soil sensor

Researchers  are  biodegradable sensors to measure and wireless transmit soil moisture data, which, if further developed, could help feed the planet’s growing population while minimizing the use of agricultural land resources.

Image: Proposed sensor system. a) Overview of the proposed sensor system with a degradable sensor device. b) When power is supplied wireless to the degradable sensor device located on the soil, the device’s heater is activated. The location of the sensor is determined by the location of the hot spot, and the temperature of the heater changes depending on the soil moisture; therefore, soil moisture is measured based on the hot spot temperature. c) The degradable sensor device is buried in the soil after use. Fertilizer ingredients at the base of the sensor device are then released into the soil, stimulating crop growth.learn more
Proposed sensor system. a) Overview of the proposed sensor system with a degradable sensor device. b) When power is supplied wireless to the degradable sensor device located on the soil, the device’s heater is activated. The location of the sensor is determined by the location of the hot spot, and the temperature of the heater changes depending on the soil moisture; therefore, soil moisture is measured based on the hot spot temperature. c) The degradable sensor device is buried in the soil after use. Fertilizer ingredients at the base of the sensor device are then released into the soil, stimulating crop growth.

biodegradable and can therefore be installed at high density. This work is an important milestone in addressing remaining technical bottlenecks in precision agriculture, such as the safe disposal of used sensor equipment.
As the global population continues to grow, optimizing agricultural yields and minimizing land and water use is essential. Precision agriculture aims to address these conflicting needs by using sensor networks to collect environmental information so that resources can be appropriately allocated to farmland when and where they are needed. Drones and satellites can collect a wealth of information, but they are not ideal for determining soil moisture and moisture levels. For optimal data collection, moisture measuring devices should be installed on the ground at a high density. If the sensor is not biodegradable, it must be collected at the end of its life, which can be labor intensive and impractical. Achieving electronic functionality and biodegradability in one technology is the goal of the current work.
At the end of the harvest season, the sensors can be buried in the soil to biodegrade.