Pictured is a state-of-the-art MOF sensor that detects unwanted water in the crop. Photo: Courtesy of the American Chemical Society
Riyadh: Inspite of modern technology, there is still huge wastage of water in crops and in this regard, a smart sensor has been developed which can prevent water wastage for agricultural irrigation.
An experimental sensor has been developed by Mohammad Azodi and Khalid Salma of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) that detects soil moisture and indicates whether it has excess water or needs more water. It is made with the help of Metal Organic Framework (MOF) which is also a Kadrenia material.
The sensor is driven into the soil like a nail and is coated with a thin layer of moisture-sensing MOF. Inside it are lattice-like microscopic structures that can contain many types of molecules.
A team of Saudi experts has tested several types of MOFs one after the other, and one of them proved to be the best. It is named Cr-soc-MOF-1. This substance can absorb twice its weight in water. The MOE notes the slight change in electrical current as the water enters. It is sensed by the sensor and its reading is displayed.
Interestingly, regardless of whether the soil is silty or rich in compost, the sensor can detect water scarcity or overabundance within eight minutes. In the next phase, it will be tested in real crops and fields.
It can warn if the water is too high so that the excess water can be used for another purpose.
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