Monitoring RMA soil moisture and weather sensors for irrigation

RMA's irrigation monitoring system integrates weather stations, 8-day forecasts from MeteoTest, wireless soil moisture sensors, and specialized software to optimize water use. Data on temperature, humidity, precipitation, solar radiation, and wind are collected hourly. Soil sensors measure moisture at 10 cm intervals in and below the root zone, calculating potential evapotranspiration and using field capacity and refill point thresholds to guide irrigation. The system supports adaptive management as crops grow and root zones deepen. Visual tools display soil moisture status via graphs and meters, with a 20 mm irrigation event shown to reach field capacity. A 5-day prognosis predicts soil moisture trends. Monitoring covers 7 grassland, 4 arable, and 2 natural sites in Zeijen, plus annual plots: 2 potting soil, 12 seed potato, and 2 onion fields. Sensors are installed post-planting and removed pre-harvest. Grassland data show consistent water uptake without stress; groundwater depth drops from near-surface in January to 1 meter by October. Potato fields A and B show no stress, though field B has no water uptake below 30 cm, likely due to a subsurface barrier. Seed potato plots recorded dry conditions in August without yield impact, possibly due to drought-induced dry matter transfer. Onion Plot 2 shows significant dryness due to sandy, drought-sensitive soil. Graphs from April–August 2025 illustrate irrigation triggers and soil variability, emphasizing site-specific management. The system enables precise, data-driven irrigation decisions.