Microsystem Nodes for Soil Monitoring via an Energy Mapping Network: A Proof-of-Concept Preliminary Study
Anna Sabatini,
Alfiero Leoni,
Gil Goncalves,
Alessandro Zompanti,
Marco V. Marchetta,
Paulo Cardoso,
Simone Grasso,
Maria Vittoria Di Loreto,
Francesco Lodato,
Costanza Cenerini,
Etelvina Figuera,
Giorgio Pennazza,
Giuseppe Ferri,
Vincenzo Stornelli,
Marco Santonico
Affiliations
Anna Sabatini
Unit of Computational Systems and Bioinformatics, Department of Engineering, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
Alfiero Leoni
Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Gil Goncalves
Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Alessandro Zompanti
Unit of Electronics for Sensor Systems, Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Rome, Italy
Marco V. Marchetta
Unit of Electronics for Sensor Systems, Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Rome, Italy
Paulo Cardoso
Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Simone Grasso
Unit of Electronics for Sensor Systems, Department of Science and Technology for Humans and the Environment, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
Maria Vittoria Di Loreto
Unit of Electronics for Sensor Systems, Department of Science and Technology for Humans and the Environment, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
Francesco Lodato
Unit of Electronics for Sensor Systems, Department of Science and Technology for Humans and the Environment, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
Costanza Cenerini
Unit of Electronics for Sensor Systems, Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Rome, Italy
Etelvina Figuera
Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Giorgio Pennazza
Unit of Electronics for Sensor Systems, Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Rome, Italy
Giuseppe Ferri
Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Vincenzo Stornelli
Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Marco Santonico
Unit of Electronics for Sensor Systems, Department of Science and Technology for Humans and the Environment, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
The need for accurate information and the availability of novel tool and technological advances in agriculture have given rise to innovative autonomous systems. The aim is to monitor key parameters for optimal water and fertilizer management. A key issue in precision agriculture is the in situ monitoring of soil macronutrients. Here, a proof-of-concept study was conducted that tested two types of sensors capable of capturing both the electrochemical response of the soil and the electrical potential generated by the interaction between the soil and plants. These two sensors can be used to monitor large areas using a network approach, due to their small size and low power consumption. The voltammetric sensor (BIONOTE-L) proved to be able to characterize different soil samples. It was able, indeed, to provide a reproducible voltammetric fingerprint specific for each soil type, and to monitor the concentration of CaCl2 and NaCl in the soil. BIONOTE-L can be coupled to a device capable of capturing the energy produced by interactions between plants and soil. As a consequence, the functionality of the microsystem node when applied in a large-area monitoring network can be extended. Additional calibrations will be performed to fully characterize the instrument node, to implement the network, and to specialize it for a particular application in the field.
