Sensor network will provide in-situ soil salinity test

Dr Nick Harris, from Southampton University’s school of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, worked with a group of professors from the University of Western Australia (UWA) to produce the soil sampling sensor.  

According to Southampton University, the sensor is capable of measuring the chloride (salt) in the soil moisture and linking up with other sensors to create a wireless network that can collate and relay the measurement readings. The network can also control the time intervals at which measurements are taken.

Chloride levels make up a high proportion of the overall soil salinity, so the sensor is placed into the soil to monitor these levels.

In a statement, Dr Harris said: ’Traditionally, soil-based measurements involve taking samples and transporting them to the laboratory for analysis. This is very labour and cost intensive and therefore it usually means spot checks only with samples being taken every two to three months. It also doesn’t differentiate between chloride in crystallised form and chloride in dissolved form. This can be an important difference as plants only ‘see’ chloride in the soil moisture.