Broccoli growers in the Netherlands experiment with the use of sensors

Three broccoli growers in North Holland have installed Fieldmate sensors on their plots as part of a precision farming project. The growers can gain insight into the amount of precipitation, the plot and crop climate and the soil temperature on a specific plot via an accompanying app. Broccoli is a crop that is sensitive to fungi, pests and special weather conditions. By using digital technologies, growers can gain more insight into the crop and the soil condition. The sensors help to better plan cultivation activities such as crop protection, fertilization and irrigation. The measured data is combined in the SmartFarm app with calculated data and data from external sources. With this, this system also offers insight into the radiation of the sun, the wind speed, wind direction and gusts of the plot. Based on the measured and expected temperature and humidity, it is determined to what extent there is an infection risk. This is highlighted per disease in the disease pressure tool, ...