This Robot Could Find Nitrate Hot Spots by Crawling Through Tile Drainage [Video]

By Cami Koons

Researchers from Iowa State University (ISU) have partnered with Michigan State University (MSU) to develop a robot that would detect nitrates and monitor tile health to help farmers keep their land productive. 

Nearly half of Iowa’s harvested cropland has tile drainage, according to ag census data from the USDA. The underground drainage systems help to boost crop productivity, but environmental and water groups have pointed out they can also deliver excessive amounts of nitrate and other nutrients downstream.

Mike Castellano, a professor of soil science at ISU, said the robots and nitrate sensors could help farmers detect where, how and how much nitrate they are losing. Castellano spoke at a virtual field day with Iowa Learning Farms Dec. 19. 

“That allows farmers to better manage their field at a precision scale, to improve both productivity and environmental performance of our crop production systems,” Castellano said. 

Castellano said current technologies limit nitrate testing to the end of the tile pipe, …