October 15, 2008 by Marco Zennaro | No comments
Wireless soil sensors to help farming, improve understanding of carbon, nitrogen cycles
Researchers from Iowa State University are developing wireless soil sensors that will improve farming and may help grow our understanding of the increasingly important carbon and nitrogen cycles. The sensors could also help determine the effects of biochar added to soils. Interestingly, the sensors can be buried deep in the soil and transmit data without above-ground antennas. The technology could play an important role in precision farming.
Researcher Ratnesh Kumar leads the team that’s developing transceivers and sensors designed to collect and send data about soil moisture within a field. The scientists are tweaking the sensors in such a way that they will also collect data about soil temperature and nutrient content.
More info here.
