Kentucky State University
Investigating a Cell Phone-Based Method for Making on-site Testing of Soil Organic Matter more Accessible to Producers
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Sophomore
Major
Agricultural Systems
2nd Student Major
Computer Science
Institution 23-24
Kentucky State University
KY House District #
57
KY Senate District #
20
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Shawn T. Lucas, PhD
Department
Agriculture Food and the Environment
Abstract
Investigating a cell phone-based method for making on-site testing of soil organic matter more accessible to producers.
Bennett, J.; Rivera Rodriguez, L., Adeniji, M., Mofikoya, O., Lucas S.T. College of Agriculture, Community, and TheSciences, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY 40601
ABSTRACT
As agriculture adapts to modern environmental and production needs, an increased emphasis has been placed on maintaining or building soil organic matter (SOM) in agroecosystems. This constituent of soil is comprised of about 58% carbon and plays a role in promoting soil structure, nutrient cycling, air and water movement in soils, natural filtration processes, and it is increasingly being seen as a critical component of strategies intended to mitigate climate change. For producers, SOM is inherently a critical component of soil health, but with modern financially incentivized initiatives to sequester carbon in soils, SOM can also be seen as another source of farm revenue. Given this information, it makes sense that farmers should monitor SOM levels on their operation, but the primary methods to test SOM involve sending samples to a soil testing laboratory. One exception is the permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC) method of Weil et al. (2003) which was developed to be used in the field with a hand-held spectrophotometer. While making field-testing possible, these hand-held devices are still highly specialized equipment that is not accessible to most farmers. Modern cell phones are equipped with sensitive optical technology and spectrophotometer apps, and attachable spectrophotometer devices, have been developed for use with phones. Our research will evaluate the use of several apps and an attachable device as field spectrophotometer options that farmers might be able to use with the Weil et al. (2003) POXC method for monitoring SOM levels on their operations. These apps will be tested against a field spectrophotometer and a laboratory housed spectrophotometer. If found to be appropriate and reliable, these apps or attachments could provide a simple, accessible means by which farmers could track the impacts of management on SOM and overall accumulation of SOM for credit in programs that incentivize soil C accumulation.
Investigating a Cell Phone-Based Method for Making on-site Testing of Soil Organic Matter more Accessible to Producers
Investigating a cell phone-based method for making on-site testing of soil organic matter more accessible to producers.
Bennett, J.; Rivera Rodriguez, L., Adeniji, M., Mofikoya, O., Lucas S.T. College of Agriculture, Community, and TheSciences, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY 40601
ABSTRACT
As agriculture adapts to modern environmental and production needs, an increased emphasis has been placed on maintaining or building soil organic matter (SOM) in agroecosystems. This constituent of soil is comprised of about 58% carbon and plays a role in promoting soil structure, nutrient cycling, air and water movement in soils, natural filtration processes, and it is increasingly being seen as a critical component of strategies intended to mitigate climate change. For producers, SOM is inherently a critical component of soil health, but with modern financially incentivized initiatives to sequester carbon in soils, SOM can also be seen as another source of farm revenue. Given this information, it makes sense that farmers should monitor SOM levels on their operation, but the primary methods to test SOM involve sending samples to a soil testing laboratory. One exception is the permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC) method of Weil et al. (2003) which was developed to be used in the field with a hand-held spectrophotometer. While making field-testing possible, these hand-held devices are still highly specialized equipment that is not accessible to most farmers. Modern cell phones are equipped with sensitive optical technology and spectrophotometer apps, and attachable spectrophotometer devices, have been developed for use with phones. Our research will evaluate the use of several apps and an attachable device as field spectrophotometer options that farmers might be able to use with the Weil et al. (2003) POXC method for monitoring SOM levels on their operations. These apps will be tested against a field spectrophotometer and a laboratory housed spectrophotometer. If found to be appropriate and reliable, these apps or attachments could provide a simple, accessible means by which farmers could track the impacts of management on SOM and overall accumulation of SOM for credit in programs that incentivize soil C accumulation.