Browsing by Author "Golicz, Karolina"

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    Adapting smartphone app used in water testing, for soil nutrient analysis
    (Elsevier, 2020-06-03) Golicz, Karolina; Hallett, Stephen; Sakrabani, Ruben; Ghosh, Joy
    Smartphone technology has now penetrated every aspect of modern life. At such high rates of access and utilization, there is today much potential for the development of smartphones as high-performing tools in a number of industries. Traditionally, smartphones have been used as e.g. point-of-care testing devices in developing countries; now a similar approach can be extended to agriculture. This paper assesses the viability of utilizing smartphones in soil analysis. An Android-based smartphone application, in conjunction with commercially available Quantofix® test strips, was employed to analyze 92 soil samples collected across Indonesia. The soils tested encompassed a wide range of different textures (with 13%, 60% and 25% of samples constituting sandy, loamy and clayey soils, respectively), soil organic matter contents (range: 0.8–19.7%) and nutrient concentrations (range for plant-available N: 0.1–137.4 mg kg−1 and P: 1.2 to 64.2 mg kg−1; on dry soil basis). The app utilizes the smartphone as a portable reflectometer, which relates the color of test strips to the concentration of particular nutrients present in the soil medium. Three mobile devices currently available on the market, representing low, mid- and high-end products, were used to test the application. The results obtained via the smartphone were compared against standard methods for determination of extractable nitrate-N and exchangeable phosphorus (Olsen-P) under laboratory conditions. The smartphone-mediated soil analysis was found to have a high degree of agreement with standard methods for nitrate-N determination (87% of samples with nitrate-N differed by less than 10 mg kg−1 from the standard method for the high-end smartphone) but not for phosphorus determination where chemical interferences to test strip colour development were noted. All three mobile devices were shown to be effective as portable reflectometers. However, color perception was found to differ amongst the devices, resulting in a consistent bias between the high-end phone and the remaining appliances. Whereas, it is essential to consider the inter-smartphone variability in readings and environmental factors such as temperature prior to the smartphone-mediated soil analysis, the smartphone-test strip combination might be employed as acceptable screening tool for soil nutrient concentration assessment to enhance crop outcomes, increasing yield, and preventing over-application of inputs, reducing consequent financial and environmental impact. Further enhancements can test the applicability of smartphone-mediated soil analysis in field conditions.
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    An analysis of in‐field soil testing and mapping for improving fertiliser decision‐making in vegetable production in Kenya and Ghana
    (Wiley, 2020-12-01) Mallory, Adrian; Golicz, Karolina; Sakrabani, Ruben
    In‐field soil testing and soil mapping can contribute to addressing the challenge of poor soil fertility and limited fertilizer application across sub‐Saharan Africa. Semi‐quantitative colorimetric methods, such as paper test strips, are frequently employed in soil nutrient assessment across developing countries, especially in South‐East Asia. This research investigated the accuracy of nutrient‐sensitive paper strips and smartphone, which was re‐purposed to act as a reflectometer, to assess soil nitrate‐N, and different methods for mapping soil fertility to identify areas of land that are suitable for human waste‐derived fertilizers (HWDF) application. The study entailed testing soil samples across 42 different farms in Kenya and Ghana and compared it to laboratory results in‐country. It was found that paper strips were capable of assessing available nitrate‐N concentration present in the soil within ±20 kg ha−1 of the standard method for 86% of the farms. Paper strips were less effective in Ghana as they had been calibrated for a method that was not used by local laboratories. Paper strips were not effective for HWDF samples, where chemical interferences and concentration of different forms of nitrates were too high, resulting in overestimation of readings and thus negatively affecting any associated nutrient management advice. Soil mapping has the potential to use open‐source data to inform farmers through mobile technology. For soil mapping two methods were deployed which includes targeting organic matter deficient areas and stakeholder led mapping, with the latter shown to be more effective in identifying areas for HWDF application.
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    CEiA_07:08:2019.xlsx
    (Cranfield University, 2020-08-07 08:41) Golicz, Karolina; Hallett, Stephen; Sakrabani, Ruben; Ghosh, Joy
    Data collected during laboratory experiments, which took place at Cranfield University. The dataset provides raw data, which accompanies a scientific paper titled: 'Development of a smartphone-mediated screening tool for determining soil nutrient content analysis in Indonesia'.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Data for 'The potential for using smartphones as portable soil nutrient analyzers on suburban farms in central East China' paper
    (Cranfield University, 2019-11-12 16:40) Golicz, Karolina; Sakrabani, Ruben; Hallett, Stephen; Pan, Genxing
    The data presented in the spreadsheet underpins 'The potential for using smartphones as portable soil nutrient analyzers on suburban farms in central East China' paper published in Scientific Reports. Each tab corresponds to particular figure and/or table presented in the paper.
