Initial Studies for a Novel Electromagnetic Sensor for Detection of Carbon Content in Soil

Soils for agricultural activities are becoming a greenhouse gas source because of increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration caused by soil organic carbon (SOC) stock depletion. Regular SOC monitoring at different parts of farmland is a useful technique to keep track of the SOC stock, but this can only be possible if a cost-effective, reliable SOC sensor is readily available. This research proposes a novel, low-cost planar electromagnetic sensor for the detection of SOC. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) has been used to characterize the sensor's performance for a range of SOC concentrations from 0.65% to 6.88%. The sensor is able to detect and distinguish between various SOC concentrations based on their impedance values. The outcomes are highly positive and bode well for creating a low-cost smart SOC monitoring device for agricultural uses.