In-field fruit ripeness monitoring becomes continuous with the DA-Meter® Remote Logger Sensor. The sensor is attached to the fruit, on the tree or in cold storage, and measures the DA Index® at regular intervals, without anyone having to go and take readings. The data are sent to a remote server and can be viewed online, from the office or from a smartphone.
Why measure ripeness remotely
With a handheld instrument, ripeness is measured when someone goes out to the field, usually once or twice a week. The Logger Sensor, instead, measures at the frequency you set and returns a continuous curve. This shows the effect of a very hot day, a treatment or a temperature change in the cold room, which occasional measurements miss.
The measurement is the same across the whole DA-Meter® range: the instrument detects how the flesh beneath the skin absorbs light and calculates the DA Index®, which is linked to chlorophyll content and therefore to the ripening stage. The fruit is not damaged and continues to ripen normally.
Features
- Contact reading headwith a 13 mm support, on one wavelength, for pears, apples, plums, apricots and peaches.
- Fittings to attach it to the fruitand small size and weight, so as not to disturb the fruit or the tree.
- Use on the tree and in cold storage.
- Connection to the concentrator unit, which powers up to 6 sensors and sends the data to the remote server.
Trials are under way for many other plant species.
What it is used for
Following ripening on the tree.The sensor records the DA Index® trend in the weeks before harvest and helps decide the right time to start.
Checking orchard uniformity.With several sensors in different positions, for example high and low in the canopy or in rows with different exposure, you can see which areas ripen first.
Monitoring cold storage.In the cold room the sensor shows whether the fruit keeps ripening more than expected and helps choose the right time to empty the room.
Developing growing protocolsfor new species and varieties, in research and field trials.
How it is installed
- Choose a few representative fruit on the tree or in the cold room.
- Attach the sensor head to the fruit with the fittings provided.
- Connect the sensors to the concentrator unit, up to six per unit.
- Set the measuring intervals and follow the data online.
The Logger Sensor must always be used with a concentrator unit. Alternatively, to measure several fruit that have already been harvested, in the packhouse or in cold storage, there is the Logger Case, which contains sensors and concentrator in a single solution.
Frequently asked questions
Does the sensor damage the fruit?
No. The measurement is optical and non-destructive.
How many sensors are needed?
It depends on what you want to monitor. A few sensors are enough for a uniform orchard block; to compare different areas or varieties it is best to use at least one per area. Each concentrator handles up to 6 sensors.
Where can the data be viewed?
On the remote server included with the concentrator unit, accessible online.
How do I request a quote?
Fill in the form below with the species, the number of points to monitor and whether you need it in the field or in cold storage.
(product code: FRL01F)
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