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    Novel procedures for testing of soil field test kits involving paper strips
    (Wiley, 2020-02-08) Golicz, Karolina; Hallett, Stephen; Sakrabani, Ruben
    The need for facilitation of access to soil information has never been greater. Growing human population, shrinking land and water resources, soil pollution, climate change and unequal distribution of agriculture-oriented technology impact negatively on global food security. There has been a long-standing interest in developing low-cost and easily accessible soil field kits to measure different properties of agricultural soils in order to improve their agronomic capacity. Test strips, in particular, have provided a favoured method of obtaining soil nutrient status information since the 1970s. Today there is renewed interest in using semi-qualitative colorimetric methods in soil assessment due to incorporation of modern technological solutions, such as smartphones, which could in turn increase the accuracy and precision of the existing methods. In this paper, we propose streamlined testing procedures based on experience gathered that may be conducted prior to a field kit development involving test strips. Results from laboratory and field experiments are presented, highlighting important factors which ought to be taken into account at the commencement of test-strip oriented studies.
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    Old problem, the Millennial solution: using mobile technology to inform decision making for sustainable fertilizer management
    (Elsevier, 2021-02-20) Golicz, Karolina; Hallett, Stephen H.; Sakrabani, Ruben
    According to the World Bank, as of mid-2000s, more people have access to mobile technologies than clean water. Mobile technologies were quickly recognized as excellent high performing work tools and became adapted early on for use in the agricultural sector. They offer exciting opportunities for improving farming practices, including operating sustainable fertilizer management strategies and related extension support. From assessing potential Nitrogen losses in California to fine-tuning fertilizer recommendations in Thailand — harnessing the potential of mobile technologies was recognized as an essential piece in the worldwide move towards information-driven, efficient, and sustainable agriculture. In this review, mobile technologies designed to augment existing methods of fertilizer management were reviewed and challenges to their adoption together with missing links in their development process were emphasised.
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    The potential for using smartphones as portable soil nutrient analyzers on suburban farms in central East China
    (Nature Publishing Group: Open Access Journals, 2019-11-11) Golicz, Karolina; Hallett, Stephen H.; Sakrabani, Ruben; Pan, Genxing
    Soil testing is frequently conducted to specify nutrient supply recommendations. By adjusting fertilizer type and application rates, farmers can achieve desired crop yields with lower production costs and are thereby less likely to contribute to eutrophication of nearby waterbodies. However, traditional methods of soil testing can be costly, time-consuming and are often impractical in rural and resource-poor regions in China, where rapid population growth and consequent food demand must be balanced against potential environment risks. Smartphones are nearly ubiquitous and offer a ready capability for providing additional support for existing extension advice. In this study, we used an Android-based smartphone application, in conjunction with commercially-available Quantofix test strips, to analyze soil samples with a goal of providing specific fertilizer recommendations. The app transforms the smartphone into a portable reflectometer, relating the reaction color of the test strips to the concentration of soil nutrients available. A 6-month long field study involving two growing seasons of vegetables was conducted in a suburban area of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province of China to evaluate the accuracy and precision of smartphone-mediated soil analysis. Results obtained via the smartphone correlated well with the yield response of the common green vegetable Ipomoea aquatica (water spinach) and could be applied in calculations of necessary off-farm inputs throughout the open-field vegetable growing season. Together, the smartphone and test strip in combination were shown to offer an acceptable screening tool for soil nutrient concentration assessment with the potential to result in substantial monetary savings and reduction of nutrient loss to the environment.
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    Raw data for 'Novel procedure for testing of soil field test kits involving paper strips' paper
    (Cranfield University, 2020-02-19 10:11) Golicz, Karolina; Hallett, Stephen; Sakrabani, Ruben
    Raw data for 'Novel procedure for testing of soil field test kits involving paper strips' paper. It involves: 1. Test strip readings obtained via the reflectometer in relation to: 1A. Chemical standards; and, 1B. Chemical extractants 2. Test strip response to temperature effects 3. Test strip response to dilution effects 4. Selected subset of results from test-strip studies conducted between 1988 and 2018. Results obtained from published charts with WebPlotDigititizer (ver. 4.2).
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    Soil Testing Data and ArcGIS files for "An analysis of in-field soil testing and mapping for improving fertiliser decision-making in vegetable production in Kenya and Ghana"
    (Cranfield University, 2022-02-17 08:46) Mallory, Adrian; Golicz, Karolina; Sakrabani, Ruben
    In-field soil testing and soil mapping can contribute to addressing the challenge of poor soil fertility and limited fertilizer application across sub-Saharan Africa. Semi-quantitative colorimetric methods, such as paper test strips, are frequently employed in soil nutrient assessment across developing countries, especially in South-East Asia. This research investigated the accuracy of nutrient-sensitive paper strips and smartphone, which was re-purposed to act as a reflectometer, to assess soil nitrate-N, and different methods for mapping soil fertility to identify areas of land that are suitable for human waste-derived fertilizers (HWDF) application. The study entailed testing soil samples across 42 different farms in Kenya and Ghana and compared it to laboratory results in-country. It was found that paper strips were capable of assessing available nitrate-N concentration present in the soil within ±20 kg ha−1 of the stand-ard method for 86% of the farms. Paper strips were less effective in Ghana as they had been calibrated for a method that was not used by local laboratories. Paper strips were not effective for HWDF samples, where chemical interferences and concentra-tion of different forms of nitrates were too high, resulting in overestimation of read-ings and thus negatively affecting any associated nutrient management advice. Soil mapping has the potential to use open-source data to inform farmers through mobile technology. For soil mapping two methods were deployed which includes targeting organic matter deficient areas and stakeholder led mapping, with the latter shown to be more effective in identifying areas for HWDF application.