Irrismart

Irrismart is a project involving Abinsula, the Department of Agriculture of the University of Sassari, the Polytechnic University of Marche, Irrivolt and Azienda Agricola F.lli Setzu.

The aim of the project was to make water use more efficient by devising an intelligent irrigation system, equipped with sensors and capable of meeting the plant’s needs without unnecessary water wastage.

As part of this project, Abinsula was responsible for implementing the sensor system in the field: from the supply of the sensors to the installation and final configuration of the system.

The sensors chosen were able to measure soil temperature and humidity, air temperature and humidity, both inside and outside the greenhouse.

The activities took place mainly inside the greenhouse-tunnel of the F.lli Setzu farm near Samassi and were divided into three phases:

• Research activities conducted at the experimental farm of the Department of Agriculture of the University of Sassari located in Ottava for the analysis of soil samples from the F.lli Setzu farm. The data collected, made available and viewable through a web portal, were used to calibrate the sensors;
  
  
• Installation of a micrometeorological station at the greenhouse-tunnel of the F.lli Setzu farm, to monitor certain parameters such as humidity and temperature, in order to programme evaporative cooling irrigation activities and to establish the water balance;
  
  
• Optimisation of irrigation management through the collection and processing of data from the sensors, in order to reduce water wastage and guarantee the plant what it really needs.