What is expected benefit of using the phytomonitor?
It is quite difficult to calculate correctly a benefit provided separately by an information tool, which gives a grower the management and time-critical information on his crop. Considering only a watchdog function of the phytomonitor one may suggest the following. It is known that crop yield may be only 22% of what it might be because of severe stress. Assuming that the phytomonitoring watchdog can save only 5% of yield, one may get approximately $17,000 per hectare for vegetable and cut-flower crops wher total gross income is estimated as $32-$37 per m2*, and up to $30,000 per hectare of pot-plants greenhouse where total gross income is about $60 per m2*. It is obvious that the phytomonitor also helps to improve climate control setting and optimize crop treatments so that the added value of the phytomonitoring application may cover initial investments during the first season. The phytomonitoring application is especially beneficial in warm areas where a grower has a routine task to c
