Project: Lysimeter for SuLaMo

Read about an exciting project focused on irrigation efficiency in Morocco, for which we installed weather stations, lysimeters, and hydrological monitoring stations.

With the publication of the final project report, it is time to look back on SuLaMo, an ambitious and successful project that developed and tested innovative approaches for sustainable agriculture under challenging climatic conditions.

Addressing Climate Change and Water Scarcity

Morocco is among the countries most affected by the impacts of climate change. Increasing drought periods and severe water scarcity pose significant challenges to agricultural production. Against this backdrop, the SuLaMo project aimed to improve irrigation efficiency and promote the sustainable use of alternative water resources.

At the heart of the project was the combination of Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) and precise monitoring of soil water dynamics using advanced sensor technologies. This approach enables water to be applied exactly where and when crops need it, helping to conserve valuable resources while maintaining agricultural productivity.

UGT’s Technical Contribution

UGT was responsible for key components of the monitoring technology and regularly supported project activities on site in Morocco since 2023.

Weather Stations for Optimized Irrigation Management

UGT installed modern weather stations at all four project sites to continuously monitor precipitation, air temperature, relative humidity, global radiation, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure. The collected data are used to calculate daily evapotranspiration rates and support irrigation scheduling based on estimated crop water requirements. As a result, the weather stations provide the foundation for best-practice irrigation management within the field trials.

Innovative Soil Hydrology Monitoring with Full Range Tensiometers

Another important project component was the development of a soil hydrological monitoring concept based on the Full Range Tensiometer FRT 15D. These sensors measure both soil water tension and soil temperature while remaining reliable even under high salinity conditions.

In October 2023, four monitoring fields equipped with a total of 55 FRT 15D sensors were established. Since then, continuous measurements at different soil depths have provided valuable insights into soil water availability and movement.

Continuous Monitoring with Lysimeter Stations

In parallel with the weather station installations in May 2023, two Ready-To-Go lysimeters (500 mm diameter, 900 mm height) were deployed. Since installation, the lysimeter stations have continuously recorded soil moisture, temperature, electrical conductivity, soil tension, and lysimeter weight. These measurements provide detailed information on water fluxes and water consumption within the soil-plant system.

Expansion of the Soil Moisture Monitoring Network

In November 2024, the monitoring network at the Meknès pilot site was expanded with eight additional soil moisture sensors. These sensors measure soil moisture across six soil layers and transmit data in real time every 15 minutes. The resulting data form the basis for highly efficient sensor-based irrigation control.

Knowledge Transfer as a Key Success Factor

In addition to the technical implementation, knowledge transfer played a crucial role throughout the project. A comprehensive training workshop was held in Meknès in October 2024, where Moroccan project partners and external users received hands-on training in operating lysimeter systems, FRT sensors, and online data transmission technologies.

Contributing to the Future of Sustainable Agriculture

SuLaMo demonstrates how advanced monitoring technologies, digital data collection, and innovative irrigation strategies can help make agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions more sustainable and resilient.

We are proud to have contributed to this forward-looking project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space, and wish all partners continued success in applying and further developing the knowledge and technologies generated through SuLaMo.