How Agurotech sensors contribute to top-quality yields, better planning and cost savings in tulip cultivation

Using seven sensors and multiple rain gauges, Joost monitors soil moisture and temperature across his tulip fields. This gives him precise insight into when irrigation is needed, helps him avoid stress periods in the crop, and shows which plots need attention first during crucial phases such as dieback important for managing fusarium risk.

"The sensors showed that some fields didn't need irrigation - without them, I would have watered them anyway."

Thanks to the real-time moisture and temperature sensors, Joost was able to skip 1-2 full irrigations this season. With irrigation costs of €90 per hour and a reel running for 12 hours, this results in savings of approximately €1,000 per irrigation round. In addition, the sensors also helped prevent fusarium, as soil temperature during the die-off phase was monitored accurately, allowing Joost to see exactly when he needed to top-kill earlier to reduce risks. The combination of favorable weather conditions, a stable moisture level, and better insights enabled Joost to optimally monitor and adjust his crop, ultimately resulting in an exceptionally high yield of 1,000 marketable bulbs per hectare on a 4.5-hectare field.