Agricultural Analytics – How We Do It

HOW WE DO IT

The key to intelligent real-time irrigation lies in Earthtec’s ability to tap into what the plant knows.

The irrigation needs for a whole plant can vary, not just by the day, month, or season, but by the minute. Changes in environmental conditions can have a dramatic impact on the plant, particularly in the zone where the roots are most active.

Plants are highly sensitive, dynamic organisms which have evolved to compete for the limited resources, both above and below the ground. They are constantly assessing their circumstances and adapting in response to environmental cues. Under and over-watering produces telling responses in a plant’s root activity. The inability to realize a crop’s needs with a precise application of water puts a fundamental constraint on plant growth and ultimately impacts the crop’s yield and quality. Our studies have shown that the absolute best source of actionable information for effective water and nutrient application is present and accessible in the plant itself.

Earthtec uses leading-edge sensor technology to tap into the sensory and regulatory systems of the plant,  translating and turning the data collected into intelligent automated irrigation via Adviroguard, our proprietary analytic software. The process—what we call a Plant to Irrigation (P2i) process—puts the plant in charge of irrigation, letting it maximize its water needs while minimizing stress. Plant-Triggered Irrigation that has been shown to dramatically improve Plant Water Health for the crop, optimizing crop production while reducing the financial and environmental consequences of over- and under-watering.