New device offering in-field testing in minutes could become a valuable tool for benchmarking soil health
Imagine being able to conduct an in-field soil health test and receive the results within minutes using just a teaspoon-sized sample? Well rather than being a fanciful pipe dream, that could very much become a reality following the launch of an innovative piece of kit.
The UK-orientated device, brought to the market by PES Technologies last year, is hand-held and smart phone-controlled, and offers near real-time in-field soil health analysis.
Co-founder, Dr Jim Bailey, says the innovation came about as a result of the growing demand for quality yet affordable soil health testing. “This led to working with NIAB-EMR on an Innovate UK-funded project to develop a proof of concept. Following this, we collaborated on a larger project with NIAB-EMR, Hutchinsons, University of Essex, the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Greenwich and Small Robot Company.”
The device acts as an ‘electronic dog’s nose’ – creating an aroma fingerprint from the gas released by the microbes in soil. To achieve this, users load a cassette-type consumable containing a teaspoon of soil, its volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are then assessed to provide more than 12 key quality indicators.
To address the different chemical, biological and physical properties of soil, these include: microbial biomass, basal respiration rate, soil organic matter, water holding capacity, pH, extractable nitrate and ammonium, a texture classification, and key nutrient levels.
Jim says unlike traditional testing methods where a soil sample is sent by post for evaluation and the results returned days or weeks later, the PES system takes only five minutes. “Results are delivered to the user’s smart phone while they’re still in the field ,with a GPS location, time and date locked in.
“As humans, there’s so much we miss when using our senses, whereas a dog for example, learns so much more through scent. This is what we’re aiming to emulate through our innovation.”
The device is currently available for arable mineral soils, although work is taking place to train its AI-powered sensor to assess samples from peat and permanent pasture too. Further metrics are also in the making, adds Jim.
In terms of accuracy, PES Technologies claims the system offers at least 80% accuracy for each soil characteristic it provides, which it says is the industry benchmark for in-field soil testing devices.
The device is commercially available now and the company welcomes requests for a product demonstration, says Jim. “Our target market is anyone who conducts large volumes of soil sampling – so agronomists, advisors and larger farming businesses. The cassettes are sold as a bundle equating to £25/test with a one-off purchase cost for the device unit, but the associated software is free for the duration it’s being used.”
Jim believes the device can play a role in helping farmers and agronomists to quantify soil health and measure the impact of any interventions being made. “That way they can optimise the way they’re managing their agricultural systems, monitor progression over time and enhance their overall knowledge.
“We perceive our device as a means of empowering individuals to learn more about their soils and the trends this level of data can unlock,” they conclude.
This article was taken from the latest issue of CPM. For more articles like this, subscribe here.
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