Inadequate and Delayed Soil Testing and Nutrient Management

Problem Statement

Conventional soil testing services are often delayed (weeks to months), generic (providing macro-nutrient data only), and lack actionable, crop-specific recommendations. This prevents timely and precise nutrient management decisions, leading to the overuse of generic fertilisers, soil degradation, high input costs, and environmental pollution.

Innovation Opportunities

• Portable, Rapid Soil and Leaf Tissue Diagnostics: Development of handheld or drone-based sensors/devices for real-time (on-field) analysis of macro- and micro-nutrients, soil organic carbon, and pH.
• Cropping-System-Based Precision Nutrient Recommendation Engines: AI models that ingest real-time soil data, crop-specific needs, growth stage, and local weather to generate dynamic, variable-rate fertiliser and amendment recommendations.
• Digital Soil Health Platforms: Centralised, geo-referenced platforms to map and monitor soil health across districts, providing individualised soil health cards and linking to tailored input purchases.

Use Case Example

A farmer uses a portable device to test soil in multiple plots. The associated mobile app instantly recommends the type and exact quantity of NPK and micronutrients required for the current stage of the maize crop.