R&D Activities


ZIM Plant Technology has numerous collaborations worldwide with scientific institutions, agronomists, soil scientists and growers. The objective is to adapt the magnetic probe technology to the needs of the customers. Focus is the acquisition, evaluation and graphical visualisation of the data and the curves as well as their correlation with ambient temperature, relative humidity, light irradiation, soil moisture, water potential (Scholander pressure bomb) and dendrometer measurements. Determination of thresholds for irrigation and water-saving irrigation strategies are of equal importance.


 Currently there exist the following collaborations:

  • J.E. Fernandéz Luque, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain (olive)


  • Dr. Martin Bader, Centre of Excellence for Climate Change, Woodland & Forest Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia (eucalyptus, banksia)


  • J.V. Herrmann, Bavarian State-Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture, Specialised Center Analytics, Veitshöchheim, Germany (grapevine)

  • M. Arend, P. Vollenweider and M. Goerg-Günthardt, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland (oak)


  • A. Christmann, Department of Botany, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany (Arabidopsis)

  • St. Driever and L. Marcelis, Wageningen UR, Glastuinbouw, Wageningen, Netherlands (tomato)


  • F.-W. Bentrup, Department of Plant-Physiology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria (liana)


  • J.Tautz, H. Vierle, BEEgroup, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany (HOBOS, Education portal using the example of the honey bee)

  • Prof. Dr. D. Murach and Prof. Dr. H. Schill, Abteilung für Wald und Umwelt, Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde (HNEE), Eberswalde, Germany (poplar, willow)


  • Dr. J. M. Colmenero Flores, Dept. Biotecnología Vegetal, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología, Sevilla, Spain (tobacco)

  • Dr. ir. K. Metselaar, Soil Physics, Ecohydrology and Groundwater Management, Wageningen University, Netherlands / Q.J. van Lier, Agronomia, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brasilia (soya bean)


  • Prof. Dr. J. Papenbrock, Institut für Botanik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany (Indian Bean "lablab purpureus", mangrove)

  • Prof. Dr. O. Löhnertz und S. Muskat, Fachgebiet Bodenkunde, Forschungsanstalt Geisenheim, Germany (grapevine)


  • Dr. Helen Bramley, Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia (crop)