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AQUAFLEX was originally developed in New Zealand by Lincoln University.
The work was conducted over a 7-year period during which time extensive research was carried out on available soil moisture measurement techniques. The work highlighted fundamental problems in current techniques. Problems that were indeed already traditionally associated with measuring very small samples of soil.
The efficient use of irrigation would be a fairly simple and straightforward task if the following factors were consistent:
- Soil was uniform across an area of land
- Soil wetting down through the profile was uniform
- Evapotranspiration was consistent from crop to crop and site to site
- Irrigation systems application performance was matched with soil ability to absorb water
In practice, however, the above factors are not consistent.
The measurement of soil moisture content in a relatively small amount of soil does not provide sufficient information for efficient crop/turf management.
AQUAFLEX overcomes these problems by using a unique patented principle within a 3-meter long sensor. AQUAFLEX spatially averages moisture over a 3-metre (10 feet) length and in a cylindrical volume of 6 litres (370 cubic inches) of soil.
Lincoln formed an association with Streat Instruments who were already leaders in moisture measurement with particular specialisation in industrial on-line measurement and control.
AQUAFLEX was commercialised in 1997 by which time over a decade of work had gone into the development, the latter periods being concerned with extensive trials and verification of results by Lincoln, Streat and independent parties.
Streat Instruments have since refined the AQUAFLEX product suite in response to requests from customers.
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