Remote nutrients sensing in plants

ICL Innovation is seeking a method to measure plant nutrients' levels, mainly Potassium, Nitrogen and Phosphorous, in crops by remote sensing, preferably on a moving tractor.

Possible Approaches:

• Near IR range analysis 
• Potassium-40 radiation detection  
• XRF

What We Are Not Looking For:

• Off-field solutions
• Measurements of nutrients in the soil rather than the plant
• Technologies affected by environmental factors

Key Success Criteria:

• Method should be accurate and fast enough to provide a timely feedback to a fertilizer delivery system
• Method should focus on plant rather than soil
• Method should be safe

Background:

Nutrients levels in plant, in particular N,P and K, are the basis to accurate application of fertilizers. While N is easy to measure, P and K are harder and require wet chemistry methods in order to achieve meaningful results, a process that is usually too long. We are seeking ways to determine the N,P,K levels in the plant as fertilizers are applied. This would result in less waste, and less side effects of lack or over application of fertilizers in fields.

Preferred  Collaboration Type:

• Funded research
• Exclusive IP licensing
• Joint development