A low-cost microcomputer system to monitor and control an environmental control plot facility

• Published in: Computers and electronics in agriculture Vol. 4; no. 2; pp. 149 - 155
• Main Authors: Blankenship, P.D., Mitchell, B.W., Layton, R.C., Cole, R.J., Sanders, T.H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 1989; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Alarm systems; aplicaciones del ordenador; application des ordinateurs; arachis hypogaea; aspergillus flavus; Biological and medical sciences; Biometrics, statistics, experimental designs, modeling, agricultural computer applications; computer aided control; computer applications; Confidence intervals; Construction costs; Contamination; Control; Control systems; controle continu; Drought; Electric power generation; Electrons; environmental factors; Exclusion; facteur du milieu; factores ambientales; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungal plant pathogens; Generalities. Biometrics, experimentation. Remote sensing; microcomputers; monitoring; Other methods; Outages; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Rainfall; Shelters; Stresses; Telephones; vigilancia; Mycosis; Mycotoxin; Environmental factor; Fungi; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Alarm system; Fungi Imperfecti; Automatic monitoring; Drought; Biological contamination; Aflatoxin; Computer aid; Saprophyte; Thallophyta; Microcomputer; Aspergillus flavus; Arachis hypogaea; Vegetal microorganism relation; Oil plant(vegetal); Infection; Leguminosae; Spermatophyta; Contaminant; Soil temperature
• ISSN: 0168-1699; 1872-7107
• DOI: 10.1016/0168-1699(89)90032-X

Since 1980, six 67.1-m 2 environmental control plots with apparatus for soil temperature manipulation and motorized shelters for rainfall exclusion have been used for the study of Aspergillus flavus invasion and aflatoxin contamination of peanuts during drought stress. Manual controls and the absence of an alarm system for the plots have mandated daily monitoring and adjustments of thermostats for soil temperature control and visual inspection for proper shelter operation, especially during severe thunderstorms. Prior to 1987 experiments, a microcomputer-based control system was assembled to control the operation of the facility and provide telephone alarms for soil temperature discrepancies, improper shelter operation, or electrical power interruptions. Commercially available components were used to construct the system which cost approximately US$2000. At the end of a 50-day evaluation period, the system had provided an average plot soil temperature of 27.4°C with a setting of 26.7°C. The 95% confidence interval for the treatment period average during the tests was between 25.9°C and 27.9°C. Alarm annunciation and telephone notification were also provided as expected in response to plot temperature extremes and a power outage.