Almost half of Iowa’s farmland uses underground drainage systems, called tile drainage, which help improve crop yields. However, these systems can also carry too many nutrients, like nitrates, into waterways, which can harm the environment.
Mike Castellano, a soil science professor at Iowa State University ISU, explained that new technology like robots and nitrate sensors can help farmers better understand where and how much nitrate is being lost from their fields. Castellano shared this at a virtual event hosted by Iowa Learning Farms on December 19.
He said this technology would allow farmers to manage their fields more precisely, improving both crop yields and environmental impact.
Currently, nitrate testing only happens at the end of the drainage pipe, but with the new robot, farmers will be able to see exactly where and when nutrients are being lost.
Liang Dong, who leads ISU’s microelectronics research center, has helped develop the nitrate sensor for this technology. He explained that the sensor is finished and will soon be available to farmers at a reasonable price. The sensor will let farmers monitor both water flow and nitrate loss in their drainage systems.
The goal is to combine this nitrate sensor with a camera and waterflow sensor on a robot that can travel through the drainage system and collect data for farmers. This robot is still a prototype, developed by a team led by Xiaobo Tan, an electrical engineering professor at Michigan State University.
Christian Luedtke, a graduate researcher working on the robot, demonstrated the current prototype at the virtual event. The robot is about two feet long and uses fin-like barbs to move through the pipes. However, Luedtke shared that not all drainage pipes are the same size or shape, and many change diameter across a field, which creates challenges for the robot’s design.
Through this project, Luedtke learned these details by working with farmers in Iowa. He said the robot also needs to move faster, have a longer battery life, and be waterproof before it can be tested in real-world drainage systems.
Luedtke emphasized that improving water quality in Iowa could have a significant impact if this technology helps farmers make better decisions for the environment.