SitS NSF-UKRI: Wireless In-Situ Soil Sensing Network for Future Sustainable Agriculture

这项研究提出了低成本、长寿命、无线就地传感网络的范式转变，用于土壤健康和未来可持续农业的研究。传感网络将通过自动地面和空中车辆的无线供电实现。这种方法将使地下传感器的成本大大降低，不需要更换电池，从而能够在比现在可能的空间和时间密度更高的空间和时间密度上收集数据。新的传感网络将在一项关于替代水源灌溉效果的研究中进行演示。到2050年，世界人口预计将超过90亿，粮食产量的增加威胁着土壤安全，是21世纪的重大挑战之一。维持高水平的粮食生产依赖于灌溉农业，在世界许多地区，灌溉农业消耗了70%以上的淡水储备。由于淡水资源的减少，人们考虑将再生水、地表水和沿海水等替代水源用于农业。然而，替代水源含有新出现的令人担忧的污染物和/或过多的营养物质和盐分。它们对土壤健康的影响以及对土壤生态系统和生产力的相关污染影响在很大程度上仍不清楚。因此，迫切需要开发土壤传感技术，能够有效地指示使用不同替代水资源灌溉的土壤的健康状况。本项目中开发的原型系统将在这样一项研究中进行演示，调查替代水源灌溉的效果。研究结果不仅对开发更好的土壤维护、保护和管理实践至关重要，而且对于开展广泛的土壤健康研究以及与可持续农业相关的联系也是至关重要的。研究小组计划通过以下任务实现拟议的目标。(1)开发低功耗、低成本、地下、就地土壤传感器模块，实现与商业产品相比功率和成本降低一到两个数量级。分立和ASIC形式的低功耗电子产品将被设计并安装到现有的传感器探头技术中。(2)开发无线电力传输和数据遥测系统，可以将电力从地面上的电源无线传输到地下传感器模块，为可充电电池充电，或实现无电池的地下传感操作。这种方式可以大大简化系统的安装和维护。(3)在受控实验室环境和开放现场测试中演示拟议的系统运行。将研究传感器模块的校准和稳定性，以确保长期可靠运行。(4)利用无线传感器技术，研究替代水源灌溉对土壤健康的影响。土壤水分、温度和盐度将被现场测量并以无线方式收集。将从采集的土壤样本中测量土壤pH、氨、有机碳和氮。这些参数可以反映不同灌溉方式下的土壤内在条件。这项研究将对解决全球粮食安全和可持续农业的土壤健康问题产生重要影响。

This research proposes a paradigm shift in low-cost, long-life, wireless in-situ sensing networks for the study of soil health and future sustainable agriculture. The sensing network will be enabled through wireless powering by autonomous ground and aerial vehicles. This approach will result in much lower cost underground sensors with no need for battery replacement, thus enabling data collection on far higher spatial and temporal densities than is now possible. The novel sensing network will be demonstrated in a study on the effect of irrigation with alternative water sources. With the world's population expected to surpass 9 billion by 2050, increasing food production threatens soil security, presenting one of the grand challenges of the 21st century. Sustaining high levels of food production depends on irrigated agriculture, which consumes over 70% of freshwater reserves in many regions of the world. Due to the diminishing freshwater sources, alternative water sources, for example reclaimed water, surface water, and coastal water, have been considered and used for agriculture. However, alternative water sources contain contaminants of emerging concern and/or excess nutrients and salt contents. Their impact on soil health and related contaminant effects on the soil ecosystem and productivity remain largely unknown. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop soil sensing technologies that can effectively indicate the health condition of soils being irrigated using different alternative water resources. The prototype system developed in this project will be demonstrated in such a study, investigating effect of irrigation with alternative water sources. The research results will not only be critical for developing better soil maintenance, protection, and management practice, but also for enabling a wide range of research on soil health and associated links to sustainable agriculture.The research team plans to achieve the proposed objectives through the following tasks. (1) Develop low-power, low-cost, underground, in-situ soil sensor modules and achieve a reduction in power and cost by one to two orders of magnitude compared to commercial products. Low-power electronics in both discrete and ASIC forms will be designed and fitted to existing sensor probe technology. (2) Develop wireless power transfer and data telemetry systems that can wirelessly transfer power from a source above the ground to an underground sensor module, charging a rechargeable battery or enabling a battery-less underground sensing operation. This approach can greatly simplify the system installation and maintenance. (3) Demonstrate the proposed system operation from a controlled laboratory environment and open field testing. Sensor modules calibration and stability will be investigated to ensure long-term reliable operation. (4) Deploy the wireless sensor technology to investigate irrigation effect on soil health by using alternative water sources. Soil moisture, temperature, and salinity will be measured in-situ and collected wirelessly. Soil pH, ammonia, organic carbon and nitrogen will be measured from collected soil samples. These parameters can indicate soil intrinsic conditions due to different irrigation practices. The research will carry an important impact of soil health to address global food security and sustainable agriculture.