US 11,726,020 B2
Method and system for installing water potential detectors in plant stems, and for evaluating plant irrigation conditions
Moshe Meron, Misgav Industrial Park (IL); Erez Sokolsky, Misgav Industrial Park (IL); Avishai Avni, Misgav Industrial Park (IL); Anat Halgoa Solomon, Misgav Industrial Park (IL); and Yossi Gross, Misgav Industrial Park (IL)
Assigned to Saturas Ltd., Misgav Industrial Park (IL)
Appl. No. 16/607,444
Filed by Saturas Ltd., Misgav Industrial Park (IL)
PCT Filed Apr. 26, 2018, PCT No. PCT/IL2018/050465
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 23, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/198125, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 1, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/491,336, filed on Apr. 28, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0141851 A1, May 7, 2020
Int. Cl. G01N 13/04 (2006.01); A01G 7/06 (2006.01); A01G 25/16 (2006.01); G01N 7/10 (2006.01); G01N 33/00 (2006.01); A01G 22/00 (2018.01)
CPC G01N 13/04 (2013.01) [A01G 7/06 (2013.01); A01G 25/16 (2013.01); G01N 7/10 (2013.01); G01N 33/0098 (2013.01); A01G 22/00 (2018.02)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for installing a water potential detector in a plant stem comprising the steps of:
a) providing a water potential detector;
b) forming a bore through the plant stem by drilling therein;
c) optionally, smoothening the inner walls of the bore;
d) inserting said water potential detector into the smoothened bore while placing a conductive gel in between said detector and the stem tissue of the plant to prevent direct contact between the detector and the inner walls of the bore;
e) maintaining the stem tissue in the bore wet throughout the entire installation process; and
f) filling any remaining gaps between said water potential detector and the stem tissue with a fluid conducting material,
wherein said water potential detector comprises:
a compartment with an osmoticum therein;
at least one selective barrier for selective transfer of water between the plant tissue and the osmoticum, while blocking transfer of other ingredients within the plant fluid;
a pressure sensor configured for sensing changes in pressure of said osmoticum in said compartment, wherein said water potential detector being configured for measuring water potential through direct contact with plant tissue adjacent to the vascular conduit of said plant stem via said at least one selective barrier; and
optionally, a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature: inside the plant stem, of the sensor, or of the environment, or all;
and wherein said conductive gel is placed in between said at least one selective barrier and the stem tissue of the plant, such that there is no direct contact between said at least one selective barrier and the stem tissue of the plant.