In the heart of Italy, a revolution is brewing in the tomato fields, and it’s not about a new recipe or a record-breaking harvest. Researchers at the University of Parma are leveraging the power of the Internet of Things (IoT) to redefine agricultural irrigation, with potential ripples extending into the energy sector.
Picture this: a tomato field in Parma, Italy, equipped with an array of sensors and controlled by an IoT infrastructure. This isn’t a scene from a sci-fi movie, but a real-life experiment led by Laura Belli, a researcher at the Internet of Things (IoT) Lab, Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Parma. Belli and her team are using Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN)-enabled devices to monitor and manage irrigation in a tomato cultivation, specifically the Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. HEINZ 1301 variety.
The experiment, conducted over the summer of 2023, involved three different irrigation regimes. The first line of tomatoes was watered according to recommendations from a national cloud service, Irriframe, developed by the Water Boards Italian Association (ANBI). The second line received 60% of that water, and the third line got just 30%. “We wanted to see how different watering strategies would affect the crop and the environment,” Belli explains.
The IoT infrastructure, deployed in the crop, sampled data every 10 minutes, collecting information on environmental conditions, water usage, and soil moisture. But the data collection didn’t stop at raw numbers. The team also calculated daily agronomic indicators, such as the Growing Degree Days (GDD) index and Heat Units, which are crucial for understanding the crop’s growth and development.
So, why should the energy sector care about tomato irrigation? The answer lies in the potential for water and energy savings. By optimizing irrigation, farmers can reduce water usage, which in turn can lower the energy required for pumping and treating water. Moreover, the IoT infrastructure itself, with its low-power, wide-area network, could pave the way for more energy-efficient agricultural practices.
The dataset from this experiment, published in Data in Brief, which translates to ‘Brief Data’, is a treasure trove for researchers and industry professionals alike. It offers insights into the interplay between irrigation, environmental conditions, and crop growth, all while highlighting the potential of IoT in agriculture.
As we look to the future, this research could shape the development of smart irrigation systems, not just for tomatoes, but for a wide range of crops. It could also influence the design of energy-efficient IoT infrastructures for agriculture, contributing to a more sustainable and productive food system.
In the words of Belli, “This is just the beginning. The potential of IoT in agriculture is vast, and we’re only starting to scratch the surface.” And as the tomato fields of Parma continue to yield data, the energy sector watches with keen interest, ready to harvest the benefits of this agricultural revolution.