Webinar to examine developing a low-cost sensor for hydroponics
Source: VFD.com
A free webinar on September 1 will highlight new research aimed at making water and nutrient monitoring more accessible for growers of all sizes. Ankit Singh, Assistant Extension Professor at the University of Maine, will present "Smarter Water: Developing a Low-Cost Sensor for Hydroponics," detailing his team's work on a nanotextured diffraction-surface sensor.
The technology is designed to measure key nutrient and water parameters affordably and in real time, offering an alternative to the expensive, complex monitoring systems that can put precision water management out of reach for smaller operations. The session will explore how the sensor bridges engineering and agriculture, with potential applications for small-scale growers, educators, and researchers alike.
The webinar takes place September 1 at 2:00 pm EDT (11:00 am PDT). CEA Summit East opens with keynote tackling growing's toughest challenge Registration open for JPFA International Symposium on Plant Factory India: Begaluru to host free mushroom training Indoor Ag-Con opens call for speakers for 2027 edition VerticalFarmDaily will be back August 10th South Korea: Nonsan prepares 2027 World Strawberry Industry Expo Related Articles GreenTech North America conference program Webinar to examine developing a low-cost sensor for hydroponics Mexico to host first International Symposium on Vertical Cropping Systems and Nutritional Quality Can vertical farming rise to the challenge?
Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?
Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.
What is the operator takeaway from this trial?
If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.
