Invention makes it possible for farmers to track thirsty crops

BOULDER - New technology is making it possible for farmers to track the moisture content of their crops without leaving the farm house.

Wireless technology developed at the University of Colorado transmits the moisture content from sensors smaller than a postage stamp clipped to plant leaves, said Hans-Dieter Seelig of the university's BioServe Space Technology Center.

He said that by reducing the need to observe the plants the technology could save farmers millions of dollars by cutting down on the excessive use of water and ensure timely watering. The data is sent to computers operating irrigating systems.

"We think this is an exciting technology, and the implications for the agriculture industry are enormous," said Seelig.

The technology has been licensed to Boulder-based AgriHouse, which advertises that it uses systems developed by NASA.

Existing soil moisture sensors lack accuracy and do not always provide a complete picture, said Richard Stoner, AgriHouse founder and president. "What we are developing is a nonintrusive device that gently rests on the plants and lets them interface with the digital world. Basically, this is a device that will allow plants to talk to humans and communicate their needs, like when to water and apply fertilizer," he said.

"Basically, this is a device that will allow plants to talk to humans and communicate their needs, like when to water and apply fertilizer."

Several companies already offer wireless units to transmit weather data such as humidity and temperature from the area near crops.