Golf courses and premium landscapes demand precision water management to maintain optimal playing conditions while conserving resources. Growbud's Turf Management System combines real‑time soil moisture, temperature, and salinity monitoring with intelligent irrigation scheduling to deliver superior turf quality, significant water savings, and reduced maintenance costs.
Layered Architecture
Monitors soil moisture, temperature & salinity in the critical 6‑12 inch root zone depth.
8‑ch LoRaWAN concentrator with cellular connectivity, solar powered for remote installations.
AI‑driven irrigation scheduling, turf analytics, and mobile alerts for optimal turf management.
Typical Deployment
Golf course greens are instrumented with 8‑12 Dro sensors per green, strategically placed to capture microclimatic variations and drainage patterns. Fairways utilize 4‑6 sensors per irrigation zone, while landscape installations deploy 2‑4 sensors per management area. Sensors report every 15 minutes during active growing seasons and hourly during dormancy periods.
Hardware Specifications
Optimized for turf applications
Dro Sensor
- VWC range 0‑100% ±2% accuracy
- Temperature ‑10°C to 60°C ±0.5°C
- Salinity 0‑10 dS/m for salt stress monitoring
- 6‑12 inch installation depth for root zone
- Waterproof, solar powered
Outdoor Gateway
- 8‑channel LoRaWAN, 2km+ range
- LTE‑M cellular with Ethernet backup
- 50W solar panel + 20Ah battery system
- Weather‑resistant NEMA‑4X enclosure
- GPS time sync for precise data logging
Smart Irrigation & Analytics
Growbud's AI algorithms analyze soil moisture trends, weather forecasts, and evapotranspiration rates to optimize irrigation timing and duration. The system automatically adjusts for seasonal changes, turf type, and local microclimates. Alerts trigger when conditions deviate from optimal ranges, enabling proactive turf management and preventing stress conditions.
Golf Course Applications
Greens Management
- • Maintain optimal 18‑22% VWC for firm, fast conditions
- • Monitor salt accumulation from irrigation water
- • Prevent localized dry spots and wet areas
- • Optimize topdressing and aeration timing
Fairway Optimization
- • Zone‑specific irrigation based on slope and exposure
- • Reduce water usage by 30‑40% vs. time‑based systems
- • Maintain consistent playing conditions
- • Early detection of irrigation system malfunctions
Landscape Applications
Commercial & Residential Landscapes
Commercial Properties
- • Corporate campus grounds
- • Municipal parks and recreation areas
- • Resort and hotel landscapes
- • Sports complexes and athletic fields
High‑End Residential
- • Estate lawns and gardens
- • Drought‑sensitive regions
- • Water‑restricted communities
- • Premium landscape installations
Impact & Benefits
Water Conservation
30‑50% reduction in irrigation water usage while maintaining superior turf quality.
Turf Quality
Consistent playing conditions and enhanced turf health through precision management.
Cost Efficiency
ROI within 18‑24 months through water savings and reduced labor costs.