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NOTE: To get off this list, send email to majordomo@aqua.ccwr.ac.za with the body of the message containing the line: unsubscribe sowacs Just what is needed, an extremely valuable resource. The work that must have gone in to writing and collating the material is much appreciated, particularly the concise description of each instrument, how it works, positives and negatives. --- However, the area I would have liked covered is the use of the sensors in practice to monitor the behaviour of soil water and crops - how to interpret and use the data. The thrust of the document is the monitoring of a single site, with very little on the practical problems and costs of a farm with, say, 20 fields operating season after season. Measurement taken routinely on a commercial farm, to be of any value, must be intrepreted and effectively utilised by the grower. There are many more benefits than just irrigation scheduling - implementing RDI or PRD, for example, is only going to be possible with routine monitoring. My memory is that universities and other institutions teach their students about sensors, how they work, their accuracy. But the sensor itself is not important - the value and benefits come from the interpretation and use of the data. What is needed is a way of capturing the knowledge and experience of the many growers and consultants already experienced in analysing and using the data, and sharing this with other growers. It seems to me that a 'Research to Practice' type programme, similar to South Australia, is required nationally, for all crops. --------- A further thought... The case studies were mainly from research stations, and once again I was left wondering why these trials don't use data from commercial growers and consultants. Why is a single site monitored, at great expense, when measurements are also being taken on hundreds of fields, all over the country. This data is a resource that could be further utilised. (The case study by Jan Deardon on the practical problems of siting and maintaining sensors in a vineyard was an exception) ------------ Trevor Finch Research Services New England 8/16 Nicholson Street Balmain, NSW 2041 Australia T: +61 (2) 9810 3563 F: +61 (2) 9810 3323 mailto:support@rsne.com.au --------------------------