Water

Low cost water salinity sensor for smallholder irrigators in developing countries

Image
A hand holding a Chameleon sensor.
Project code
LWR/2015/035
Program
Budget
AUD 140,000
Project leader
Richard Stirzaker - CSIRO Agriculture Flagship
Commissioned organisation
CSIRO
Duration:
JUN 2015
SEP 2016
Project status
Concluded
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Overview

Depletion of surface and groundwater resources has resulted in farmers using irrigation water with unsuitable salinity levels. Farmers only know if water is too saline after it has impacted their crop. There is a need for a simple, low cost sensor that small scale farmers can intuitively use to decide whether or not water is suitable for irrigation or whether leaching is required. The purpose of this Small Research and Development Activity is to develop technologies for smallholder irrigators that will help them manage water on their farms.

 

Project outcomes

Three low cost salinity measurement alternatives were evaluated:

  1. The SaltLight electrical conductivity (EC) meter developed to proof of concept stage by Measurement Engineering Australia (MEA).
  2. Commercially available, low cost EC wands in common use by the hydroponics industry.
  3. Commercially available open-source EC modules, compatible with the ‘Arduino’ microprocessor platform that can be the foundation of a low cost custom meter.
Key partners
CSIRO Agriculture Flagship
Measurement Engineering Australia Pty Ltd
Documents