Michigan State University researchers are shaking up farm irrigation with a low-cost monitoring system that saves water, improves crop health, and maximizes yields—without breaking the bank.
Unpredictable precipitation is one of the toughest challenges farmers face today. Not enough moisture stunts plant growth, while too much can oversaturate the soil and create the perfect environment for diseases to spread.
Michigan growers have seen it all recently, from record-breaking dry months to the wettest ones in years. This variability is especially concerning for plant diseases like tar spot in corn and white mold in soybeans, which thrive in moist conditions. These diseases can quickly go from a few infected plants to taking over entire fields, leaving farmers scrambling to manage the damage. A recent news release from MSU detailed the challenges and the solutions they are researching.
“Once these diseases show up, growers are mostly left with mitigation instead of eradication,” explains Younsuk Dong, assistant professor at Michigan State University (MSU) in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.
Farmers often turn to irrigation during dry spells to make up for low rainfall, but fine-tuning irrigation systems can be tricky. Overwatering can inadvertently invite disease, making proper water management crucial.
To tackle this issue, MSU researchers developed a cost-effective irrigation monitoring system called LOCOMOS. Led by Dong, this system uses in-field sensors to monitor soil moisture, leaf wetness, and other environmental factors. The collected data is processed by software that provides precise irrigation recommendations directly to growers through a smartphone app.
“The commercial-grade monitoring systems are expensive and thus not accessible to most farmers,” said Dong. “The data they generate can also be difficult to interpret. A simpler system that uses low-cost sensors was needed, and LOCOMOS can be used with a smartphone, which almost all farmers can easily access today.”
The LOCOMOS system is already making a difference. A 2021 grant of $426,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) enabled Dong and his team, including Martin Chilvers, a professor and field crops pathologist at MSU, to expand their research and implementation of this system.
In collaboration with various organizations such as the Michigan Soybean Committee, the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan, and the Michigan Potato Industry Commission, LOCOMOS has been tested across a wide range of crops, including corn, soybeans, blueberries, and potatoes.
One of the most significant benefits of LOCOMOS is improved water efficiency. In ongoing studies with five Michigan farms, sensor-based irrigation scheduling has shown promising results, enhancing water use efficiency without increasing the incidence of disease. In some cases, it has boosted farm profits—$7,700 per year for corn and $1,300 for soybeans—due to increased yields and reduced energy costs from water pumping.
“If folks over-irrigate, particularly with frequent irrigation, they are likely to drive disease development,” Chilvers said. “Using more water than necessary is costly with respect to water use, labor, and equipment. These sensors can help make that process easier.”
The tomato crops in the study also benefited, with a 30% reduction in water use compared to typical irrigation methods, showcasing LOCOMOS’ versatility across different crops.
The next step in this innovative research is automation. Dong and his team are working on algorithms that will not just analyze the data but automatically adjust irrigation systems for optimal plant health.
“The nature of the data from LOCOMOS allows it to be a holistic tool that helps farmers deal with the entirety of plant health,” said Dong. “Moving the system toward full automation while keeping it affordable could revolutionize irrigation management.”
The findings are already influencing the way Michigan farmers think about irrigation and disease control. “The responsible use of water and the cost of irrigation are both critical in irrigating any crop,” said Mark Seamon, research director for the Michigan Soybean Committee. “This practical, cost-effective approach ensures that farmers can manage their crops efficiently while protecting their bottom line.”
With MSU’s extensive research network and strong ties to Michigan farmers, the future of irrigation management is bright, with real-world solutions just on the horizon.
