Abstract
This study evaluates the efficiency of an automated irrigation system using dendrometer sensors in apple orchards and compares it to a standard grower commercial irrigation approach based on soil moisture sensors. An algorithm was developed to balance daily stem shrinkage (water loss) and expansion (water uptake), aiming for a stable dendrometer signal. The dendrometer-based irrigation system (DENDRO) significantly reduced water use—by 38 % in 2022 and more than 45 % in 2023—while maintaining yields similar to those of the soil moisture-based system (SOIL). The DENDRO responded quite well to plant water stress, as indicated by stem water potential (WP). Although the tested algorithm proved to be efficient, the results also indicated the potential for optimization. One example is shortening the averaging period used to calculate stem recovery (R Δ ). The SOIL method was effective in fruit production but proved to be less efficient in reflecting water needs. Alternative approaches, including FAO-based irrigation (FAO) and a linear regression model combining dendrometer parameters and climatic data (MODEL), were also assessed. The FAO method tended to overestimate water requirements, while the MODEL method showed promise for dynamic irrigation adjustment based on climatic conditions and dendrometer values. Overall, the findings highlight the advantage of integrating plant-based sensors, such as dendrometers, for more precise irrigation management in orchard systems, leading to more sustainable water use without compromising crop yield. • Dendrometers enable precise, sustainable orchard water use. • DENDRO-based irrigation saved 38–45 % water while maintaining apple yields. • SOIL-based irrigation produced more fruit but did not reflect water needs. • Stem water potential around −1.6 MPa has not been harmful in this experiment.
Abstract from the paper’s OpenAlex record; open copy licensed cc-by. Read at the source ↗
The text the model read, with the source record’s inline markup (italics, sub- and superscripts) rendered and its character entities decoded; quote offsets refer to the raw text.
Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Dendrometer-based irrigation significantly reduced apple water use by 38 % in 2022.
- Taxon
- apple trees
Malus domesticat0 - Treatment
- dendrometer-based irrigation system (DENDRO)e0
- Outcome
- water usee0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 38 %e0
- Comparator
- soil moisture-based system (SOIL)e0
- Setting
- 2022e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“irrigation of apple trees”
e0“The dendrometer-based irrigation system (DENDRO) significantly reduced water use—by 38 % in 2022 and more than 45 % in 2023—while maintaining yields similar to those of the soil moisture-based system (SOIL)”
Claim · model-written summary
Dendrometer-based irrigation significantly reduced apple water use by more than 45 % in 2023.
- Taxon
- apple treesMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- dendrometer-based irrigation system (DENDRO)e0
- Outcome
- water usee0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- more than 45 %e0
- Comparator
- soil moisture-based system (SOIL)e0
- Setting
- 2023e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“irrigation of apple trees”
e0“The dendrometer-based irrigation system (DENDRO) significantly reduced water use—by 38 % in 2022 and more than 45 % in 2023—while maintaining yields similar to those of the soil moisture-based system (SOIL)”
Claim · model-written summary
Dendrometer-based irrigation maintained apple yields similar to soil moisture-based irrigation.
- Taxon
- apple treesMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- dendrometer-based irrigation system (DENDRO)e0
- Outcome
- yieldse0
- Direction
- similare0
- Comparator
- soil moisture-based system (SOIL)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“irrigation of apple trees”
e0“The dendrometer-based irrigation system (DENDRO) significantly reduced water use—by 38 % in 2022 and more than 45 % in 2023—while maintaining yields similar to those of the soil moisture-based system (SOIL)”
Claim · model-written summary
Dendrometer signals responded to apple plant water stress as indicated by stem water potential.
- Taxon
- apple treesMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- DENDROe1
- Outcome
- stem water potentiale1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“irrigation of apple trees”
e1“The DENDRO responded quite well to plant water stress, as indicated by stem water potential (WP)”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil moisture-based irrigation was effective in apple fruit production.
- Taxon
- apple treesMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- SOIL methode3
- Outcome
- fruit productione3
- Direction
- effectivee3
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“irrigation of apple trees”
e3“The SOIL method was effective in fruit production but proved to be less efficient in reflecting water needs”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil moisture-based irrigation was less efficient than the dendrometer approach in reflecting apple water needs.
- Taxon
- apple treesMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- SOIL methode3
- Outcome
- reflecting water needse3
- Direction
- less efficiente3
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“irrigation of apple trees”
e3“The SOIL method was effective in fruit production but proved to be less efficient in reflecting water needs”
Claim · model-written summary
The FAO-based irrigation method tended to overestimate apple water requirements.
- Taxon
- apple treesMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- FAO methode4
- Outcome
- water requirementse4
- Direction
- overestimatee4
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“irrigation of apple trees”
e4“The FAO method tended to overestimate water requirements”
Claim · model-written summary
The regression MODEL showed promise for dynamic irrigation adjustment.
- Taxon
- apple treesMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- MODEL methode5
- Outcome
- dynamic irrigation adjustmente5
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“irrigation of apple trees”
e5“the MODEL method showed promise for dynamic irrigation adjustment based on climatic conditions and dendrometer values”
Claim · model-written summary
Stem water potential around -1.6 MPa was not harmful to apple trees in this experiment.
- Taxon
- apple treesMalus domesticat0
- Outcome
- Stem water potentiale6
- Value
- −1.6 MPae6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“irrigation of apple trees”
e6“Stem water potential around −1.6 MPa has not been harmful in this experiment”
The same questions in other papers
soil water · yield · Malus domestica (apple)Positive and negative results
3 papers in the same direction as this paper · 1 in the opposite direction
- negative
- positive
- positive
1 paper more in this group
See all 5 papers →irrigation · physiology: water · Malus domestica (apple)Positive and negative results
25 papers in the same direction as this paper · 11 in the opposite direction · 1 reporting no difference from an alternative
- negative
- negative
- no effect
34 papers more in this group
See all 38 papers →irrigation · yield · Malus domestica (apple)Positive and negative results
20 papers in the same direction as this paper · 63 reporting no difference from an alternative
- no effect
- positive
- positive
80 papers more in this group
See all 84 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.