scholarly journals Cost-Effective Modern Chemical Sensor System for Soil Macronutrient Analysis Applied to Thai Sustainable and Precision Agriculture

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1524
Author(s):  
Sutasinee Apichai ◽  
Chalermpong Saenjum ◽  
Thanawat Pattananandecha ◽  
Kitti Phojuang ◽  
Siraprapa Wattanakul ◽  
...  

A modern chemical sensor system (M-CSS) was developed for the cost-effective chemical analysis of Thai precision and sustainable agriculture (TPSA), which is suitable in rural Thailand and elsewhere. The aim of this study was to achieve precision and sustainable agriculture (P-SA). The M-CSS functions according to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) definition and incorporates information and communication technologies (ICTs). The developed chemical sensor in the M-CSS is based on a colorimetric determination by a smart device/smartphone. Additionally, the preparation of soil samples was investigated. Soil samples of optimal conditions were extracted using an acid extractant in the ratio of one to two (extract to soil sample). Then, phosphate-phosphorous and potassium were detected with the M-CSS, which showed an excellent correlation with the standard reference methods. Interestingly, it is noteworthy that the at-site analysis of the developed method could detect a greater nitrate-nitrogen content than that of the standard reference method. The developed cost-effective analysis for the plant macronutrient content in the soil, including nitrate-nitrogen, phosphate-phosphorous, and potassium, was demonstrated for organic vegetable farms at the real P-SA research site in Northern Thailand. The obtained results can guide the management of the application of fertilizers. The proposed M-CSS exhibited the potential to be used for at-site soil macronutrient analysis and represents the starting point of Thai precision and sustainable agriculture (TPSA).

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1153
Author(s):  
Franz Konstantin Fuss ◽  
Asliza Ahmad ◽  
Adin Ming Tan ◽  
Rizal Razman ◽  
Yehuda Weizman

Hard-shell thoracolumbar sacral orthoses (TLSOs) are used for treating idiopathic scoliosis, a deformation of the spine with a sideways curvature. The pressure required inside the TLSO for ideal corrective results remains unclear. Retrofitting TLSOs with commercially available pressure measurement systems is expensive and can only be performed in a laboratory. The aim of this study was to develop a cost-effective but accurate pressure sensor system for TLSOs. The sensor was built from a piezoresistive polymer, placed between two closed-cell foam liners, and evaluated with a material testing machine. Because foams are energy absorbers, the pressure-conductance curve was affected by hysteresis. The sensor was calibrated on a force plate with the transitions from loading to unloading used to establish the calibration curve. The root mean square error was 12% on average within the required pressure range of 0.01–0.13 MPa. The sensor reacted to the changing pressure during breathing and different activities when tested underneath a chest belt at different tensions. The peak pressure reached 0.135 MPa. The sensor was further tested inside the scoliosis brace during different activities. The measured pressure was 0.014–0.124 MPa. The results from this study enable cheaper and mobile systems to be used for clinical studies on the comfort and pressure of braces during daily activities.


1993 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 590-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephane Mottin ◽  
Canh Tran-Minh ◽  
Pierre Laporte ◽  
Raymond Cespuglio ◽  
Michel Jouvet

At pH 7 and with the excitation at wavelengths above 315 nm, previously unreported fluorescence of 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine) is observed. Two fluorescence bands were observed for 5-HT; the first emits at around 390 nm with an associated lifetime near 1 ns, and the other (well known) emits at 340 nm with an associated lifetime of 2.7 ns. With both static and time-resolved fluorescences, the spectral and temporal effects of the excitation wavelength were studied between 285 and 340 nm. With these basic spectroscopic properties as a starting point, a fiber-optic chemical sensor (FOCS) was developed in order to measure 5-HT with a single-fiber configuration, nitrogen laser excitation, and fast digitizing techniques. Temporal effects including fluorescence of the optical fiber were studied and compared with measurements both directly in cuvette and through the fiber-optic sensor. Less than thirty seconds are required for each measurement. A detection limit of 5-HT is reached in the range of 5 μM. Our system, with an improved sensitivity, could therefore be a possible and convenient “tool” for in vivo determination of 5-HT.


