ePlant TreeTag
ePlant is a revolutionary tool that uses transformative technology to allow trees to communicate their needs in real-time. With ePlant, tre...
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What is ePlant TreeTag?
ePlant's TreeTag is an innovative IoT dendrometer system that attaches compact, wireless sensors to trees and woody vines to capture real-time data on growth, water stress, and environmental conditions. By measuring micro-variations in stem diameter via a dendrometer, along with accelerometer, temperature, and humidity sensors, TreeTags provide direct insights into plant physiological needs, enabling precise, plant-driven irrigation decisions. The solar-powered sensors transmit data over LoRaWAN up to 1 km to gateways, feeding into a cloud platform with AI analysis, a user-friendly Data Portal for visualization and management, and a developer-ready API for seamless integration into existing farm systems.
Designed primarily for orchard and vineyard growers, the tool scales from single blocks to thousands of acres, supporting applications in agriculture, arboriculture, forestry, and beyond. Users benefit from actionable outputs like Water Stress Index, irrigation recommendations, stress alerts, and growth trends, helping optimize water use, reduce stress, boost yields, and monitor carbon capture or phenological phases. The ePlant app simplifies deployment with NFC activation, GPS logging, and in-field checks, requiring minimal maintenance over a decade-long lifespan.
TreeTag turns plants into environmental sensors, revolutionizing precision agriculture by moving beyond soil or weather-based models to actual plant signals. It's ideal for innovative professionals tackling water efficiency, climate resilience, and productivity in perennial crops with trunks over 1 inch in diameter. With plug-and-play scalability and partnerships for irrigation solutions, it empowers data-driven farming worldwide.
ePlant TreeTag pricing
Pricing model: Free
No explicit pricing details listed on the website; contact form for 'Get a Quote' suggests custom enterprise pricing based on number of sensors, acres, or subscriptions. Third-party sources mention freemium model with basic monitoring free and paid plans from ~$15 per sensor/month for advanced analytics, API access, and irrigation control, but confirm via sales team.
ePlant TreeTag pros
- Measures direct stem diameter for accurate water stress detection
- Solar-powered with decade-long battery life under dense canopies
- Installs in under 90 seconds with single screw
- LoRaWAN transmission up to 1 km range
- Compatible with existing LoRaWAN infrastructure
- Data Portal for graphing, grouping, and exporting datasets
- ePlant app for NFC activation and GPS logging
- Scales to thousands of devices per gateway
- Provides Water Stress Index and irrigation recommendations
- API for seamless integration into farm systems
- Tracks growth phases like budding and dormancy
- Monitors carbon capture via growth data
- Stores up to 8 years of data during outages
- Supports worldwide LoRaWAN regional standards
- Detects pests, disease via transpiration changes
- Automates plant-driven irrigation schedules
- Visualizes irrigation impacts on growth
ePlant TreeTag cons
- Limited to trees/vines over 1 inch diameter
- Requires LoRaWAN gateway or infrastructure
- Needs occasional reseating every 1-2 years
- Gateway requires power and internet backhaul
- No pricing transparency on main website
- Dependent on solar exposure for charging
- Initial hardware purchase required
- App-based setup may need NFC-compatible phone
- Data analysis relies on cloud connectivity
Frequently asked questions about ePlant TreeTag
How does the TreeTag measure water stress?
The TreeTag uses a dendrometer to directly measure micro-variations in stem diameter, which indicate water status in the tree's growth layer. Combined with temperature, humidity, and accelerometer data, it computes a Water Stress Index and provides irrigation recommendations through the cloud platform.
What is the battery life of TreeTags?
TreeTags are powered by a solar panel and hybrid capacitor, sustaining operation for over a decade even under dense canopies. They store up to 8 years of data locally during connectivity outages.
How long does installation take?
Installation takes less than 90 seconds per device: screw into trunk or branch over 1 inch diameter, then tap with the ePlant app for NFC activation, GPS logging, and connectivity verification—no calibration or cellular service needed.
What connectivity does TreeTag use?
TreeTags transmit data via LoRaWAN up to 1 km to gateways, which connect via Ethernet or cellular to the cloud. Compatible with existing LoRaWAN networks or ePlant's pre-configured indoor/outdoor gateways supporting thousands of devices.
What crops can TreeTags be used on?
TreeTags mount on trees or woody vines with trunks/branches larger than 1.0” (2.5 cm) in diameter, ideal for orchards, vineyards, and perennial crops where precision irrigation drives productivity.
How is data accessed and visualized?
The Data Portal allows viewing device lists, custom groups, connectivity status, graphing datasets, comparing growth trends, tracking irrigation effects, and exporting historical data for analysis or third-party integration.
What maintenance is required for TreeTags?
TreeTags operate autonomously with minimal maintenance—reseat the dendrometer every 1-2 years as the trunk grows beyond 1 cm, tracked predictably via data; no other routine servicing needed over 10+ years.
Can TreeTags integrate with other systems?
Yes, the developer-ready API delivers pre-processed data like stress alerts and irrigation triggers for seamless integration into existing irrigation controls, platforms, or custom applications without new infrastructure.
What additional sensors does TreeTag include?
Beyond the dendrometer for growth and stress, each TreeTag has an accelerometer for movement detection, temperature sensor, and humidity sensor to contextualize plant responses to environment and irrigation.
What applications beyond irrigation does it support?
TreeTags track phenological phases like budding/flushing/dormancy, monitor carbon capture via growth, detect disruptions from pests/disease/damage through transpiration changes, and serve forestry, arboriculture, and risk management.