Video: Smart Citrus Nursery in Queensland
Improving the productivity and environmental performance of nursery systems using technology, sensors and live data is referred to as smart farming. Information can come from in-field sensors, nursery cameras, on-site weather data and decision support tools such as forecasting models or automated records.
Golden Grove Wholesale Nursery is piloting:
EC and pH sensors for irrigation, dam and runoff water quality
Growing media moisture monitoring
Automated EcoHort reporting
Pest-trap cameras
Dendrometers for plant growth rates
Disinfestation free chlorine monitoring
The National Landcare Program and Hort Innovation have funded a pilot smart production nursery and are supporting the development of the Hitachi Control Tower, which provides growers with an integrated data platform to farm efficiently and demonstrates environmental best practice to their customers and compliance bodies.