Background

Parvinder Lalli, a progressive farmer in the Coffs Harbour region, purchased his farm in 2010 and has been growing Rubus crops for the last five years. One of the first growers in Australia to trial blackberry substrate farming in 2017, Parvinder has consistently embraced technology to improve crop yield, quality, and overall farm efficiency.

Since the beginning of his journey, Parvinder has utilized a Priva control system to manage irrigation and fertiliser injection. In 2019, he became one of the pioneering Australian growers to implement the Groscale system, leveraging wireless weight and drain measurements to precisely control irrigation scheduling throughout the day.

Challenges

Before implementing the Groscale system, managing irrigation was a constant challenge:

• Reliance on manual drain station checks required significant time and effort.
• Miscalculations led to overwatering, causing fungal diseases, or underwatering, resulting in crop damage.
• Inadequate nighttime watering due to undetected water loss significantly impacted crop health.

The Solution: Groscale Technology

The Groscale system revolutionized irrigation management on Parvinder’s farm by providing precise, real-time data on crop water requirements.

• Weight-Based Measurement: The system directly measures plant transpiration by tracking weight changes in the crop. Since 1 gram of weight lost equates to 1 ml of water uptake, the system accurately determines irrigation needs without relying on traditional light- and time-based predictions.
• Nighttime Watering Optimization: The Groscale identified significant overnight water loss, enabling Parvinder to maintain optimal moisture levels even at night, ensuring healthier plants and improved yield.
• Adaptation to Growth Stages: During the peak fruiting period, the system automatically adjusted water delivery, increasing from 7–8 litres per day to 13–14 litres as fruit load grew, ensuring the plants received the water they needed without delay.

Results Achieved

• Improved Yield: The Groscale ensured a record-breaking season, with Parvinder achieving full fruit load maturity and unprecedented crop quality.
• Reduced Risk: Early detection of irrigation issues, such as reduced flow from malfunctioning valves, prevented potential crop losses during critical periods.
• Confidence and Control: Parvinder gained peace of mind knowing his irrigation system would respond precisely to changing conditions.

The Benefits

Parvinder’s experience with Groscale technology has transformed his approach to farming:

• Efficiency: Reduced labor-intensive manual checks and eliminated guesswork in irrigation scheduling.
• Precision: Ensured optimal plant hydration under all conditions, leading to healthier crops and higher yields.
• Community Impact: Parvinder’s success has inspired widespread adoption of Groscale technology in the Coffs Harbour region and beyond. He has shared his experience with growers across Australia and internationally.

Continuous Improvement

In addition to adopting the Groscale system, Parvinder has further enhanced his farm by installing a Cravo Retractable Roof Greenhouse over his blackberry crops. This addition allows for greater control over climate conditions, further supporting his commitment to innovation and excellence in Rubus crop production.

Parvinder’s journey highlights how technology and a forward-thinking approach can drive success in agriculture, providing a model for growers worldwide to achieve sustainable, efficient, and high-quality crop production.