Two high-tech soil sensors were on show at this year’s Cereals event, putting speed, nutrient use efficiency and microbial populations at the core of tests.
Soil station
A soil sensor which accurately measures nutrient movement through the soil is helping farmers make better-informed fertiliser timings to optimise nutrient use efficiency.
The soil station was launched in the UK earlier this year and provides users with real-time soil health and actionable insights.
The station comprises two state-of-the-art sensors, powered by solar energy, which measure electrical parameters at two depths – 8cm and 20-25cm – and calculates: Nutrient level (N, Ca, K, Mg, S as total sum), Nutrient availability, Soil water availability, Soil moisture,Temperature, Humidity.
The data is presented in a web or mobile app with automated suggestions and tips.
A man stands next to a test field with a sensor box mounted on a pole.
He says: “With the soil station data, growers can understand what conditions maximise nutrient use efficiency and which cause nutrient leaching, and can adjust their fertiliser applications in line with that. “This system helps decision-making and can deliver significant savings to farmers.”
Soil teste
The hand-held, battery powered testing device, about the size of a lunchbox, is controlled by a smartphone app which analyses key indicators to enable monitoring of soil health.
Soil samples are analysed directly in-field and the entire process, from start to finish, takes only five minutes per sample.
Each test records the GPS co-ordinates of where and when it was taken, so users can track soil health changes at a fixed spot over time.
Post time: Jun-28-2024