Implementation of a system to optimize olive production

Aim: Achieve increased production efficiency by optimizing existing resources and reducing costs using an intelligent system that integrates sensors, soil, drip irrigation, and weather monitoring, as well as satellite or drone image monitoring.

Description of the Intelligent System for Olive Trees: This system is designed to automate and optimize water use efficiency in olive cultivation, ensuring optimal plant growth and minimizing operating costs. It integrates water sensing technologies, precision irrigation control, and environmental monitoring to dynamically adapt to the crop's water needs and weather conditions.

Main Components:

1. Soil Sensors:

   • Soil Moisture Sensors: They will be installed at different depths in strategic locations throughout the olive grove. These sensors, preferably capacitive or TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry), will measure soil moisture (volumetric water content). The data will be transmitted wirelessly to the central control unit.

   • Soil Temperature Sensors: Located next to the moisture sensors, they will monitor soil temperature. This data is crucial for understanding root activity, evaporation, and nutrient availability, influencing irrigation decisions.

   • Pressure, Temperature, and Humidity Sensors: Located next to the soil humidity and temperature sensors, they will monitor the soil's ambient temperature and humidity. This will influence evaporation, influencing irrigation decisions.

   • Control Unit: Collects information from the sensors and sends it via a wireless system to the Gateway to be forwarded to the FieldPartner Service platform.

1. Drip Irrigation System:

   • Pipe and Drip Network: This consists of a main, secondary, and tertiary network of polyethylene pipes with emitter drippers spaced according to the olive tree planting pattern. The drippers should preferably be self-compensating to ensure even water distribution, even on sloping terrain.

   • Irrigation Pumps: Pumps sized according to the olive grove's surface area and the required flow rate will be responsible for pumping water through the system. They can be fixed or variable speed, the latter being more energy efficient.

   • Solenoid/Motorized Valves: Remotely controlled by the central unit, they allow the water flow to be opened or closed to specific sectors of the olive grove, facilitating irrigation by zone and the sectorization of water management.

   • Filters: Essential for preventing dripper blockage, ensuring system longevity and efficiency. Mesh or ring filters with automatic backwash systems will be used.

   • Control Unit: Manages the entire workflow between water pumps, solenoid valves, and nutrient dosing system (optional), sending information wirelessly to the Communications Gateway to send all information to the FieldPartner Service platform in real time.

     
     

2. Meteorological Monitoring (Meteorological Station):

   • Air Temperature and Humidity Sensors: To evaluate the evaporative demand of the atmosphere and calculate the reference evapotranspiration (ET0).

   • Solar Radiation Sensor: Provides data on the energy available for photosynthesis and evaporation.

   • Anemometer and Wind Vane: They measure wind speed and direction, factors that significantly influence evapotranspiration.

   • Rain gauge: Records precipitation, allowing irrigation programs to be adjusted based on natural rainfall.

   • Barometer: Measures atmospheric pressure, which can be used in more complex evapotranspiration models.

   • Data Acquisition and Transmission Unit: Collects information from meteorological sensors and sends it to the FieldPartner Service platform via wireless communication through the Gateway.

3. Communications Gateway: Concentrates all communication systems using the LoraWan or Lora communication protocol of the weather station, sensors or pumping control unit(s) and sending via the use of existing Wi-Fi communication on site to the QTSAGRO cloud.

   
   

4. FieldPartner Service Monitoring Platform:

   
   

   • Smart Management Software: This is the "brain" of the system. It receives and processes real-time data from soil sensors and the weather station, multispectral image processing. It uses advanced algorithms to calculate actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and the soil water depletion curve.

     

   • Notes/Tours: Our tour system is based on the creation of geolocated points, allowing them to be recorded from a device. Users can mark the date and time of the current activity, as well as the scheduled date for future visits. They can select the tour activity and specify the type of sample to be identified, whether "pest," "disease," or "anomaly." Taking photos or uploading stored photos of the field allows us to process them through an artificial intelligence (AI) system for analysis, providing a detailed status of the crops. The more photos uploaded, the more accurate the assessment will be. Users can select the severity of the problems found, allowing the creation of a work order if warranted.

     

   • Work Orders

     

   • Irrigation Decision-Making: Based on the analyzed data, the software determines when and how much to irrigate. It considers factors such as soil moisture, weather forecast, the olive tree's phenological stage, and soil characteristics.

   • Scheduling and Remote Control: Allows users to schedule watering cycles, adjust parameters, and turn irrigation on/off remotely via a web interface or mobile app.

   • Alarms and Notifications: The system can generate automatic alerts if anomalies are detected (e.g. low pressure, sensor failure, critical humidity values).

   • Data History and Reports: Stores historical data on irrigation, water usage, soil and weather conditions, allowing for retrospective analysis and ongoing system optimization.

