Why it matters
Without it, miscalibrated dosing and poor water quality disrupt bloom windows, shorten vase life, create salt buildup, cause equipment wear, or fail certification audits due to missing records.
From design to safety
Design
AI defines water budgets and feed recipes for bloom quality
The system models bed layout, tunnel water availability, and crop stage demands to set EC targets, pH ranges, and fertilizer proportions aligned with cultivar needs and irrigation capacity.
- fertiliser injector
- stock solutions
- EC sensor
- pH sensor
Build
Install sensors, injectors, and control panels with traceability
Install inline EC and pH meters, connect to a centralized control panel, wire fertigation injectors and stock tanks, and tag all components for traceability and future maintenance.
- EC sensor
- pH sensor
- fertiliser injector
- stock solutions
Operation
Real-time dosing optimization and continuous validation
AI analyzes live EC, pH, temperature, water pressure, and tank levels to adjust injection rates, cross-validate feed recipes, and document deviations against bloom window targets.
- EC sensor
- pH sensor
- fertiliser injector
- stock solutions
Maintenance
Regular calibration, input validation, and line integrity checks
Schedule sensor calibration, verify stock solution concentrations, inspect fittings, replace tubing, verify valve seats, and maintain backup dosing paths for uninterrupted supply.
- EC sensor
- pH sensor
- fertiliser injector
- stock solutions
Safety
Compliance, records, and traceability for audits
Store all dosing decisions, QA checks, calibration data, and audit-ready reports to satisfy GLOBALG.A.P., MPS, pesticide-free, and supplier-certification requirements.
- EC sensor
- pH sensor
- fertiliser injector
- stock solutions
Part by part
- 1
EC sensor
- Watch for
- Drift, fouling, or probe contamination causing biased EC readings and incorrect dosing.
- AI action
- AI flags deviations, recalibrates, and prompts maintenance if drift persists.
- 2
pH sensor
- Watch for
- Signal noise or drift leading to unsafe pH shifts in fertilizer solutions.
- AI action
- AI recalibrates calibration, initiates cleaning, and logs sensor health.
- 3
fertiliser injector
- Watch for
- Clogging, inaccurate chamber timing, or missed proportional steps affecting feed strength.
- AI action
- AI adjusts pump stages, sequence timing, and raises maintenance alarms when thresholds are exceeded.
- 4
stock solutions
- Watch for
- Concentration drift, settling, or evaporation altering actual nutrient strength.
- AI action
- AI checks recipe against tank concentration and orders replacement when out of spec.
- 5
feed recipes
- Watch for
- Mismatch between crop stage and nutrient mix causing salt buildup.
- AI action
- AI selects compliant alternative within safety margins and logs adjustments.
- 6
main water line
- Watch for
- Pressure fluctuations or contamination compromising uniform dosing.
- AI action
- AI modulates valve positions, initiates alarms, and informs operator for action.
Worked example
Tracking EC and pH for consistent ranunculus fertigation
Illustrative scenario with sample data.
A late-season shift requires precise nutrient balance to support uniform stem thickness in a 12-acre operation with 8 tunnels and mixed crops.
Signal in
sensors: EC=2.0 mS/cm, pH=5.9; stock solutions 25 L/bed; water temp 21C; bloom window target: 12 days; crop: ranunculus and lisianthus.
System out
dosing recipe updated: EC target 2.4 mS/cm, pH 6.1; new injection rates applied; alert issued to irrigation lead for verification.
Human sign-off: Head grower reviews the change, signs off, and schedules a field check to confirm plant response and leaf burn risk.
How to roll it out
Phase 1
Weeks 1 to 4
Baseline sensors deployed; initial feed recipes created and validated for a subset of tunnels and beds.
Phase 2
Weeks 5 to 10
Full deployment across all tunnels; calibration routines established; automated alerts begin to operate with normal load.
Phase 3
Weeks 11 to 16
Operational governance and audit-ready records demonstrated; recipe changes documented and archived.
Where people stay in charge
- All dosing decisions outside predefined safety margins require sign-off by the head grower and crop health advisor.
- Sensor data must be verifiable against calibration certificates and supplier specifications before any action.
- Any feed recipe change requires verification against crop stage, EC targets, and a documented risk assessment, with certification manager approval.
Questions owners and crews ask
How does AI decide the right EC target for a bed of cut flowers?
AI reads real-time EC, pH, temperature, and growth stage data to map crop needs, updates the target within safe ranges, and logs the rationale for traceability.
What happens if a sensor fails?
The system flags the fault, switches to a conservative default, and notifies the operator and maintenance lead for immediate verification.
Can this system handle multiple crops with different fertigation needs?
Yes, it segments by bed or tunnel and applies crop-specific recipes while maintaining centralized audit records and change logs.
What records ensure certification compliance?
Calibration logs, dosing histories, recipe changes, stock solution certificates, and supplier test reports are stored for audits and certification reviews.