Good to the Last Drop

AquaSpy’s Crophesy technology brings vital irrigation data to growers

By Douglas J. Guth

Quality, consistency and profitability are the big-ticket goals for any grower. Reaching these heights requires pinpoint data analysis, which is the mission of global agtech provider AquaSpy.

AquaSpy’s Crophesy soil moisture probes help farmers optimize yield and profitability via below ground data retrieval. The wireless, battery-operated probes monitor crop soil and roots, with real-time information sent to the cloud and accessible through a tablet, smartphone or PC.

Utilizing this data gives growers an unprecedented level of crop management process control –  what vice president of marketing Kathleen Glass compares to a FICO score for maintaining plants. Vital irrigation info appears on easy-to-read summary charts, streamlining decision-making and ensuring operators use the right amount of water.

“Younger generations are gamifying that, saying I’ve got to get my score higher,” says Glass. “The data we provide lets growers know the health of the crop and whether it’s consuming the right amount of available water.”

Crophesy probes monitor crops with root depths of up to 60 inches. Newer six- and 12-sensor probes are designed for plants with root zones between 16 and 60 inches, covering row crops, vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts and grains. AquaSpy also offers a three-sensor probe better suited for shallow rooted vegetables.

With agriculture facing increased water scarcity, the instantaneous nature of the Crophesy tool ensures that plants use every last drop, notes Glass. Through the technology, farmers can glean stats on water infiltration and consumption as well as soil moisture, density, salinity and temperature.

Whereas previous generations of farmers would send soil to a lab for analysis – or simply put a finger into the dirt to gauge moisture content – today’s growers no longer have to rely on guesswork. Tight control of inputs equates to lower costs and higher yields for crops like watermelon, says Cory Mikell, whose Florida-headquartered H20 Technologies deals in water management innovations including the Crophesy probes.

Clients not using the AquaSpy innovation tend to overwater their watermelon crops, causing nutrients to leach out of the soil. Probe adopters have a clearer understanding of underground water deficits, allowing them to be proactive in applying just the right amount of moisture.

“AquaSpy does that well, in terms of knowing how long growers need to be running their water,” Mikell says. “By knowing what’s going on underground, they can stay ahead of that decision as quickly and simply as possible. It’s a mindset of playing defense and responding to the crop, and getting ahead of what’s going on.”

‘A light bulb moment’

Melon growers who watered based on their own schedules did not initially trust the data derived from the Crophesy probes, says Glass of AquaSpy. However, witnessing detailed moisture absorption data in different soil layers transformed that skepticism into excitement. Testing soil by hand revealed the same amount of water detected by the technology, serving as a final proof-of-concept for the probes.

“It was a big light bulb moment,” Glass says. “Growers found out that pouring in nitrogen and water is wasteful, and they would never win the profitability contest that way. Yield for melons is not the goal; it’s the perfect (melon) that stands up to your brand promise.”

While plants such as soy and corn are more yield-focused, vegetables and nut crops require that same emphasis on consistent quality. A salt-sensitive crop like almonds, meanwhile, needs more water if the soil is not flushed out by rain. To that end, knowing the exact soil salinity as calculated by the Crophesy tech lets growers irrigate their field as necessary.

Assisting this cause is a remote monitoring program – called Crophesy Pay as You Grow – billed by AquaSpy as a “cell-phone service for crops.” Participants pay a monthly fee to bundle the service with probe technology – all users need is a mobile device or laptop to read their findings.

“Farmers can use an auger to dig a hole and put in their probes,” says Glass. “We wanted to make it easier for growers to move their probes over if they’re growing a single crop. If they have a limited season, they can suspend the service without paying the monthly usage fee.”

Mikell, the H20 Technologies owner, says ease-of-use is what separates Crophesy from other innovations of its kind.

“So many companies have sensors that are great for university research, but they miss the mark for average growers,” says Mikell. “Growers can look at Crophesy data first thing in the morning and know where they should focus their management decisions for the day. They can just be a farmer, which is what they want to do.”

Looming water shortages in Florida – fueled by a growing in-state population – make accurate data collection even more important. Precise data technology can solidify farmers’ place at the front line of environmental stewardship.

“There’s a strong belief that growers are the best stewards we have,” Mikell says. “No farmer wants to put out more water or fertilizer than they have to. With this data, they can be sure about the inputs they’re using.”

Ultimately, a vertical approach to crop health optimization enables better irrigation while minimizing runoff and conserving water. Glass expects AquaSpy to continue to rewrite standards around crop management in line with an evolving agriculture industry.

“Trusting technology is a big leap for farmers, but this is going to save them time,” says Glass. “Instead of going to each field, now they have data available layer-by-layer, when they’ve never before been able to see what the bottom layer of their roots are doing.”