THE team has set up towers in different orchards to record information such as air temperature, carbon dioxide levels and the rate at which trees convert sunlight to energy.

Other data is collected with instruments in the soil and from tools attached to individual leaves, he said.

Mr John Clayshulte, a pecan farmer from Mesilla, said having trees use water and fertiliser at the right time can save farmers money.

He said he currently uses low-tech methods such as a pocket guide and a shovel with more advanced sensors and probes to keep an eye on water and fertiliser levels in his orchard.

'It makes a difference. That's bottom-line dollars to us, especially when your fertiliser bill is US$100,000 or more,' Mr Clayshulte said. 'For us farmers, whatever's left over after paying the bills is what we have.' -- AP