Issuu

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)

e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 11 Issue: 03 | Mar. 2024

p-ISSN: 2395-0072

www.irjet.net

System for Monitoring Sap Flow in Trees for Better Management of Available Irrigation Water. Gamero-Inda E.1., García-Moreno L.I.2, Godínez-García F.J.1, Martínez-Rivera J.A.1, GuerreroRivera R.1, Ortíz-Medina J1. 1, Tecnológico Nacional de México TECNM/IT Durango,

Professors, MSc. in Engineering, Durango, México.

2 TECNM/IT Durango, Student, MSc. in Engineering, Durango, México.

---------------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------accuracy in sap flow measurements (Davis, et. al 2012). The Abstract – The present work shows the design and assembly

most widely used technique to measure sap flow is the heat technique (Nadezhdina, 2018). Sap flow sensors are easy to install and can provide valuable information for precision irrigation monitoring in apple trees since using this information, the quantity of irrigation water can control fruit size or maximize it in cultivars with larger fruits or minimize it in cultivars with smaller fruits

of a sap flow monitoring device to perform continuous readings in trees, based on the “Heat Field Deformation” (HFD) method, through the use of “easy to get” electronic systems and circuits. Additionally, we obtained a piece of software that enhances the device and makes it easy to switch to different types of trees (including fruit trees). The novelty of this proposal is to offer small and medium producers a technological, simple, and economical way to achieve a better and sustainable use of available irrigation water.

Much better use of irrigation water in agriculture is a grave matter of discussion since climate change has affected some human activities, including agriculture (Chartzoulakis, et. al 2015). The combination of increased temperatures, changes in total annual rainfall, and population growth, is leading to longer periods of drought, and consequently, plants are exposed to greater stress. In the face of this challenge, digital technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), can collect a good amount of data that can help producers facilitate decision-making and present themselves as an ally for the correct determination, quantity and, application of irrigation water.

Key words: Agroindustry, Sap Flow Measuring, Precision Irrigation, Water Management.

1. INTRODUCTION This project responds to a felt need for better and responsible water consumption when used for irrigation purposes, with great attention to irrigation of an orchard of fruit trees. This, is especially true in the Mexican state of Durango, where the cultivation of apple trees is a significant source of revenue for the small and medium producers in the municipality of Canatlán, Durango, México.

1.2 Monitoring System. The principal measurement variable is temperature, measured digitally using the 1-Wire Protocol since the devices with this protocol represent a great advantage for a portable system with more than one sensor. Since here it is important to reduce space and the number of connections for the circuits. The system uses point-to-point communication where one of the nodes is responsible for collecting the data that in turn, is transmitted through radio frequency communication modules. The receiving node has a Wi-Fi module with which it is possible to upload this data to the cloud for subsequent analysis and visualization.

Knowing sap flow is a unique tool for achieving precision irrigation in apple trees. Understanding the water needs of apple trees is essential to achieve optimal and high-quality production. Measuring the water status of trees provides direct information on irrigation limitations, which, combined with monitoring sap flow, allows the relationship between climate and soil water to be adjusted to maintain an appropriate balance (Ferreira, et. al 2102). Precision irrigation offers several benefits, including greater efficiency in water use, reduction in production costs, and an enhancement in the quality of the final product (Siddiqi, et. al 2021). Therefore, monitoring sap flow can, significantly improve the consumption of irrigation water in apple trees orchards.

1.3 Heat Field Deformation Method In simple terms, the HFD method (Heat Field Deformation Method), as its name indicates, is based on the measurement of the heat field deformation around a needle-shaped linear heater inserted in a radial direction into the trunk stem of the tree. If we could see the heat field from the front (Figure 1), it would appear as a symmetrical ellipse, due to the different thermal conductivities of the trunk fibers in the

Sap flow measuring is a technique that allows you to, among other things, manage water use by trees. This technique, is commonly used to determine the water needs of crops. Sap flow sensors allow for accurate, real-time measurement of tree water consumption. Sensor technology has advanced significantly in recent years, allowing us to obtain greater

Impact Factor value: 8.226

ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal

Page 639