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SFMx Sap Flow Meter with IoT connectivity

Research quality tree and plant water use measurement instrument

The SFMx Sap Flow Meter is an IoT sap flow sensor for the measurement of tree and plant water use. With IoT connection via LoRaWAN or NB-IoT, the SFMx is ideal for measuring and reporting data in near real time for plant water use decision making.

The SFMx Sap Flow Meter is a powerful sap flow sensor for measuring tree and plant water use. Measuring the movement of water through the xylem within the sapwood area, sap flow measurement allows the quantification of the water requirements of the plant or tree.

  • Continuous plant water use measurement (in litres), for crops and trees
  • Robust sensor and standalone meter with onboard calculations and intelligent power management
  • Available with LoRaWAN or Cat-M1/NB-IoT communication
  • Exchangeable needles for different crop and plant applications
  • Applications include irrigation scheduling, species selection, plant eophysiological studies, climate change and forest carbon stock estimation
Applying the Heat Ratio Method to measure tree and plant water use, the SFMx Sap Flow Meter (Cellular and LoRaWAN versions) is a fully integrated Internet of Things device with full internet connectivity. The use of the Heat Ratio Method provides accurate measurement of the full range of sap flow, from low and reverse flow, to flow rates experienced in high water use species. This is all captured by a device featuring advanced electronics that provide optimum power management, along with in-built calculations and storage of data including diagnostics.

The embedded IoT functionality enables remote monitoring of data and better tree water use insight through visualisation dashboards, where further data processing can be undertaken along with integration with other data streams to provide comprehensive measurements of the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, where the plant can act as the ultimate status signal of the whole continuum.

These features make SFM1x Sap Flow Meter ideal in:

  • ecophysiological research in natural and built environments
  • forestry and agriculture
  • urban and remediationirrigation decision making
  • species selection and and plant transpiration measurement

The range of research publications, found here, demonstrate the versatility of the Heat Ratio Method and the SFM1 and SFMx Sap Flow Meters.

SFM1x options include:

  • SFMx-C: CATM1/NB-IoT (cellular)
  • SFMx-L: LoRaWAN Frequency Options:
    • SFMx-AS923
    • SFMx-AU915
    • SFMx-CN470
    • SFMx-EU868
    • SFMx-IN865
    • SFMx-US915
  • SFMx-UB: Bluetooth and USB only
SFM1x on False sandalwood

SFMx Sap Flow Meter with IoT connectivity

Specifications

Measurement Details for the SFMx Sap Flow Meter

Needle Diameter/Length 1.3 mm / 35mm
2 Measurement Spacings per Needle 7.5 mm and 22.5 mm from the needle tip
Output Options Raw Temperatures: °C
Heat Pulse Velocity: cm hr-1
Sap Velocity: cm hr-1
Sap Flow: Litres hr-1
Measurement Range Approx -100 to +100 cm hr-1
Resolution / Accuracy 0.01 cm hr-1 / 0.5 cm hr-1
Measurement Duration 120 seconds
Heat Pulse Default (User Adjustable) 20 Joules typical
Equivalent to 2.5 second heat pulse duration, auto scaling
Adjustable Logging Interval Minimum: 10 mins

Communication Options for the SFMx Sap Flow Meter

  • SFMx-C: CATM1/NB-IoT
  • SFMx-L: LoRaWAN Frequency Options:
    • SFMx-AS923
    • SFMx-AU915
    • SFMx-CN470
    • SFMx-EU868
    • SFMx-IN865
    • SFMx-US915

Case Studies

  • Plant Water Use and Plant Wate. . .

  • SFM for Irrigation water manag. . .

  • Forest Monitoring Technologies

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