Smart Avocado Farming in Queensland

Improving the productivity and environmental performance of nursery systems using technology, sensors and live data is referred to as smart farming. Information can come from in-field sensors, nursery cameras, on-site weather data and decision support tools such as forecasting models or automated records.
The Austchilli avocado orchard is piloting:
1. Dendrometers for tree growth rates
2. Sap flow sensors for tree transpiration rates
3. Soil moisture sensors
4. Advanced irrigation control
5. Nitrate runoff and leachate forecasting
6. On-farm weather station
The National Landcare Program and Hort Innovation have funded a pilot smart avocado farm and are supporting the development of the Hitachi Control Tower, which provides growers with an integrated data platform to farm efficiently and demonstrates environmental best practice to their customers and compliance bodies.