MSU researchers develop low-cost sensors to help farmers irrigate more efficiently and fight diseases
Scientists have developed a system called LOCOMOS to monitor irrigation efficiency
Researchers at MSU have developed and are currently testing an irrigation technology called Low-Cost Monitoring System (LOCOMOS). Pictured is a LOCOMOS sensor in the field. (Younsuk Dong, MSU)
EAST LANSING, Michigan — Unpredictable rainfall is one of the biggest challenges a farmer faces. Too little moisture hampers plant growth. Too much rainfall can waterlog the soil and provide a breeding ground for disease.
Recently, Michigan farmers have experienced both extremes. Some of the driest and wettest months on record have occurred in recent years. Periods of high moisture are particularly problematic for plant diseases such as tar spot in corn and white mold in soybeans.
Both tar spot and white mold can spread from a few infected plants to entire fields in a short period of time. Once present, farmers must often focus on disease containment, not eradication.
During drier times when disease is less prevalent, farmers often try to supplement missing rainfall with irrigation. However, fine-tuning these systems can be difficult, and too much extra water can lead to unintended disease consequences.
To solve this problem, MSU researchers have developed and are currently testing an irrigation technology called Low-Cost Monitoring System (LOCOMOS). The work is led by Younsuk Dong, an assistant professor and irrigation specialist in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.
At LOCOMOS, sensors in the field measure soil moisture, leaf wetness and other environmental conditions. The data is then analyzed by software that generates precise irrigation recommendations and delivers them to farmers via a user-friendly smartphone app. The development of the system and app was made possible through a partnership with the MSU Innovation Center.
“The commercial monitoring systems are expensive and therefore inaccessible to most farmers,” said Dong. “The data they generate can also be difficult to interpret. A simpler system that uses inexpensive sensors was needed, and LOCOMOS can be used with a smartphone, which almost all farmers now have easy access to.”
In 2021, Dong and his team – which includes Martin Chilvers, professor and crop pathologist in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences – received a three-year, $426,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Other projects have also used LOCOMOS, including some funded by Project GREEEN, the Michigan Soybean Committee, the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan, the Michigan Bean Commission and the Michigan Potato Industry Commission.
“When people overwater, especially when they water frequently, they are likely to encourage disease development, and that’s the part of this work that interests me most as a pathologist,” said Chilvers, whose work is supported in part by MSU AgBioResearch. “In addition, using more water than necessary is costly in terms of water usage, labor and equipment. There are many things to consider when irrigating, and we see how these sensors can help facilitate that process.”
LOCOMOS has been tested in numerous cropping systems, including several field crops, blueberries and potatoes, with more in preparation.
As part of the NRCS project, researchers are working with five farms in Michigan to test LOCOMOS in corn, soybean and tomato fields. The study is ongoing, but based on the first three years of on-farm demonstration data, sensor-based irrigation scheduling has improved water use efficiency on all five farms.
In the corn and soybean fields, Dong said, LOCOMOS improved irrigation water use efficiency without increasing disease rates. Compared to farmers’ usual irrigation schedule, LOCOMOS increased the profits of a 100-acre field by $7,700 for corn and $1,300 for soybeans per year. The gains included higher yields and lower energy costs for pumping water.
In the tomato field, sensor-based planning saved 30% water compared to the grower’s usual irrigation method.
“The initial results of using these tools in commercial fields look promising,” said Mark Seamon, research director for the Michigan Soybean Committee. “Water management and irrigation costs are both critical to irrigation of all crops. Soybeans respond to irrigation in a more complex way than other crops, so managing resources and finances responsibly is especially important.”
The team found that LOCOMOS has potential in other areas besides water savings, such as the timely application of fungicides or other pesticides.
The results of the project were presented at several meetings and conferences. Participants included farmers and NRCS staff, as well as crop consultants and soil and water conservation experts.
Dong said the next big step in the research and development process is automation, particularly of irrigation. Once data is collected, an algorithm would create the optimal irrigation strategy and prompt the system to implement it.
“The nature of LOCOMOS’ data makes it a holistic tool that helps farmers address overall plant health,” Dong said. “If we could move the system from just delivering data to automatically adjusting for farmers while keeping the system cost-effective, that would be a great thing.”
Seamon believes recent findings and future research will change the way farmers deal with irrigation and disease problems.
“MSU and MSU Extension’s expertise through researchers, field staff and connections with Michigan soybean growers make the success of this effort almost guaranteed,” he said. “Applied research uses practical approaches to real-world problems and cost-effective management adjustments, so the adoption of this management is likely due to the practical approach to the problems.”
Michigan State University AgBioResearch scientists are discovering dynamic solutions for food systems and the environment. More than 300 MSU faculty conduct cutting-edge research on a wide range of topics, from health and climate to agriculture and natural resources. Originally founded in 1888 as the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, MSU AgBioResearch oversees numerous research facilities on campus as well as 15 field sites across Michigan. For more information, visit agbioresearch.msu.edu.
— Cameron Rudolph, Michigan State University AgBioResearch
