Plantscope: listen to the plant

With plant monitoring, you adjust the circumstances in your greenhouse according to the needs of your plant. Based on different measurements, you gain a better insight into the plant’s needs and you can create the optimum growing climate for the plant. With this, you avoid plant stress and you are able to gain better results and an improved quality. The Hoogendoorn Plantscope module enables you to listen to the plant.

Plantscope consists of a combination of the following Hoogendoorn software and sensors:

The crop condensation module is a program to avoid crop condensation. This program enables you to anticipate on the effect of temperature and humidity changes based on various measurements and calculations. It is also possible to determine the condensation risk.

One of the most important values determined by the crop condensation module is the ‘condensation temperature difference’. This is the difference between the dew point temperature of the greenhouse air and the temperature of the coldest parts of the crop. If the ‘condensation temperature difference’ is too small, there is the risk of condensation on the crops. In that case, you will need to take measures. Hoogendoorn’s next generation iSii process computer can do this automatically for you by turning on the heating only when it’s needed.

The Plant Temperature Camera measures the leaf or plant temperature very accurately and can be connected to the crop condensation module. In order to optimize growing conditions, insight into crop temperature is important.

The sensor measures the temperature of the crop or fruit at which the camera is pointing. To obtain a reliable and representative reading, the measurement is not taken only from one leaf of the plant, but from an area of several square meters of the crop. Using the Plant Temperature Camera allows you to detect crop stress and condensation risks early, because the sensor tells you when any deviations occur between the crop temperature and the greenhouse temperature.

iSii +TO Control is the Temperature Optimization control inside the next generation iSii process computer. This control offers you total insight into the required and achieved temperature history in your greenhouse, both currently and across several days. You also have complete control over the required 24 hour average temperature.

In short, iSii +TO Control provides you with the proper tools to achieve optimum control over your greenhouse climate and saves energy too. iSii +TO Control is seamlessly integrated into existing actuations of the next generation iSii process computer.

An aspirator box is used to measure the temperature and the Relative Humidity (RH) in the greenhouse. If desired, it is possible to add a CO2 sensor. The aspirator box is an important tool in the greenhouse, because all controls for heating, ventilation, screens, etc. are based on these measurements. That counts for the crop condensation module and iSii +TO Control as well. With an aspirator box, you can thus create the ideal conditions for your crop and save energy, with potential cost savings too.

The combination of the crop condensation module and iSii +TO Control ensures you look at the complete picture. Based on the measurements and calculations, you take the desired measures according to the plants needs. For example, if the plant has too much energy, you can use this energy in another period. This is e.g. possible by lowering your greenhouse temperature at night. This way, you realize ideal circumstances for your plant and you save energy as well.

With Plantscope you have more insights into the plants activity. By monitoring this appropriate actions can be taken automatically. The result? An even better climate, a healthier crop, maximum production and an improved quality.