Optimized Crop Irrigation Using a Cost-Effective in-situ NMR Soil Water Probe

This project is aimed at developing a new type of tool for measuring the water content of soil. Knowledge of water content is important for irrigation management, enabling higher crop yields while reducing water and fertilizer consumption and runnoff. Existing methods of measuring soil water content all have shortcomings. Our goal is to demonstrate a tool based on NMR technology that will not have the limitations associated with tools currently available for this purpose. We intend to build a prototype soil water content measurent tool, and field test it against established measurement methods. If successful, we will demonstrate the feasibility of an NMR based tool, setting the stage for commercial development.