building Management

Farm Buildings and internal environments can be monitored using WSNs. Their security can be
ensured by using motion and video sensors. The presence and health of animals in these building
can also be monitored. Climatic conditions are vital for building housing animals and crops.
WSNs can provide a monitoring solution for managing these buildings. Cost savings can also be
made by ensuring energy efficiency and that light and heat are only used when required.

Building management is a distinct field of application for WSNs. However the applications can
broadly be defined as indoor environmental monitoring, lighting system monitoring and control,
HVAC system control, energy consumption monitoring and building security and access control
– all of which are relevant to agriculture.


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4. Conclusion

WSNs have wide applicability for agriculture. Crop, Irrigation and animal management are all
enhanced by using WSNs. WSNs can also play a key role in the supply chain, quality and
building management functions for agriculture.


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References

[1] “Pickberry Vineyard: Accenture Prototype Helps Improve Crop Management”,

http://www.accenture.com/Global/Services/Accenture_Technology_Labs/R_and_I/Pickberry
Management.htm


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