Membranes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreia S.L. Gouveia ◽  
Lucas Ventaja ◽  
Liliana C. Tomé ◽  
Isabel M. Marrucho

Considering the high potential of hydrogen (H2) as a clean energy carrier, the implementation of high performance and cost-effective biohydrogen (bioH2) purification techniques is of vital importance, particularly in fuel cell applications. As membrane technology is a potentially energy-saving solution to obtain high-quality biohydrogen, the most promising poly(ionic liquid) (PIL)–ionic liquid (IL) composite membranes that had previously been studied by our group for CO2/N2 separation, containing pyrrolidinium-based PILs with fluorinated or cyano-functionalized anions, were chosen as the starting point to explore the potential of PIL–IL membranes for CO2/H2 separation. The CO2 and H2 permeation properties at the typical conditions of biohydrogen production (T = 308 K and 100 kPa of feed pressure) were measured and discussed. PIL–IL composites prepared with the [C(CN)3]− anion showed higher CO2/H2 selectivity than those containing the [NTf2]− anion. All the membranes revealed CO2/H2 separation performances above the upper bound for this specific separation, highlighting the composite incorporating 60 wt% of [C2mim][C(CN)3] IL.


2002 ◽  
Vol 06 (24) ◽  
pp. 958-965
Author(s):  
Jun Yu ◽  
Jian Wang ◽  
Huanming Yang

A coordinated international effort to sequence agricultural and livestock genomes has come to its time. While human genome and genomes of many model organisms (related to human health and basic biological interests) have been sequenced or plugged in the sequencing pipelines, agronomically important crop and livestock genomes have not been given high enough priority. Although we are facing many challenges in policy-making, grant funding, regional task emphasis, research community consensus and technology innovations, many initiatives are being announced and formulated based on the cost-effective and large-scale sequencing procedure, known as whole genome shotgun (WGS) sequencing that produces draft sequences covering a genome from 95 percent to 99 percent. Identified genes from such draft sequences, coupled with other resources, such as molecular markers, large-insert clones and cDNA sequences, provide ample information and tools to further our knowledge in agricultural and environmental biology in the genome era that just comes to its accelerated period. If the campaign succeeds, molecular biologists, geneticists and field biologists from all countries, rich or poor, would be brought to the same starting point and expect another astronomical increase of basic genomic information, ready to convert effectively into knowledge that will ultimately change our lives and environment into a greater and better future. We call upon national and international governmental agencies and organizations as well as research foundations to support this unprecedented movement.


Author(s):  
Andreia S.L. Gouveia ◽  
Lucas Ventaja ◽  
Liliana C. Tome ◽  
Isabel M. Marrucho

Considering the high potential of hydrogen (H2) as a clean energy carrier, the implementation of high performance and cost-effective biohydrogen (bioH2) purification techniques is of vital importance, particularly in fuel cell applications. In this context, membrane technology is a potentially energy-saving solution to obtain high-quality biohydrogen. The most promising poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) - ionic liquid (IL) composite membranes previously studied by our group for CO2/N2 separation, containing pyrrolidinium-based PILs with fluorinated or cyano-functionalized anions, were chosen as starting point to explore the potential of PIL–IL membranes for CO2/H2 separation. The CO2 and H2 permeation properties at the typical conditions of biohydrogen production (T =308 K and 100 kPa of feed pressure) were measured and discussed. PIL–IL composites prepared with [C(CN)3]– anion showed higher CO2/H2 selectivities and H2 diffusivities compared to those containing [NTf2]– anion. All the membranes revealed CO2/H2 separation performances above the upper bound for this specific separation, highlighting the composite incorporating 60 wt% of [C2mim][C(CN)3] IL.


1969 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Munro

Initial nitrate-nitrogen content of the soil gave a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.93 with yields and with total nitrogen uptake of Brussels sprouts plants (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera DC., Jade Cross). Soil nitrogen extracted with 0.01 M NaHCO3 gave r values of 0.76 with yields and 0.75 with nitrogen uptake. Nitrate incubation results from leached, moist soil samples gave r values of 0.59 with yields and 0.56 with nitrogen uptake. However, air-drying of soil samples prior to leaching and incubation resulted in r values of only 0.15 and 0.11 with yields and nitrogen uptake, respectively. Available nitrogen determined by incubation without previous leaching of the soil samples gave high r values because of the influence of the initial nitrate nitrogen in the soil.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document