Evaluating the Potential of Low-cost Irrigation Automation for Improving Yield and Quality of High-value Vegetables in High-tunnel Production Systems.

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Commodities

• Vegetables: tomatoes

Practices

• Crop Production: high tunnels or hoop houses, irrigation, water management
• Education and Training: decision support system, demonstration, extension, on-farm/ranch research, technical assistance
• Farm Business Management: labor/employment, risk management
• Pest Management: prevention
• Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems, partnerships, quality of life

This project seeks to improve high-tunnel production systems in the Northeast through on-farm collaborative evaluation of an autonomous data-driven irrigation system for production of fresh-market tomato. The USDA-ARS developed a low-cost ($250) and open-source irrigation controller, Open_Irr, to improve equitable access to emerging agricultural technology systems. The controller automates irrigation events based on soil moisture sensor feedback in high-tunnels of three collaborating farmers in Pennsylvania. Project objectives are (i) to install Open_Irr controllers at three small high-tunnel farms providing collaborating farmers with controller operation training; (ii) quantify irrigation water volume utilized in beds managed by the controller, and those under typical management; (iii) evaluate resulting produce yield and quality; and (iv) develop recommendations for data-driven irrigation controllers in high-tunnel production environments. Open_Irr controllers constructed by USDA-ARS will be installed with necessary irrigation system modifications in fall 2024. Training on the controller will be provided during install, and again during early spring 2025 planting activities. Experimental activities will be conducted as two approaches to irrigation (data-driven irrigation, manual irrigation) in fresh-market tomato using a randomized complete block design with 3 replications across high-tunnel planting beds. Irrigation flow meters will record water usage among crop and irrigation approaches. Crop growth will be monitored during vegetative growth phases; upon harvest, yield and produce quality will be evaluated by Penn State researchers. Project outreach consists of one formal field day event; one popular press publication (Vegetable Grower News or similar); a Penn State extension publication and presentation of research findings at growers’ meetings.

This project seeks to evaluate the effect of using a low-cost, open-source, and fully autonomous soil sensor driven irrigation controller, relative to manual irrigation management, in commercial high-tunnel production of high-value fresh-market produce. The objectives are: (i) to install the novel Open_Irr controllers on three collaborating farmer operations in Pennsylvania; (ii) to quantify and contrast water utilization of irrigation strategies, water use efficiency, and irrigation labor requirements; (iii) compare resulting marketable fruit yield, nutrient profile, and quality parameters; and (iv) to facilitate grower evaluation of the irrigation controller and foster a cooperative approach toward controller development priorities. Formal research will be conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications. Irrigation modifications completed in Fall 2024 shall: (i) incorporate a flow sensor to meter water consumption; and (ii) facilitate irrigation study of three high-value fresh-market produce products. Marketable fresh weight will be determined during harvest events with subsamples collected to facilitate fruit quality assessment and nutrient profile determination. Throughout the season, irrigation labor requirements will be recorded to assist economic potential estimation of the fully autonomous approach to data-driven irrigation. Producer feedback regarding irrigation controller operation and performance will identify further product development priorities.