Reinke and CropX debut pivot-mounted sensor for water use

With the demands on irrigation water rising, the need for precision in irrigation is only becoming more pressing. CropX Technologies has announced the launch of a new product in partnership with Reinke Irrigation to refine water management for farmers through field-specific evapotranspiration (ET) measurements of crop water use.

Reinke Direct ET by CropX is an innovation that provides affordable actual evapotranspiration (ETa) measurements with a sensor mounted on a Reinke center-pivot irrigation system, and is available exclusively through Reinke. 

ET values indicate the total water used by plants and evaporated from the soil. Direct ET offers measured, field-specific values without need for any additional calculations. 

“Without sensors like these, farmers' decisions are more prone to be influenced by generalized data, assumptions, and less precise methods. CropX’s advanced sensor technology offers real-time feedback and field-level accuracy,” says John Gates, chief revenue officer for CropX. 

The data offers farmers a practical solution to manage water resources with greater precision. 

“The device is placed above the plant canopy on the center point of the irrigation system and uses surface renewal technology, which was developed at the University of California, Davis and measures the amount of water vapor carried away from the crop by the wind,” explains Gates.

By measuring the amount of water that crops use, Direct ET gives farmers daily insights into their field's water needs. “This accuracy allows farmers to apply water only as needed, directly addressing the plant’s requirements,” says Gates. This innovation aims to promote water-efficient practices and support sustainable farming using a device that is easy to install and maintain, and does not require removal at the end of the season.

In addition to Direct ET, CropX is also releasing its Actual ET sensor, a device that can be installed in any field to measure actual evapotranspiration. Used in combination with a CropX soil sensor and part of the CropX agronomic farm management system, growers will have access to the most accurate overview of water-plant usage and soil water availability. The underlying ET measurement technology was developed by Tule Technologies, which was acquired by CropX in January 2023.