Non-invasive acoustic-seismic sensing of soils
Lead Research Organisation:
Rothamsted Research
Department Name: Sustainable Soils and Grassland Systems
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
People |
ORCID iD |
| W Whalley (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Gao W
(2012)
Predicting Penetrometer Resistance from the Compression Characteristic of Soil
in Soil Science Society of America Journal
Gao W
(2013)
Estimating Penetrometer Resistance and Matric Potential from the Velocities of Shear and Compression Waves
in Soil Science Society of America Journal
Shin H
(2012)
Non-invasive characterization of pore-related and elastic properties of soils in linear Biot-Stoll theory using acoustic-to-seismic coupling
in European Journal of Soil Science
Shin H
(2017)
Non-invasive estimation of the depth profile of soil strength with acoustic-to-seismic coupling measurement in the presence of crops
in European Journal of Soil Science
Shin H
(2016)
On the theory of Brutsaert about elastic wave speeds in unsaturated soils
in Soil and Tillage Research
Whalley W
(2011)
The Velocity of Shear Waves in Saturated Soil
in Soil Science Society of America Journal
Whalley W
(2012)
The effect of compaction and shear deformation of saturated soil on hydraulic conductivity
in Soil and Tillage Research
Whalley W
(2012)
The velocity of shear waves in unsaturated soil
in Soil and Tillage Research
Whalley WR
(2013)
Measurement of the matric potential of soil water in the rhizosphere.
in Journal of experimental botany
| Description | The stress environment around plants is determined by soil composition, moisture content and cultivation practices. In its turn the stress environment determines root growth potential and thereby cultivation yields. Knowledge of how plants respond to the stress environment is important for • Food security • Sustainability • Irrigation and water conservation Work carried out by The Open University and Rothamsted for EP/H040617/1 Non-invasive acoustic-seismic sensing of soil strength and structure, has established (a) the feasibility of remote determination of wave speeds and layering in soils [Shin et al 2013] and (b) empirical relationships between these speeds, penetrometer resistance and matric potential (a measure of moisture content) [Gao et al 2013]. |
| Exploitation Route | A non-invasive method for sensing/imaging of soil structure and the mechanical strength of soil would permit better decisions about appropriate soil management practices. This project as established that this approach is feasible. We are currently seeking funding to take this work forward in a proposed submission to BBSRC with a proposal to panel B which was considered in the February 2017 panel meeting. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| URL | http://acoustics.open.ac.uk/soils |
| Description | We have used the output of this project to develop a new project proposal to integrate EMI technology with acoustic-seismic measurements. This project proposal was submitted to BBSRC and we await the decision of the panel. Unfortunately this was not funded. |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | BBSRC China Partnering Award |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/P025595/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2017 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | An optimal calibration function and process for a dielectric tensiometer sensor of the matric potential of soil water |
| Organisation | Delta T Devices Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Richard Whalley and his team have a strong track record of developing novel sensing techniques to measure soil conditions for plant growth. These sensors and sensing approaches have been developed with funding from EPSRC, BBSRC and the EU, but they have never been taken through to the point of commercialization. This has limited their wider use at Rothamsted because of the low number of prototype sensors available for research. The hurdle to commercialization is sensor calibration and this applied in particular to the dielectric tensiometer sensors of water potential (Whalley et al. SSSAJ 75:1652-1657). While the Rothamsted team does have many of the "soil physics" skills needed to develop a rapid calibration method for dielectric tensiometers, to do so in the absence of commercialization strategy, involving the use of pre-commercial sensor designs, would not effective or fruitful. For this reason we are proposing to develop a sensor calibration protocol in parallel with the development of pre-commercial prototype sensor at Delta-T Devices. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Delta-T expects to start commercialising sensors that arise from this collaboration within 12 to 18 months of the end of this project. The successful completion of this project would provide Delta-T with its first low cost and accurate dielectric tensiometer for the measurement of matric potential of soil water. The demand for such a sensor is thought to be very high. We already have a royalty agreement, which is not related to any patent, in place with Delta-T for the technology that is at the core of the dielectric tensiometer technology that they are looking to commercialise. |
| Impact | This collaboration is about to start. It exists because of the existing projects identified (BBS/E/C/00004861 and BBS/E/C/00005204) |
| Start Year | 2015 |