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The development of wireless sensor networks opens the possibility to extend spatial information with temporal information for precise decision support in agriculture. Possibilities of measuring the microclimate in a potato crop for a new generation Phytophthora control system are investigated. Experiments are carried out with mica2dot nodes to study the propagation of radio waves in a crop canopy. An architecture is developed to collect sensor data in agricultural fields for use in decision support systems.

Results on propagation showed that a dry, full developed crop canopy limits the distance that radios can cover to around 11 meters when placed near the soil surface. Wet conditions improve propagation. A number of 140 nodes collect data on temperature and relative humidity in a potato crop. This information is forwarded by an energy efficient protocol to a gateway at the side of the field. From there it is forewarded to a data warehouse and a decision support system. It is shown that principles of the ISO11783 standard can be used for both infield wireless communication and for data exchange between the field and the decision support systems.