Frost Protection and Soil Moisture Control in Cranberry Bogs
Challenge
Cranberry bogs need to be monitored for proper soil moisture and air temperature at the vine level.
Maintaining the proper soil moisture is critically important for healthy cranberry plants. The root system of a cranberry plant is relatively shallow, requiring a specific soil moisture content to grow and produce fruit.
Air temperature is monitored to protect crops from frost. When the temperature nears freezing, the irrigation system is automatically turned on to protect the plants. Water and energy are conserved because the irrigation system is only used when the temperature is near freezing.
Solution
Soil moisture and air temperature sensing ranges are typically under a mile, but the Site Survey tested the signal out to two miles. With the MultiHop Radio and its antenna installed very low to the ground, a Master Radio was installed with a large omnidirectional antenna to maximize the communication range.
A MultiHop Slave Radio with analog inputs and an SDI-12 interface for a soil moisture probe is mounted on a stake driven into the ground in the cranberry bogs. A thermistor connected to an input on the Slave Radio monitors soil and ambient temperatures.
Soil moisture content and temperature data is wirelessly transmitted back to a DXM100 Wireless Controller. When air temperatures drop below specific limits, the DXM100 sends text messages to the farmers. This frost early warning system allows the farmers to take appropriate actions to minimize possible crop damage. Soil moisture levels are logged with the DXM100, allowing the farmers to more efficiently irrigate their fields and conserve water while also reducing energy costs.
Based on this installation, the integrator estimated 1.5 year battery life, allowing the customer to include battery replacement on an annual schedule.
The Sure Cross® wireless network operates outside the Wi-Fi network and provides local control of data even if the Wi-Fi connection is lost. In this installation, independence from an Internet connection was an important consideration. Many rural farming areas do not have access to a reliable high-speed Internet connection so wireless data collection solutions cannot rely the Internet for a frost early warning alarm system.
Featured Products
Soluciones de Medición
Los sensores de medición y las matrices de medición de resolución de problemas de Banner son ideales para el control y la inspección de procesos precisos. Las soluciones para la detección confiable de objetos, el monitoreo remoto y las mediciones de precisión están disponibles en una gama de tecnologías de detección para optimizar la detección para cada objetivo y entorno únicos.
Iluminación e Indicación
Iluminación de calidad superior, clara indicación de estado, guía inconfundible para el operario.
Seguridad en Máquina
Los niveles más altos de seguridad sin comprometer la productividad.
Inalámbrico Industrial
Monitoreo en tiempo real en lugares de difícil acceso.
Código de Barras y Visión
Banner Engineering proporciona capacidades avanzadas de lectura de códigos de barras, sensores de visión y cámaras inteligentes para rastreabilidad, inspección y control de calidad en una amplia variedad de industrias. Ofrecemos soluciones robustas y confiables que garantizan la calidad, mejoran la eficiencia y permiten una gestión precisa del inventario. Son soluciones rentables, fáciles de implementar y fáciles de utilizar, capaces de resolver miles de aplicaciones, desde verificación de características simples a inspecciones complejas, de alta velocidad.
E/S Remotas
Los productos de E/S remotas optimizan el rendimiento del sistema de control y simplifican el diseño del sistema para los fabricantes de máquinas y los ingenieros de control.
Accesorios
Una amplia selección de cables, reflectores y más.
Software para Productos Banner
Configuración del producto con interfaces de usuario intuitivas.
Technologies
Choose from a wide selection of product technologies to enhance your new or existing system with advanced capabilities. Whether it be our programmable multicolor LED devices with Pro Editor Software, flexible pick-to-light systems with PICK-IQ™, or exclusive safety devices with In-Series Diagnostics, Banner Engineering can help customize your ideal solution to address even the most complex applications.