Applications of Internet of Things for Precision Farming is transforming traditional farming towards Precision Agriculture. OMICAFARM is the first technology platform that integrates Internet of Things with other disruptive technologies in order to modernize the agriculture world.
With OMICAFARM, farmers can monitor a wide range of parameters and keep under control the status of crops and soils. Thanks to its Smart Boards, up to 6 different parameters can be measured at the same time. In order to make it even easier to use, each Smart Board is equipped with:
- Solar Panel: Smart Boards are self-powered and can also be installed inside a far field from an electric power line.
- GPS: Smart Boards and their sensors can be moved and deployed on different fields. OMICAFARM automatically recognizes their position and Geo-reference all the data it collects.
- Data transmission system: Smart Boards automatically transmit data that can be viewed directly on www.omicafarm.com site on the personal page.
Each Smart Board can monitor the following parameters:
- Atmospheric Temperature, Humidity and Pressure: to have a continuous monitoring of local environmental conditions for a better evaluation of the evapotranspiration. The evapotranspiration is the amount of water (per unit of time) that passes from the ground into the air in the vapor state for the joint effect of transpiration, through plants, and evaporation, directly from the soil. Knowledge of these parameters is essential to estimate the water needs of a plant and figure out if there are conditions for the spread of pest and diseases.
- Rain gauge: measuring the amount of real-time rain throughout the day. Knowing this value is a key factor in understanding how much water is absorbed by the soil. This helps farmer to improve irrigation schedule operating only where is needed and when is requested.
- Anemometer: real-time measures the direction and intensity of the wind. The data is displayed through a wind-rose that allows you to easily understand in which direction and to what degree the wind blew.
- Soil temperature: is measured at periodic intervals (up to 10 minutes) and can be used to estimate the evapotranspirationof the soil. Soil temperature is also a key factor to understand when to sow. Temperatures too low, in fact, can be a factor preventing the birth of the plant and its proper growth.
- Soil moisture: at regular intervals (up to 10 minutes), a tensiometer measures the load of suction, i.e. the force with which the water is attracted to and retained in the soil. From the measured pressure is deduced the load of suction. For example, when the measuring instrument “zero” it is understood that the soil is saturated. Otherwise, when the instrument measures too high, the soil is too dry, and the need to irrigate. Depending on the crop, it may be useful to monitor the moisture level of the soil at different depths from 30 cm up to meters deep. Each OMICAFARM Smart Board allows you to record data up to 3 levels deep, adapting to each type of cultivation. In the case of plantations of corn, wheat, sorghum, it is sufficient to monitor the soil moisture at one or two depth levels. In the case of orchards or vineyards, it is instead necessary to measure the moisture even at three levels of depth. This is because the root system extends deeper into.
- Leaf Wetness: The presence of a film of water on the surface of the leaves allows the movement and the germination of spores of certain fungal microorganisms and their penetration within the host tissues. Measuring this parameter farmer can predict and face timely diseases protecting their crops
- Solar radiation: Solar radiation is a fundamental parameter in agricultural meteorology and agronomy. It is a physical quantity that drives plant photosynthesis and therefore the rate of growth of plants. Furthermore, the solar radiation plays an essential role in the radiation balance and energy to the ground, affecting the rate of evaporation and transpiration, and, ultimately, the water balance of the soil.
- UV radiation: for a more accurate estimate of the activity of photosynthesis, it may be necessary to measure the ultraviolet radiation. Moreover, during the summer period, measuring the UV rays can be used to evaluate possible damages to the leaves.
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