"While, on the one hand, the first positive results of what Sentek multilevel probes can achieve are starting to become known, on the other hand, it is not always clear that they also contribute to savings in terms of water, energy and fertilizers. Nonetheless, during a recent interview with Sergio Guzzon, a dealer of Winet monitoring systems and a kiwi producer from the Latina province, an area specialized in the cultivation of this species, it was possible to understand the importance of such a technology applied to the agricultural world," reports Paolo Antini from Sentek.
Left to right, Paolo Antini from Sentek and Emanuele Tavelli (Winet)
Guzzon was initially skeptical as regards this product, as he had installed many monitoring tools which did not have the hoped for results in terms of a correct management of water resources and were without a suitable support to interpret the data measured.
The turning point came after a few field tests and the installation of Sentek probes on a six-hectare plot. The data measured and processed by the advanced management software developed by Winet were such that irrigation volumes had to be reduced, yet not too much, according to the producer, to achieve the desired yields. Chance would have it that heavy rain flooded most of the company during winter, as well as a good part of the area where Sentek probes had been installed.
"Probes showed a humidity data typical of saturated soil and, following a comparison with the summer values measured at each irrigation, the producer convinced himself of the quality of the readings and of the fact that he should considerably reduce the irrigation volumes supplied. This was a turning point for Guzzon, as he convinced himself of the reliability of the product and not only started to install the probes in his company, but also started to sell them as a dealer to producers growing a similar species and facing reliability problems with other products."
The general trend over the past few years was to reduce irrigation volumes, an approach due to multiple factors including the growing water, electricity and fertilizer costs as well as to the link between water excess and kiwi decline. These represent an important input for the application of the technology that helps further reduce the water used.
"If the reduction was between 10 and 20% over the past 5 years, the adoption of an efficient monitoring system and multi-level Drill&Drop probes can help achieve a 40-60% reduction. The result helps achieve a fundamental concept, i.e. that of environmental and corporate sustainability. Anyway the quality and quantity standards desired can be achieved with a reduced irrigation volume."
For further information
Sentek 
Paolo Antini
+39 334 2162057
pantini@sentek.com.au
www.sentektechnologies.com
Winet 
Via Luciano Lama, 120
47521 Cesena FC
+39 0547 632982
info@winetsrl.com
www.winetsrl.com