The science behind the plan
We put tools from soil physics and AI research to work on one farm question: how many hours to run the pump this week.
A probe for the reference farms
Our v3 probe sits in the wet zone under the drip line on reference farms. At 20, 40 and 60 cm it reads soil water, and it is designed to read salt too. The salt reading is still being tested.
The top two depths show what the roots can drink. The deepest one shows water and fertiliser draining past the roots, which is money lost.
It sends its readings by LoRa radio, which reaches further under trees than Bluetooth. The battery is never recharged. It sits 15 to 20 cm below ground, where it stays cool and lasts longer.
Farms without probes get a reader on their water meter and a salt test of their well water at setup.
The four methods in the twin
None of them can set the hours well on its own.
Physics-informed AI
Our own model, a physics-informed neural network (PINN). It learns each soil from the probes on reference farms while following the equations of water flow in soil.
Our FAO engine
FAO-56, the water balance method of the UN food agency, used by irrigation researchers worldwide. It turns the weather into tree water use.
Satellite images
PlanetScope at 3 m shows tree crowns. Crown size sets the crop factor, the share of the weather’s demand a block really uses. NASA Landsat adds surface temperature.
The water meter
It shows the water each block really got, which the models need to learn from their mistakes.
What the research says
less error in Moroccan olive orchards when the crop factor was fitted to the orchard, which is what our satellite images and probes do
Er-Raki et al. 2008of the water its roots can reach is all citrus can use before it feels dry soil. FAO tables assume 50%, so they water too late.
Puig-Sirera et al. 2021depths per probe: 20, 40 and 60 cm. One reading at one depth can hide water lost below the roots.
an AI model that follows the physics of water in soil, now used across hydrology and soil science.
Raissi et al.Join the 2027 pilot
Do you run a drip-irrigated citrus farm or a packhouse in Souss-Massa? We're looking for three farms for a free pilot. Researchers and funders are welcome to write too.
Fill in the application Or write to pilot@arvessa.org