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

这项研究提出了一个低成本，长寿命，无线原位传感网络的研究土壤健康和未来可持续农业的范式转变。传感网络将通过自主地面和空中车辆的无线供电来实现。这种方法将导致成本低得多的地下传感器，无需更换电池，从而使数据收集的空间和时间密度远远高于现在的可能性。新的传感网络将在一项关于替代水源灌溉效果的研究中得到证明。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，成为21世纪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，替代水源，例如再生水，地表水和沿海水，已被考虑并用于农业。然而，替代水源含有新出现的污染物和/或过量的营养素和盐含量。它们对土壤健康的影响以及相关的污染物对土壤生态系统和生产力的影响在很大程度上仍然未知。因此，迫切需要开发能够有效地指示使用不同替代水资源灌溉的土壤健康状况的土壤传感技术。本项目开发的原型系统将在这样一项研究中进行演示，调查替代水源的灌溉效果。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，而且对开展广泛的土壤健康研究以及与可持续农业的相关联系也至关重要。研究团队计划通过以下任务实现拟议目标。(1)开发低功耗、低成本的地下原位土壤传感器模块，实现功耗和成本比商用产品降低一到两个数量级。分立和ASIC形式的低功耗电子器件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地下传感操作。这种方法可以大大简化系统的安装和维护。(3)从受控实验室环境和开放现场测试中演示拟议的系统操作。将对传感器模块的校准和稳定性进行研究，以确保长期可靠的运行。(4)部署无线传感器技术，通过使用替代水源来调查灌溉对土壤健康的影响。土壤湿度，温度和盐度将被现场测量和无线收集。将从收集的土壤样品中测量土壤pH值、氨、有机碳和氮。这些参数可以指示由于不同的灌溉实践而导致的土壤内在条件。该研究将对土壤健康产生重要影响，以解决全球粮食安全和可持续农业问题。

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.