In the hot, dry UK summer of 2006, a 590 m2 bed of Spiraea was groun in

3 litre pots, with overhead irrigation controlled by a GP1 Logger and a SM-

200 Sensor.

This bed consumed 60% less water than a comparable adjacent bed where

irrigation was timed according to the grower's judgement.  The trials were

conducted in the UK at Hiller Nurseries by Chris Burgess (agronomist).

The GP1 Logger, combined with a single SM200 Moisture Probe in a

representative pot, has proved very capable of automatically controlling

irrigation on commercial scale production beds at several nurseries using

overhead sprinkler improved crop quality, growers benefited from lower

labour cost, reduced environmental impact, and significant water savings.

'Pulsed' irrigation during a wetting-up period can be introduced with the

GP1 software if needed, to allow 'soak in' periods and reduce pot drainage

losses that can occur with high output sprinklers.