A research scholar from Amity Institute of Information Technology (AIIT), Vaibhav Bhatnagar, has recently proposed a project that aims to design a wireless NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) sensor with its implementation through android application for major crops grown in Rajasthan. The project is funded by Department of Science & Technology (DST), Rajasthan, under its Student Project Programme - 2017-18.
The population explosion has hiked the demand for food. Threats to agricultural production such as pests, soil erosion, weed, and lack of nutrients may result low harvest or poor quality harvest. Farmers resort to fertilisers and manure to weed out agricultural concerns and have bumper harvest.
Being chemical substance or composition, manure and fertilizer improve the growth of plants as well add nutritional value, particularly Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. Fertilisers, when added to soil or water help, boost plants’ immunity against pests, weeds, insects and diseases. This denotes lesser dependence on herbicides and insecticides to reap healthy crops.
In the wake of little or no information on chemical composition or nutrient value in fertilisers, the crop growers are duped by manufacturers and end up buying sub-standard products for crops. Farmers have to approach authorized soil testing centre if they would like to know proportion of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) in the soil. According to farmer.gov.in website, Rajasthan has only 29 authorized laboratories to assist farmers in this regard. With this dismal figure farmers have to wait for many days to knowing the NPK level/proportion in the soil. The delay in the result may pose harm to the crop and increase farmers’ financial liability. Having a wireless NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) sensor that runs through android application can help crop growers in the long run and make farming a viable option.