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Thirsty plants send 'text' asking for water thanks to Israeli invention By Yuval Azoulay Tags: agriculture  Can a new device developed in Israel save growers the heartbreak of seeing their plants wither away for lack of water? Researchers at the Volcanic Center at the Agriculture Ministry have developed a new sensor that gauges moisture levels in plants and trees, and issues real-time alerts to farmers' mobile phones or computers when watering is required. The device, shaped like a hammer, is embedded in the tree trunk or plant root, where it monitors electrical currents. When such activity is low, the sensor issues an alert. The researchers who developed the device said Wednesday it will be extremely useful to farmers growing fruits and vegetables, bringing down irrigation expenses by up to 50 percent. Advertisement The scholars involved in the project are Dr. Eran Raveh and Dr. Arieh Nadler, experts in plant biology and ground science respectively. They presented the new sensor last week in an exhibition put on by the Agriculture Ministry in the Arava. Raveh and Nadler said the sensor, which took seven years to develop, is intended to give farmers a comfortable, accessible and cheap way of lowering irrigation needs, thereby reducing costs as well as damage inflicted to plants by over-watering. Yesterday they told Haaretz the technology employed in the device may be soon used in private homes as well. "With this sensor, the level of irrigation, and primarily its timing, will be controlled by farmers themselves," Nadler said. The researchers also said that until now, farmers lacked simple, cheap and reliable tools to monitor water levels. Dr. Raveh said that in order to get a reliable picture of a plant's moisture level, a farmer must check no fewer than 26 points on the ground around the plant, but that a small number of the newly-developed sensors can now do that work instead. "We are now trying to develop such a device for commercial purposes. We will reduce its size further, and distribute it to farmers at prices affordable to everyone," he said. Raveh added that he had already heard interest from farmers as far away as California involved in citrus, banana and mango farming, as well as viniculture. Bookmark to del.icio.us   J'accuse Facing rape charges, Katsav says 'I haven't surrendered'. Capital punishment Madoff pleads guilty to huge financial swindle.   1.   Want to boycott this too? 08:41  |  Madeline 12/03/09   2.   #1 yes,they will boycott this,too 12:55  |  Hastaroth 12/03/09   3.   # 1 madeline 13:19  |  Axel 12/03/09   4.   It`s like everything, Madeline 13:44  |  Jak Black 12/03/09   5.   # 1, 2 13:46  |  Axel 12/03/09   6.   Axel Wrong 13:58  |  Angela 12/03/09   7.   # 6 angela 15:00  |  Axel 12/03/09   8.   A light into Nations . 15:36  |  TOMY 12/03/09   9.   Seriously, guys 19:44  |  Axel 12/03/09

Read & React Clinton: U.S. Gaza aid tied to recognition of Israel Responses: 129 Gideon Levy: Everyone agrees the war in Gaza was a failure Responses: 105 Pope: Vatican erred over bishop who denied Holocaust Responses: 13 Hamas condemns Gaza rocket strikes on Israel Responses: 37 Australia threatens to quit Durban 2 anti-racism meet Responses: 63 More Headlines 00:06 Katsav advisors resign after press conference 22:32 Facing rape charges, Katsav says 'I haven't surrendered' 23:20 Hamas strongman Zahar denies contacts being held over Shalit 20:24 Madoff pleads guilty to huge financial swindle 16:02 Hamas condemns Gaza rocket strikes on Israel 18:15 Pope: Vatican erred over bishop who denied Holocaust 16:48 Yisrael Beiteinu: Coalition deal won't be signed Thursday 13:32 Livni: Israel still a long way from achieving gender equality 20:50 Teens to Olmert: Enlisting in IDF tougher with Shalit in captivity 15:47 Australia threatens to quit Durban 2 anti-racism meet 13:02 Lawyer: Iraqi journalist jailed for 3 years for hurling shoes at Bush 12:02 Katsav accuser: 'He tried to take down my pants, there was a struggle' 13:27 Israeli wins French prize for book questioning origins of Jewish people 13:58 U.S. official slams Israel 'lobby' after withdrawing from top intel post Previous Editions Select Day 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 08 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 01 mar 27 feb

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