Ultrathin sensors could aid precision farming

The team at KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology), Saudi Arabia, believes that the technique could help farmers to grow more food without putting extra demands on the land. 

Increasing agricultural output in response to growing populations without clearing more land or applying excessive fertilisers is a challenge faced by farmers. 

Precision farming, which involves real-time monitoring of plant needs and responding to them with the necessary amount of water, light or nutrients could provide a solution but comes with challenges, explained KAUST PhD student Abdullah Bukhamsin.

“Precision farming typically relies on soil-based sensors or drones fitted with special cameras,” said Bukhamsin. “But they cannot capture changes in the plant early enough to enable intervention.”

Previous research has shown that measuring bioimpedence — how easily an electrical current passes through organic tissues — can reveal a plant’s physiological information such as its nitrogen and water content, presence of fungal infections or metal contaminants.