Nanotech institute develops automatic salinity monitoring
The Institute for Nanotechnology-Vietnam National University HCM City said on December 20 that it has made a system to automatically monitor salinity in rivers in the Mekong Delta and set off an alarm if the level is too high.
 |
The system integrates a specialised probe to monitor and warn in case of high salinity for famers and aquaculturists to take preventive measures.
It continuously monitors the water salinity and temperature.
Information about high salt levels is sent via mobile phone to official agencies and farmers, Dr Doan Duc Chanh Tin of the institute told a workshop on the use of high technology in agriculture held in Ben Tre province.
Solar panels are integrated to power the system, he added.
Dang Mau Chien, the institute’s head, said when the salt level falls below 2/1000, the system would activate a pumping system to supply water to ponds.
Nguyen Van Buoi, deputy head of the Ben Tre province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, told Vietnam News that the province is also affected by salt intrusion.
The system could help the province fix the problem, he said.
The department and the Department of Science and Technology have recommended that the province People’s Committee should install the system, he added.
This year more than 160,000ha of agricultural land were affected by salinity in the delta.
