Plants Will Text When They Need Water
Updated : Mar 19, 2009
Israeli scientists have come up with sensor device that sends text messages to farmers or homeowners when plants need a drink.
Dr. Eran Raveh and Dr Arie Nadler have spent seven years perfecting the sensor which they hope will help cut water usage and avoid damaging plants or crops. It measures water levels in the plants and sends text alerts to mobile phones or computers when levels get low. "The idea behind creating the sensor was to cut irrigation by up to 50%," Raveh said.
The sensor works by collecting water-level data via a series of metallic nails inserted into plant stems and works out at about $250 for 5,000 trees , “What is great about our sensor is that it's highly accurate without being prohibitively expensive, " Raveh added.
The boffins are now hoping to take their invention abroad. They claim they have already had interest from a firm in California.
VeryHappyPig says damn good idea, boys!