myzelion – WueLAB Tree Health

General information

Brief description

Young hornbeams have been planted around the new science laboratory building. These trees are subject to high levels of (dry) stress, particularly during the summer months. To ensure they establish themselves as well as possible, they are being looked after by watering volunteers.

Newly developed sensors are to be used to determine when the trees require additional water. To this end, soil moisture, field capacity, temperature and humidity are measured close to the plants. This data is to be combined in a model to determine when the trees require additional water.

This information is to be made available to the watering volunteers in a user-friendly and easily understandable way, so that they can look after the trees properly.

 

Objective

The aim is to ensure that the young trees establish themselves well. Ideally, data-driven watering should enable the trees to thrive whilst using fewer resources, such as water, and promoting better tree health.

 

Activities

The sensors have already been tested and further developed in a laboratory setting. Work is currently continuing intensively in four areas:

• Modelling the water (available to the plants) in the soil
• Research into the optimal irrigation of young trees to promote healthy growth
• Adaptation of the sensors and the relay for measurements at the university
• Designing a user-friendly way to access the measurement data