Integrated Operation:

1. Data Collection: Soil moisture and temperature sensors continuously send their readings to the system. At the same time, the weather station transmits climate data.

2. Analysis and Processing: It processes the cross-referencing of data stored in the database using cutting-edge algorithms and the help of artificial intelligence. For example, it calculates crop evapotranspiration (ETc) using models such as Penman-Monteith, adjusted for the crop coefficient (Kc) specific to the olive tree at its current phenological stage. It compares current soil moisture with a preset irrigation threshold to avoid water stress or oversaturation.

3. Decision Making: If soil moisture falls below the critical threshold and the accumulated ETO indicates the need for irrigation, the system activates the corresponding valves and pumps.

4. Irrigation Implementation: Drip irrigation is activated in the selected areas, applying the precise amount of water required by the olive trees, drop by drop, directly to the root zone.

5. Continuous Monitoring: During and after irrigation, soil sensors continue to monitor moisture to ensure the desired level is reached and to prevent overwatering.

6. Dynamic Adjustment: The system is adaptive. If significant rainfall is forecast, the irrigation schedule can be automatically postponed or reduced. If drought conditions persist or evaporative demand increases, the system can recommend or implement additional irrigation.

System Benefits:

• Water Savings: Significant reduction in water consumption by applying only the necessary amount, avoiding losses due to runoff, deep percolation or surface evaporation.

• Increased Productivity and Quality: Ensures an optimal water supply, reducing water stress and promoting healthy olive tree development, which translates into higher yields and better quality olives.

• Energy Efficiency: Optimizing pump operating time, reducing energy consumption.

• Optimization of work times: Through continuous monitoring and the alert system, travel times on the farm are optimized, leaving that time available for information analysis and decision-making.

• Environmental Sustainability: Contributes to the sustainable management of water and energy resources.

• Informed Decision Making: Provides accurate, real-time data for smarter, more efficient farm management.

• Optimized Fertilization: Allows the precise application of fertilizers dissolved in irrigation water, improving absorption by plants.

This system represents a comprehensive solution for water management in olive groves, promoting precision agriculture that adapts to the demands of the crop and changing environmental conditions.

General recommendations for installing Sensors:

1. Depth of sensors:

   • Zone of greatest root activity: In olive trees, the highest root density is usually found in the first 30–60 cm of depth. Therefore, it is essential to have sensors in this layer. Some studies have placed sensors at a depth of 30 cm, which is considered a zone of great interest for maintaining constant humidity.

   • Greater depths: It is advisable to install at least one sensor at a greater depth (e.g., 60–90 cm) to monitor moisture in the deeper soil profile and understand how the tree is extracting water from its reserves. This is especially important in mature olive trees with deep root systems. Some installations have used sensors at 10, 20, 40, and 60 cm.

   • Temperature sensors: Although surface temperature can vary daily, soil temperature at depths of 50 cm is more affected by seasonal fluctuations. Monitoring soil temperature is important for understanding root activity, nutrient uptake, and plant phenological development.

     
     

2. Number of sensors per zone/plot:

   • Homogeneous areas: On a plot with uniform soil and similar management, one sensor per 0.5 to 1 hectare could be considered as a starting point. However, this is very general.

   • Heterogeneous areas: If there are significant variations in soil or relief within a plot, it is best to divide it into smaller zones and place at least 1-2 sensors per representative zone.

   • Per tree (intensive approach): For more precise monitoring in a drip irrigation system, one could consider:

     • 1 sensor for every 2-4 representative trees within a homogeneous "irrigation zone".

     • In some systems, one sensor is installed for each Homogeneous Agricultural Plot (HAP). If the plot is very large, more than one sensor can be installed and the measurements averaged.

   • Wet bulb approach: In drip irrigation, sensors should be placed within the wet bulb generated by the drippers, since this is where most of the water absorption by the roots is concentrated.

Practical example:

For a plantation of olive trees 4 to 6 meters high with drip irrigation in a clay-loam soil and a relatively uniform area of 5 hectares, a scheme such as the following could be considered:

• 5-8 monitoring points strategically distributed throughout the plot.

• At each point, install a humidity and temperature probe with sensors at at least 3 depths:

  • 30 cm: For the area of greatest root activity and frequent irrigation control.

  • 60 cm: To monitor water availability in a deeper profile.

  • 90 cm or more (optional): To understand water movement and the use of reserves by deeper roots.

Additional considerations:

• Location: Sensors should be located on the drip line and not directly below the tree trunk, but at a distance that represents the area of greatest water absorption by the roots.

In short, this is a recommendation, as the final decision should be made by an advisor familiar with the characteristics of each plot and soil for the exact quantity, as it depends on the specific characteristics of the olive grove. However, prioritizing the depth of the active root zone and considering the variability of the soil and irrigation system will allow you to design an effective sensor network.

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