Colruyt Group uses Reporter for soil moisture measurements at the organic farm Het Zilverleen

Colruyt Group uses Reporter for soil moisture measurements at the organic farm Het Zilverleen
CO2 monitoring in livestock: long overdue
Innovative monitoring of embankments along the A10 with Reporter
A weather station with water level sensor for a marina or harbour
Colruyt Group uses Reporter for soil moisture measurements at the organic farm Het Zilverleen
Salinity detection in groundwater: Monitoring salt levels during dewatering
Royal Latem Golf Club uses Reporter for water monitoring
Connecting a water flow sensor to the cloud
Sensor adapters, what are they and how do they work?
Rode Rozen & Tortilla's uses Reporter for reliable temperature monitoring
Artes Woudenberg uses Reporter for wind monitoring during restoration of Brussels Palace of Justice
Smart sensors for ports and terminals
Rain monitoring for dry bulk terminals and ports
Pluym - Van Loon uses Reporter for groundwater level monitoring at construction sites
Construction site monitoring - safety & efficiency
Effective industrial odour monitoring
Why temperature control is incomplete without remote monitoring
Taste Restaurantgroup uses Reporter for freezer monitoring
Cemminerals uses Reporter to measure the temperature of canal water
Rombaut Plant uses Reporter for frost monitoring in potted plants
Vandijk Technics uses Reporter for temperature registration in cold rooms
Combined relative air humidity and leaf wetness measurement
Innovative tree monitoring: Ecomatik dendrometer integrated with Reporter
De Bossen measures soil moisture for a bountiful pole bean harvest
TM Edison uses Reporter during the construction of energy island
What is the difference between direct vs indirect energy meters?
Weather monitoring: measuring wind at a festival site
Choose the right flow meter for your next water project
How to measure Dew Point and Wet Bulb temperature
Precision test for the Sensirion SHT35 humidity sensor
Installing a weather station on caravans, holiday homes or recreational vehicles
The effect of wind on measuring particulate matter
Connecting a Watermark sensor to the cloud
Watermark vs SMT100: volumetric water content or soil water tension?
Smart geotechnical data gathering and interpretation
6 tips for making the most of your cold room
Temperature registration for HACCP
Quickly tackle the 7 principles of HACCP
6 lists to quickly get started with HACCP
Monitoring soil moisture contents for crop farming
Green Wall Monitoring: Why your vertical garden needs smart garden sensors
How is Reporter powered?
Storm & scaffolding: leveraging weather stations for enhanced construction site safety
Level measurement in a container or well
The ease of Reporter: Sumaq's a fan!
Protecting fruit tree blossoms from freezing
Adverse weather warning for your construction site
Real-time Frost Monitoring & Alert System
Pseudomonas syringae prevention in fruit trees
Cold storage of cut flowers with temperature monitoring
IoT sensor module with GPS tracker

Colruyt Group has long been known for its continuous innovation and commitment to sustainability. As part of its sustainable agriculture efforts, Colruyt Group uses the IoT sensor module ‘Reporter’ to measure soil moisture at Het Zilverleen, the organic farm the company acquired in 2018. This technology aligns with Colruyt Group's vision for sustainable agriculture, promoting water conservation and efficient crop production.

Cultivation and Technology at Het Zilverleen

At Het Zilverleen organic farm, various types of cabbage, celeriac, and potatoes are primarily grown. To gain detailed insights into soil conditions, Colruyt Group installed four Reporter modules, each equipped with two soil moisture sensors (SMT100), across four different plots. The sensors were placed at various soil depths to ensure accurate moisture level readings. Additionally, a weather station was installed to monitor rainfall precisely, which is essential for assessing soil moisture balance.

When using a single measurement point per plot, it’s important for the plot to be homogeneous to ensure the readings are representative.

SMT100 sensors in soil

Reporter: User-Friendly Innovation for Smart Agriculture

Reporter is a versatile, plug & play sensor module that makes remote monitoring simple and accessible for companies of all sizes. The sensor module is suitable for a variety of sectors, from agriculture and horticulture to livestock, hospitality, construction, and industry. This wide applicability highlights the value Reporter brings to modern, data-driven business practices.

The project leader for Colruyt Group's Smart Farming praised the experience with Reporter:

“The system works as it should; the signal is reliable, and installation is straightforward, though positioning the soil sensors correctly does take some time. All data is displayed clearly on a single Dashboard with graphs, making monitoring easy. Additionally, the availability of an API opens up numerous possibilities.

The support from Crodeon has also been positive, with issues quickly resolved, and they are easily reachable. I also read the monthly newsletter with great interest, as it keeps me informed of new developments, such as new sensors that can be integrated, and I stay up-to-date on Crodeon’s ongoing projects.”

