Near infrared sensors (NIR) for peat moisture determination

This study examines the use of Near Infrared (NIR) sensors in the determination of the moisture content of milled peat, such as horticultural moss peat. An NIR sensor is developed and its performance evaluated. This is a non-invasive sensor that is capable of assessing moisture content based on the reflectance characteristics of the surface of the peat. Results indicate that this system can give continuous real-time measurements of peat moisture contents to within approximately + four percentage points. There are possible applications for this technology in the area of plant growth and environment monitoring within glass houses.