New Products

SENTEK DRILL & DROP SOIL MOISTURE PROBE WITH BLUETOOTH Finally! A cable-free solution for monitoring soil moisture.

Instead of using cellular modem telemetry, this new probe from Sentek uses a Bluetooth connection with a phone or tablet to collect and transfer the sensor data.

With sensors every 10 cm along the probe length, high quality data about soil water content, temperature, and even salinity readings can be collected.

Using the app, the user simply walks close to the probe in the field, makes the connection, then collects the data.

With the sensor readings stored on the phone or tablet, the data can later be uploaded to Sentek’s IrriMAX Live software when in a Wi-Fi or mobile reception zone.

Rob Stevens is Sentek’s regional manager and has been selling the new Bluetooth enabled probe to irrigation stores and crop agronomists since its release in August 2019.

“Consultants appreciate the simplicity of the probe,” said Rob. “Taking away the solar panel, cables, modem and SIM card makes it easier to get started. It is ideal in situations where someone is out checking the field every week or so, so they can grab the soil moisture readings.”

The Drill & Drop probe with Bluetooth suits a range of industries including, row crop vegetables, nurseries, research, turf and landscape, as well as ornamental plantings.

The soil moisture probe is powered by a small replaceable lithium battery that can last up to 3 years, depending how often the readings are taken.

The Drill & Drop Bluetooth probe is available in lengths of 30, 60, 90 and 120 cm, making it suitable for annual and perennial plants.

Features include: • cable-free, using Bluetooth and a handheld device to collect and transfer the data • powered by a long-life replaceable lithium battery • precise readings of soil moisture to assist in irrigation decisions • data is viewed in IrriMAX Live from your phone, laptop or tablet • easy to install, and information is easy to extract • probe can be moved as needed.

Information. Go to website www.sentek.com.au.

GIANT FLOW METER A COST SAVER

Last year, Aquamonix fabricated this huge end-insert mag meter for metering irrigation water on a cotton property on western New South Wales.

The flow meter is designed to mount inside a large concrete pipe (1500 – 1800 mm) and provide accurate metering of irrigation extractions from large river pumping stations.

According to Aquamonix, the insertion-style meter provides a significant cost and civil works saving over other technologies, coming in at under half the capital cost of other flow meters and able to be installed in less than a day.

The company has applied to have this meter pattern approved to AS 4747.

Information. Aquamonix website www.aquamonix.com.au

LADCO HEALTHY WATERING Wherever there is a beginning, there is an end, except for a sausage which has two ends.

Most irrigation systems start at the tap and end up somewhere in the garden.

And it is this ‘end’ that in many cases is the beginning of a potential problem. The problem is that because the water at the endpoint has nowhere to go, it sits there for a long time.This can happen for many years, in fact, and is a potential health problem in the making.

Rivers need to keep flowing to stay healthy; if the flow stops the river dies. Similarly, if the water stops flowing at the end of an irrigation system, the water potentially becomes toxic.

While water is an important part to sustain life for people, animals and plants, when it becomes toxic it has the opposite effect, causing illness and death.

Toxic water ending up in the soil and on plants could cause illness to pets and humans.

A simple but effective Aussie innovation stops the water at the irrigation line’s endpoint from becoming stagnant. The ‘End Stake Dripper’ is a clever design that releases the water at a slow drip thereby solving the problem.

This simple, inexpensive way to keep the water, soil, family and pets healthy is now available at large hardware stores.

Information. Contact Norm Ladson, phone 0419 378 467, email: norm@ladco.com.au.

ADVERTISERS INDEX

BROWN BROTHERS ENGINEERING

FRANKLIN ELECTRIC AUNZ WATER SYSTEMS INSIDE FRONT COVER

HUNTER CREATIVE

LADCO AUSTRALIA

POWER EQUIPMENT 23, OUTSIDE BACK COVER

SENTEK SENSOR TECHNOLOGIES

TORO AUSTRALIA

WATER WISE CONSULTING

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