Reporter connects to the internet via mobile data (2G/4G), eliminating the need for a local network. It also works with sensors powered by both solar panels and mains electricity. When combined with a weather sensor, this setup provides a solar-powered weather station.

€499

Supporting the Organic Farmer

Het Zilverleen is run by an organic farmer passionate about his work. Many tasks are still done manually, such as inspecting crops for potential issues (pests, diseases, etc.).

The smart sensors provide crucial support in this process. By providing a real-time view of soil moisture, the farmer can make informed decisions about when to irrigate, saving water and increasing efficiency.

Colruyt Group has also conducted soil analyses to gain a better understanding of soil values. Based on these analyses, alarm notifications can be set in the future, alerting the farmer when the soil is too dry or overly saturated. Although the data currently serves primarily as supplementary information, Colruyt Group aims for this data to eventually become fully reliable for operational decision-making.

Additionally, Colruyt Group is experimenting with using drones in other projects to monitor soil conditions and crop health.

Reporter solar-powered

The Move Toward Fully Automated Irrigation

Reporter’s strength also lies in its ability to transmit live measurement data in real-time to external (third-party) systems via the Crodeon Rest API. An example would be a computer running an irrigation model.

These systems work as follows: they measure rainfall amounts, current soil moisture levels, and the amount of moisture the plant has lost that day. This information is then combined and compared with the specific needs of each crop. This allows the computer to calculate how much additional water is needed. With the right setup, this can even be converted into fully automated irrigation, which uses water in an ultra-efficient way.

To read more about such systems, check out this blog on sustainable irrigation for blueberry farming:

Colruyt Group aims to use the measurement data they gather with Reporter to eventually train their own irrigation models. This would enable even greater water savings in the cultivation of locally-grown organic vegetables.

Sustainable Agriculture, Naturally!

Colruyt Group remains committed to water conservation and minimizing their environmental impact. Water management and sustainable farming are central to their Smart Farming projects. The innovative approach demonstrated at Het Zilverleen reflects Colruyt Group's dedication to a sustainable future. By integrating smart technologies, Colruyt Group actively contributes to the development of sustainable agricultural practices that are both ecologically and economically beneficial.

More information about Colruyt Group’s efforts in water conservation and sustainable farming can be found on their website:

Get Started with Reporter

Is your company ready to take the step towards Smart Agriculture? We're here to help! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Back to blog

Any questions?

Call us at +32474097705 Or use the contact form

  • CO2 monitoring in livestock: long overdue

    CO2 monitoring in livestock: long overdue

    Maintaining a healthy environment is essential in livestock farming, yet one critical factor is often overlooked: carbon dioxide levels. While temperature monitoring systems have been standard for years, CO2 levels...

    CO2 monitoring in livestock: long overdue

    Maintaining a healthy environment is essential in livestock farming, yet one critical factor is often overlooked: carbon dioxide levels. While temperature monitoring systems have been standard for years, CO2 levels...

  • Innovative monitoring of embankments along the A10 with Reporter

    Innovative monitoring of embankments along the ...

    Geo-data specialist Fugro used Reporter to optimise the calculations for embankment stability along the A10 near Amsterdam (the Netherlands).

    Innovative monitoring of embankments along the ...

    Geo-data specialist Fugro used Reporter to optimise the calculations for embankment stability along the A10 near Amsterdam (the Netherlands).

  • marina weather station

    A weather station with water level sensor for a...

    A real-time remote monitoring system keeps an eye on the current weather conditions and will warn you when wind speed starts going off the charts or when the water level...

    A weather station with water level sensor for a...

    A real-time remote monitoring system keeps an eye on the current weather conditions and will warn you when wind speed starts going off the charts or when the water level...

  • Colruyt Group uses Reporter for soil moisture measurements at the organic farm Het Zilverleen

    Colruyt Group uses Reporter for soil moisture m...

    Colruyt Group has long been known for its continuous innovation and commitment to sustainability. As part of its sustainable agriculture efforts, Colruyt Group uses the IoT sensor module ‘Reporter’ to...

    Colruyt Group uses Reporter for soil moisture m...

    Colruyt Group has long been known for its continuous innovation and commitment to sustainability. As part of its sustainable agriculture efforts, Colruyt Group uses the IoT sensor module ‘Reporter’ to...

1 of 4
  • Demo laptop

    Live online demo

    Sign up for a free account on the Crodeon Dashboard a watch a real live working demo.

    Watch the demo 
  • person

    Talk to sales

    Schedule an appointment with Jonathan, our Sales Manager, for more information about this solution.

    Schedule a call 
  • phone email

    Contact us

    For partnerships, distribution, or any other question, don't hesistate to contact us!

    Contact us