On-site monitoring of soil condition for precision agriculture by using multimodal microchip integrated with EC and temperature sensors

Abstract

For precise control of the growth conditions for plants, miniaturized sensor which is capable to insert and measure in medium culture directly is required. Insertion type multimodal sensor including electrical conductivity (EC) and temperature sensor was fabricated. For a visualization of nutrient solution diffusion and a real time monitoring of decreasing concentration for rarifying nutrient solution, the multimodal sensor monitored three difference depths in soil and a limited extent in closed soil, in real time. We achieved to visualize in actual cultivation environment by using the multimodal sensor, for the first time.