Portable sensors in precision agriculture: Assessing advances and challenges in soil nutrient determination

Abstract

Soil assessments are crucial for data-driven soil management and precision agriculture to promote smart soil management practices and address related environmental pollution. Conventional testing methods are time-consuming, expensive, and have limited reach in remote locations. This research paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements, operation, performance, and limitations of portable devices and sensors and their suitability for soil nutrient analysis. Additional focus has been on portable optical, electrochemical, and electrophoretic devices. Furthermore, the need for further research and development of portable devices and sensors for soil nutrient analysis, with a focus on improving performance, ease of use, and accessibility for a wider range of users is also emphasized. The study also provides a future perspective and locates research gaps pertaining to devices for point-of-care applications.