Recently, in the cantaloupe scientific research base of the Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center of Jiading District, the summer and autumn stubble watermelons, melons and cantaloupes planted are thriving, and it is expected that the first batch of "National Day melons" will be listed in late September. Behind this, the base also helps the growth of watermelon (watermelon, melon abbreviation) through Internet of Things technology, and hopes to continuously improve the collection and analysis of data, and create a set of "smart brains" that can achieve intelligent and automated management in the future.
On the afternoon of August 24, in the newly built intelligent shed of the cantaloupe scientific research base of the Jiading District Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, rows of watermelon vine seedlings were neatly arranged, and some of them had already borne fruit. Among them, the first batch of colonized melon "Xiaoxue" is currently in the fruit expansion period, "it is expected to ripen around September 25, and it can be served on the public's table during the National Day holiday." Fan Jinghua, the head of the base, introduced.
In order to better ensure the growth of watermelon, the base built 4 new intelligent sheds last year, with a total area of 3840 square meters. This year, the greenhouse ushered in the first batch of summer and autumn stubble melons. Different from ordinary greenhouses, these intelligent sheds are equipped with various sensors that can collect environmental indicators such as temperature and humidity, illuminance and soil moisture in the shed. With the help of the digital Internet of Things, there is no need to frequent manual inspections, whether it is windy and rainy or scorching sun, even if it is thousands of miles away, the staff can keep abreast of the changes in the microclimate in the greenhouse through computers, mobile phones and other terminals, so as to control and accurately implement policies in a timely manner to ensure that the watermelon is in the most suitable growth environment.
In addition to the support of Internet of Things technology, technicians also use sensors to collect daily data during the whole growth period of melon seedlings, grasp the relationship between the plant situation and the climate environment at each stage of melon growth and development, and provide data support for the future adjustment and optimization of planting technology. "It is hoped that through the collection of basic data and the experience and guidance of industry experts, a set of intelligent and automated management systems will be formed in the future to manage the production of watermelon more scientifically and accurately." Fan Jinghua said.
It is understood that the base has insisted on germplasm resource innovation and new variety breeding for more than 10 years, and has successively selected and bred a number of new varieties of high-quality watermelon such as "Huami 1001", characteristic small fruit watermelon "Red Xiaoxian", mini cantaloupe "Xiaoxue", reticulated melon "Huami 303" and so on. This year, the base has tried a total of 45 melon combinations and 42 watermelon combinations, which is expected to breed more new varieties of characteristic watermelons that are popular with the market and farmers in the future. In addition, the tests of watermelon introduction screening, weight loss and drug reduction, and simplified cultivation in the base are also being promoted in an orderly manner. At present, the summer watermelon that is undergoing a variety comparison test has entered the fruit expansion period, and if the test is successful, the public will also be able to eat the "head stubble" watermelon in the autumn.
Source: Shanghai Jiading