CSIRO-developed FLECK™ technology: monitoring field trials

Phenonet: wireless sensors in agriculture

The High Resolution Plant Phenomics Centre is using CSIRO-developed smart sensor nodes to record microclimate and plant data in the field in an effort to select new plant varieties suited to difficult growing conditions.

• 30 May 2011 | Updated 14 October 2011

• Smart sensor technology
• 'Phenonet'
• Predicting heat and frost events
• About the scientists

'Phenonet' describes the network of sensors collecting information over a field of experimental crops.

Phenomics describes the study of how the genetic makeup of an organism determines its appearance, function and performance.

Plant phenomics is a cross-disciplinary approach, studying the connection from cell to leaf to whole plant and from crop to canopy.

Analysing the size, growth and performance of plants in a greenhouse or field site can be time-consuming and laborious.

When a field site is located in a remote area, it becomes quite expensive to send people out to the field.

Smart sensor technology

CSIRO has developed smart wireless sensors nodes that work independently to record environmental conditions and cooperate with each other to set up an ad hoc network to wirelessly transfer data to a database. 

Read more at Wireless sensor networks: a new instrument for observing our world.

'Phenonet'

'Phenonet' is the name for a sensor network which collects information over a field of experimental crops.

Researchers at the High Resolution Plant Phenomics Centre are testing a network of smart sensor nodes able to monitor plant growth and performance information and climate conditions. 

The ability to collect this information and send it back to the laboratory in real time is an invaluable tool for plant scientists. 

The project is currently in its early stages with five nodes spread over a quarter acre field of newly-sown sorghum, millet and soybean at CSIRO’s Ginninderra research station in Canberra. 

Each solar-powered node is connected to sensors measuring solar radiation, air temperature, soil moisture, soil temperature and an infrared sensor which measures canopy temperature.

Using this new technology, researchers hope to be able to ‘map’ environmental variations such as light, temperature and soil moisture across the field to better evaluate and compare new plant varieties. 

Small variations in light intensity or soil moisture, for example, can impact plant growth and performance. 

By mapping these variations and correlating them with each plant’s genetic profile and performance, researchers can improve the accuracy and speed of plant breeding.

Predicting frost and heat events

Severe frosts and heat events can have a devastating affect on crops. Flowering time is critical for cereal crops and a frost event could damage the flowering mechanism of the plant.   

Based on trends in air and soil temperature and humidity, the sensors can predict when frost or high temperature events may threaten crops. The sensors will then email a warning to the researcher, prompting them to visit the field site.

If researchers can better understand what happens to the flowering mechanism when a frost or heat event occurs, they will be able to breed new crops able to resist damage during adverse temperature events.

About the scientists

Dr Xavier Sirault is conducting the field trial with the assistance of Dr David Deery and Dr Peter Lamb.

Read about other projects underway at the High Resolution Plant Phenomics Centre, such as the International C4 Rice Consortium.