IRRISTAUD 2.0
IRRISTAUD is a conjunction of ‘irrigation’ and ‘Stauden’, the German word for ‘perennial’. This project is about optimising both the water supply as well as the amount of nutrients and fertilisers used in growing perennials.
Water is a precious and scarce commodity. Climate change is forcing us to be even more careful with our water. IRRISTAUD focuses on optimisation of water supply for plants in pots, containers and liners.
The project has 3 interrelated strands:
- Measuring plant water requirements through sensors that measure plant stress based on leaf positions and photosynthesis. This is combined with common soil measurements. Measurements are made through flying and driving sensor positioning systems and sensors in pots, respectively.
- Municipal data will be transformed into algorithms and control data for targeted and metered irrigation on a newly developed platform through Artificial Intelligence. The platform will also be suitable for other crops.
- Targeted and optimally dosed watering of plants. The intended effects are:
- Nursery plants grow better with the same use of resources and raw materials because they do not get too little but also not too much water or at the wrong time.
- Optimising the use of nutrients and fertilisers
- Less water consumption
- Preventing leaching of fertilisers and nutrients to soil or groundwater.
Irristaud is a cross-border collaboration between groups of plant breeders, research companies and research institutions. Together, they have a unique combination of scientific knowledge, applied knowledge and grower skills.
A co-creation group of growers will be formed for each development line. This way, growers are involved in the genesis process and the solutions can connect to daily practice, i.e. direct applicability. There will be a reference group with Gelderland tree growers and WUR to quickly transform the method to potted tree cultivation if successful.
