STTR Phase I: Precision Plant Irrigation Control Utilizing Leaf Thickness Sensor Technology

这项小型企业技术转移（STTR）第一阶段研究项目将开发一种创新方法，通过直接检测植物中即将发生的水分亏缺胁迫（WDS），为植物灌溉控制提供可靠的反馈。该技术通过测量叶片的厚度来指示活植物的水分亏缺胁迫，叶片的厚度在叶片脱水开始时急剧下降。该方法克服了传统植物活体叶片厚度测定方法的局限性，实现了叶片厚度的无损测量，测量过程温和、可靠、方便、分辨率高、实时性好。这种新颖的实时叶片传感器技术对植物无破坏性，可广泛应用于多种植物。所提出的叶片传感器可以很容易地小型化和自动化，而不会妨碍植物周期。它结合了工程和植物生理学的概念，同时采用了电子和信息技术的最新技术进步。早期发现植物中即将出现的水分亏缺胁迫可以用作精确灌溉控制的输入参数，这种策略有可能在确保成功的植物栽培和作物产量优化的同时保存大量宝贵的淡水。这种装置可以在农业部门或温室工业中找到商业应用。这项研究将使这种新方法发展成为一种可靠、方便、永久适用于野外条件的传感器。本研究将这种新颖的实时叶片传感器技术应用于自动化灌溉系统，作为概念验证演示，并在可靠的植物栽培和现实农业条件下的节水潜力方面评估其性能。

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I research project will develop an innovative method that enables reliable feedback for plant irrigation control by direct detection of impending water deficit stress (WDS) in plants. This technology indicates water deficit stress of living plants by measuring the thickness of leaves, which decreases dramatically at the onset of leaf dehydration. The proposed method overcomes the obstacle of traditional methods for determining the thickness of living plant leaves, measuring leaf thickness non-destructively, gently, reliably, conveniently, with high resolution, and in real-time. This novel real-time leaf sensor technology is non-destructive to the plants and can be used on a wide number of species. The proposed leaf sensor can easily be miniaturized and automated without hindering plant cycles. It combines concepts of engineering and plant physiology while employing recent technological advances in electronics and information technologies. Early detection of impending water deficit stress in plants may be used as an input parameter for precision irrigation control, a strategy which has the potential to preserve enormous amounts of precious freshwater while ensuring successful plant cultivation and crop yield optimization. Such a device may find commercial applications in agricultural sectors or the greenhouse industry. The research would develop this novel method into a sensor that is applicable reliably, conveniently, and permanently under field conditions. This research implements this novel real-time leaf sensor-technology into an automated irrigation system as a proof-of-concept demonstration, and evaluates its performance in terms of reliable plant cultivation and its potential for water conservation under realistic farming conditions.