The phytogram network is designed to sense and transmit the water status of the crop directly and automatically from the individual fields to the farm headquarters. Water status is obtained by electrochemical sensors laced directly in the stems of the plants. Electrical signals are gathered from twenty-nine plants spread over an area equal to approximately a fifth of a football field. The signals are processed in a buried computer, termed a Pod, located directly in the field. The status is then transmitted by radio telemetry to the farm headquarters for further processing and display. A status report on each field is issued at 1300 hours each day. The equipment is solar driven and transparent to all post planting operations.