SBIR Phase I: Models to predict soil and plant water status from continuous in-plant measurements

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是帮助水果和坚果种植者最大限度地减少对环境的影响，提高盈利能力。该项目将使用直接测量树木水分的植入式微芯片传感器的数据，开发树木和葡萄树对水的需求的精确模型。这些型号不需要硬件安装，并以用户友好的格式打包。它们将自动为种植者提供适合其田地和作物的经济建议，实现准确的24/7水分状态数据、预测和建议，以大规模改善树木作物的灌溉管理。SBIR第一阶段项目将通过组织内水分状态或干旱胁迫的持续变化来探索植物健康。该数据流将用于建立植物水分胁迫的动力学模型。该项目的技术目标是：1）描述空间（由于植物在田间的位置）和时间变化; 2）开发一个框架，用于迭代开发从单个植物到整个田间尺度的水分胁迫动态预测模型;以及3）开发一种系统，该系统被优化用于对整个果园或葡萄园中的水的空间和时间动态进行工业建模，该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to help fruit and tree nut growers minimize environmental impacts and improve profitability. This project will use data from implantable microchip sensors that directly measure tree hydration to develop precision models of tree and vine needs for water. These models require no hardware installation and are packaged in a user-friendly format. They will automatically provide growers with affordable advice tailored to their field and crop, enabling accurate 24/7 water status data, forecasts, and recommendations for large-scale improvements in irrigation management of tree crops.This SBIR Phase I project will explore plant health via continuous variation of water status or drought stress within the tissues. This data stream will be used to build dynamical models of plant water stress. The project's technical aims are to: 1) Characterize the spatial (due to plant position in the field) and temporal variations; 2) Develop a framework for iterative development of predictive models of water stress dynamics from the single-plant to the whole-field scale; and 3) Develop a system optimized for industrial modeling of the spatial and temporal dynamics of water across the full orchard or vineyard, diagnostics of high- and low-performing cultivars, irrigation blocks, and decision support to optimize field design and crop management.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.