Smart Agriculture & Livestock: Full-Scale Gas Monitoring Solutions

As modern agriculture transitions from traditional methods to regionalized, large-scale, and intelligent systems, environmental control has become a core factor determining the quality and economic efficiency of animal and plant growth. In large-scale livestock farms or off-season vegetable and fruit greenhouses, even minor fluctuations in air composition can trigger chain reactions—from respiratory diseases in livestock to reduced crop yield.

As a global leader in gas sensing technology, Nexisense brings industrial-grade precision detection into agriculture. Through real-time online monitoring, temperature and humidity compensation, and automated linkage logic, we create an "invisible safety barrier" for animal and plant growth.

Animal Farms: From Environmental Monitoring to Improved Livestock Yield

In intensive pigsties, chicken coops, or cattle barns, enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces easily accumulate harmful gases, mainly from anaerobic fermentation of waste and livestock respiration.

1. Lethal Threats from Ammonia (NH3) and Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)

Animal manure releases large amounts of irritating gases during decomposition. Ammonia damages the eyes and upper respiratory tract of livestock, lowering immunity; hydrogen sulfide is highly toxic, causing death in high concentrations and threatening the safety of personnel.

• Solution: Deploy SGA-500 series online ammonia/H2S detectors for 24-hour monitoring, automatically triggering exhaust fans when thresholds are exceeded.

2. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Oxygen (O2) Balance

High-density livestock environments quickly accumulate CO2 while oxygen is relatively insufficient. Prolonged hypoxia causes poor appetite and slow growth in animals.

• Advantage: Nexisense uses NDIR infrared CO2 sensors, unaffected by humidity, providing stable and reliable data.

3. Coordinated Temperature and Humidity Control

Gas concentrations fluctuate with temperature and humidity. Nexisense monitoring systems support three-in-one integration (gas + temperature + humidity) to provide complete data support for smart farms.

Plant Cultivation & Greenhouses: Precision Growth Control

Plant growth, development, ripening, and preservation require strict air composition control. Accurate gas regulation is key to increasing agricultural value.

1. Carbon Dioxide: The Plant's "Staple Food"

CO2 is a raw material for photosynthesis. In sunlight greenhouses, CO2 is often insufficient in the morning; proper supplementation significantly boosts yield.

• Monitoring Logic: Use SGA-100/700 smart modules integrated into greenhouse control systems for precise CO2 supplementation and monitoring.

2. Ethylene (C2H4): Precision Ripening Art

In off-season fruit ripening rooms (e.g., bananas, mangoes, tomatoes), ethylene concentration determines taste and maturity. Excess causes over-ripening; insufficient prevents desired results.

• Application: SGA-500 online ethylene detectors monitor concentrations in real time, linked to automated valves for "one-click ripening".

3. Mushroom and Germination Experiments: Hypoxia Prevention

In high-respiration closed environments, CO2 levels can spike. Nexisense monitoring ensures safe oxygen levels for researchers entering experimental rooms.

Nexisense Agriculture Product Highlights

Core Hardware: SGA-500 Online Detectors

• Industrial Performance: Uses imported sensors, optimized for strong anti-cross-interference capability.

• Triple-Proof Design: For high ammonia, high humidity, and corrosive environments, PCBs have enhanced protective coatings, and sensor probes resist corrosion and condensation.

Flexible Integration: SGA-700 Smart Modules

• Plug-and-Play: Comes with calibration data, simplifying secondary development and shortening product deployment cycles.

Inspection Assurance: SGA-600 Portable Series

• Comprehensive Patrols: Technicians can carry portable detectors for blind spots and waste outlets in greenhouses, ensuring no hidden risks.

  
  

Linkage Logic: Automated Closed Loop for Smart Agriculture

1. Automatic Ventilation: When NH3 > 25ppm or H2S > 10ppm, the system triggers relays to activate forced ventilation.

2. CO2 Supplement: When CO2 drops below optimal levels (e.g., 400ppm), the system links CO2 cylinders or generators to supply gas.

3. Environmental Alerts: When O2 < 19.5% Vol, local alarms and mobile apps push warnings, prohibiting personnel entry into high-risk areas.

FAQ

Q1: Livestock ammonia is highly corrosive; how long can Nexisense instruments last?
A1: SGA-500 series features corrosion-resistant upgrades: 316 stainless steel sensor probes and triple-protect coated PCBs. With regular cleaning, sensors typically last 2-3 years.

Q2: Why use infrared for CO2 instead of electrochemical sensors?
A2: High humidity (>90% RH) in greenhouses can dilute electrochemical sensors, causing failure. NDIR infrared sensors use optical absorption, are non-reactive, last 5-10 years, and resist interference.

Q3: How to position ethylene detectors in ripening rooms?
A3: Ethylene is similar in weight to air (28 vs 29), diffuses easily. Install at ~1.5m height in the center; in large rooms, place additional detectors near air inlets and the center for uniform concentration monitoring.

Q4: Should detectors connect to a controller?
A4: Depends on scale. Small barns can use SGA-500 with relay-driven fans; large farms should use SGA-800 controllers for centralized display and unified alarms.

Q5: Reading doesn’t return to zero after installation. What to do?
A5: Background ammonia may be high. Use the one-click zero function in fresh air or with nitrogen to recalibrate baseline.

Q6: Sensor failure—do I need to return the whole device?
A6: No. SGA-700 modular design allows on-site replacement of the sensor module without rewiring or factory servicing.

Q7: How to monitor farm data remotely?
A7: Supports RS485 (Modbus RTU). Connect to 4G/5G data collectors to upload real-time gas, temperature, and humidity data to Nexisense cloud for remote monitoring via app or PC.

Q8: Optimal CO2 concentration for greenhouses?
A8: Varies by plant. Most vegetables grow best at 800-1200ppm. SGA detectors support customizable high/low alarms for automated supplementation and closed-loop management.

Conclusion

Gas monitoring has become a core infrastructure in modern animal and plant cultivation. Nexisense’s precise, corrosion-resistant, and intelligent monitoring products ensure livestock health, increase plant yield, and provide a solid safety barrier for agricultural workers. Plan a smart farm or upgrade greenhouse monitoring? Contact Nexisense experts for a customized solution to maximize every investment.