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    6. Examples of adoption: Improving potato yields by optimizing irrigation
    Soil sensor

    Soil sensorExamples of adoption: Improving potato yields by optimizing irrigation

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    Overview

    Adopted by: Calbee Potato, Inc.

    Industry/line of business Wholesale industry
    Business description Purchasing, storing, distributing, and selling potatoes and other agricultural products.
    Product development, manufacturing, and selling processed potatoes and other processed agricultural products.
    Scope of adoption Soil sensors
    Going the extra mile in potato growing

    Here are the details of a project we implemented with Calbee Potato, Inc. Open in New Window

    Issues prior to adoption

    Conventional soil water content management systems use large, difficult-to-install equipment.
    Calbee also could not verify soil water content remotely and so it needed a system that was easy to install and allowed it to check soil water content remotely.

    Reasons for adoption

    The company’s decision to adopt this system was based on the ease of installing equipment in fields, superior durability, and the ability to connect to soil water content management systems with functions that provided notifications on the time to irrigate (any soil water content) using handheld terminals connected to the cloud.

    Results following implementation

    Being able to securely monitor soil water content throughout the season allowed the company to use planned irrigation.
    Calbee created areas that used planned irrigation and areas that relied on the weather, then compared the results of each yield. The areas that used planned irrigation clearly produced higher yields.

    Background of shift to IT

    Calbee, Inc. prepared a system for increasing production in factories around Japan to build off the success of its potato chip products. The preparation involved establishing Calbee Potato, Inc. to create a separate, independent department in charge of ingredients with the aim of a consistent, high-quality supply of potatoes.
    To achieve this aim, the company began to test the concept of a shift to IT based on sensor systems.

    Demonstration experiment with SoftBank Corp

    From June to October 2021, we conducted a demonstration experiment in fields owned by Calbee Potato, Inc. and their growers under contract in Hokkaido. The experiment involved using e-kakashi (“e-scarecrow”), an agricultural IoT service provided by SoftBank Corp., to collect and utilize environmental data to optimize irrigation with the aim of achieving a stable supply of high-quality potatoes regardless of droughts or other impacts of climate change. Soil sensors from Murata Manufacturing were used in the experiment.

    Using agricultural AI service e-kakashi in the demonstration experiment for growing potatoes for Calbee Potato helped increase the yield by as much as 60%.

    Here is a press release from SoftBank Corp. that provides details about how e-kakashi contributed to the demonstration experiment with Calbee Potato, Inc. Open in New Window

    Our customer’s challenges

    Conventional soil moisture management systems contain large equipment that is not very easy to install. There are also many difficulties, including the requirement to travel to the fields where the equipment is installed in order to check soil moisture. Thus, the customer requires a simple system for installing equipment and checking soil moisture.

    Purpose of adoption

    The customer decided to adopt our soil moisture management system because it features equipment that is easier to install in fields and more durable, as well as a function that notifies users about the timing of irrigation (adjustable soil moisture) on their mobile devices via the cloud.

    Value provided by Murata

    Murata’s soil sensors propose highly efficient irrigation plans by measuring the moisture percentage of soil and comparing it to variations in soil moisture caused by irrigation amounts and meteorological conditions based on empirical values.
    This enables users to improve potato yields by creating optimal soil conditions for growing potatoes.

    Products adopted

    Soil sensors

    With three sensors in one package, Murata soil sensors are capable of simultaneously sensing electrical conductivity, water content, and temperature in soil, underwater, and in other environments.

    Learn more about this product

    Reasons for selection

    Murata soil sensors can be installed in the intended locations to consistently and accurately monitor the condition of the soil throughout the growing season. Their durability is also outstanding.

    Benefits of adoption

    We established an area to be watered naturally and an area to be watered based on a systematic irrigation plan enabled by sensors. We compared the yields of the two areas, and found that the yields were demonstrably higher in the systematically irrigated area.

    Image 1 of irrigated and not irrigated
    Image 2 of irrigated and not irrigated

    Customer’s assessment

    We were able to check soil moisture from anywhere and monitor it consistently throughout the season. We also received notices whenever the fields were irrigated, so the system was very convenient. Additionally, the equipment is compact and easy to install.

    Learn more about this product
    Introductory Document and Datasheet Download

    You can download an introductory document and datasheet. The introductory document summarizes the detailed strengths of soil sensors and demonstration experiment examples. The datasheet describes the detailed uses of these soil sensors.
    Please utilize these documents when considering these products.

    Document Download

    Another example

    • NEW
    Creating a suitable green pepper cultivation plan through soil data visualization and achieving stable harvests

    Terrace Mile, Inc. × Kurouno Agricultural Research Society

    Image of Adopter
    Features of Murata’s Soil Sensor

    Learn about the details of the features of soil sensors that can simultaneously measure the electrical conductivity (EC) of soil, volumetric water content (VWC), and temperature.
    Examples of adoption

    Here are some examples of soil sensor adoption and application.
    Proving Tests

    An example of demonstration experiment using soil sensors is also provided.
    Applications and Usage Examples

    This section introduces the main applications for soil sensors and case studies of their use in smart agriculture.
    Introductory Document and Datasheet Download

    You can download an introductory document and datasheet. The introductory document summarizes the detailed strengths of soil sensors and demonstration experiment examples. The datasheet describes the detailed uses of these soil sensors.
    Sensors FAQ

    Inquiries

    Contact us below for purchasing or any questions or other inquiries about soil sensors.

    Avoiding Counterfeit Products

    1. Electronic Components
    2. Sensors
    3. Soil sensor
    4. List of Application Examples
    1. HOME
    2. Electronic Components
    3. Sensors
    4. Soil sensor
    5. List of Application Examples
    6. Examples of adoption: Improving potato yields by optimizing irrigation
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