{"id":48802,"date":"2024-06-28T09:44:13","date_gmt":"2024-06-28T08:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=48802"},"modified":"2024-06-28T09:44:13","modified_gmt":"2024-06-28T08:44:13","slug":"printed-sensors-soil-could-help-farmers-improve-crop-yields","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/printed-sensors-soil-could-help-farmers-improve-crop-yields\/48802\/","title":{"rendered":"Printed sensors in soil could help farmers improve crop yields"},"content":{"rendered":"
University of Wisconsin\u2013Madison engineers have developed low-cost printed sensors that allow for real-time, continuous monitoring of nitrate in soil types that are common in Wisconsin.<\/h2>\n
These printed sensors could enable farmers to make better-informed nutrient management decisions and reap economic benefits.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur sensors could give farmers a greater understanding of the nutrient profile of their soil and how much nitrate is available for the plants, helping them to make more precise decisions on how much fertiliser they really need,\u201d explained Joseph Andrews, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at UW\u2013Madison who led the research.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they can buy less fertiliser, the cost savings could be quite significant at large-acreage farms.\u201d<\/p>\n
Monitoring nitrate pollution with the sensors<\/h3>\n
While nitrate is an essential nutrient for growing crops, excess nitrate can leach out of soil and into groundwater.<\/p>\n