Development, calibration, and validation of a multivariable soil measurement device to support fertility diagnostics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26507/paper.4362Keywords:
Device, macronutrients, multivariable, sensor, soilAbstract
Soil fertility diagnostics are valuable strategies to identify the availability of nutrients in agricultural soils, with measurements and data traditionally generated through laboratory analysis from on-site sampling. Direct soil characteristic measurements facilitate the establishment of spatial and real-time variations. The need to design and validate a comprehensive device capable of measuring electrical conductivity, pH, moisture, organic carbon concentration, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium availability, exchangeable bases, and exchangeable acidity is aimed at generating precise fertility diagnostics based on data measured directly at the production site. The objective of this research is to develop, calibrate, and validate a multivariable sensor device for laboratory and field measurements of electrical conductivity, pH, moisture, organic carbon, and available macronutrients using a calibration methodology at the laboratory scale, with field validations for three reference zones. The technological development seeks to perform multivariable point measurements, reducing data acquisition times, with the ability to multiply measurements for different production areas and generate more accurate recommendations aligned with sustainable practices. The methodology includes the development of a multivariable measurement device featuring a base design, component integration, controller programming, GPS, sensors, and HMI touchscreen, spatially housed in an enclosure, including modules for reception, transmission, display, and data control. The device calibration will be conducted through direct measurements with the device on processed soil samples from three certified soil laboratories, followed by mathematical modeling per soil characteristic as an adjustment measure between the device's readings and the laboratory results. The device's field validation will take place in three zones, distributed across Mosquera and Bojaca municipalities in Cundinamarca and Espinal, Tolima. The goal of applying multivariate analysis techniques is to establish the variation of soil characteristics based on the initial device measurements, followed by calibration according to laboratory results. Field measurements and comparative soil sampling will be conducted with the calibrated device to establish new device operation adjustments, applying multivariate analysis techniques.
Author Biographies
Christian José Mendoza Castiblanco, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
PhD, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Investigador PhD, Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Agrícola, Colombia. cjmendozac@unal.edu.co
Óscar Iván Monsalve Camacho, Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales
Investigador PhD, Programa de Ingeniería Agronómica. Bogotá, D. C., Colombia.
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