Question 1

If electrochemical sensing is a proven technology in healthcare, why has it not been commercialised widely in soil?

Accepted Answer

Soil is not a controlled environment. Healthcare sensors operate within comparatively well-characterised biological systems. Soil varies continuously in moisture, temperature, pH, salinity, texture and chemical composition. Sensor fouling, signal drift and interfering compounds also make long-term continuous measurement difficult. Solving the soil problem therefore requires advances in sensor materials, calibration and environmental correction.

Question 2

What exactly does SensorC measure?

Accepted Answer

SensorC is developing electrochemical measurement of soluble chemical signals at the soil-water interface. Current work spans functional-carbon and plant-available nitrogen signals, together with the calibration and environmental correction needed for reliable field operation.

Question 3

Does SensorC measure total soil organic carbon?

Accepted Answer

Not directly. Total soil organic carbon is a stock measurement best established through sampling and laboratory analysis. SensorC is developing functional-carbon measurements designed to provide repeated observations between laboratory measurements. This capability does not replace soil organic carbon stock measurement.

Question 4

Does SensorC replace laboratory analysis?

Accepted Answer

No. Laboratory measurements remain essential for calibration, validation and formal reporting. SensorC adds information between those measurements, helping identify trends, detect unexpected change and determine when targeted sampling is most valuable.

Question 5

Will it work in every soil?

Accepted Answer

Soils vary enormously in texture, moisture, salinity and chemistry, so calibration and environmental correction are central to our development programme. Validation is being carried out progressively across soil types and operating conditions rather than claimed universally up front.

Question 6

How does SensorC manage drift and fouling?

Accepted Answer

Our next-generation electrochemical approach is self-calibrating, removing the constant need to refresh reference standards and addressing the drift and fouling that have historically prevented long-term deployment in soil.

Question 7

Can SensorC measure nitrogen?

Accepted Answer

Plant-available nitrogen is a core measurement area for the platform. SensorC is developing electrochemical methods for repeated in-field observations of nitrogen pools that can change through plant uptake, microbial activity, leaching and atmospheric loss.

Question 8

What stage of development is SensorC at?

Accepted Answer

SensorC is in active development and field validation, working with research partners and land managers across a range of soils and systems, and progressing toward commercial pilots.

Question 9

How will the data be used?

Accepted Answer

Continuous observations create time series across locations, depths and conditions. Combined with environmental and management data, they support in-season decisions, project evaluation, and the ground-truthing of proximal, remote and predictive models.

Question 10

Do I have access to my own data?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our platform is designed to give soil data back to the people on the ground, reducing dependence on third-party expertise for ongoing monitoring, reporting and verification.

Question 11

How can organisations work with SensorC?

Accepted Answer

We welcome enquiries relating to collaborative research, field validation, technology integration, commercial deployment and investment. Get in touch through the contact page.

Questions about soil sensing, answered.