Description:FORM 2
The Patent Act 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(SEE SECTION 10 AND RULE 13)

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

“APPARATUS FOR TESTING SOIL”

APPLICANTS:
Name : ARKASHINE INNOVATIONS PVT. LTD.

Nationality : INDIAN

Address : No. 9-12-226, 11th Cross, Bhavani Rice Mill Road, Vidyanagar Colony, Bidar, Karnataka - 585403

The following specification particularly describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:-

FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates to agriculture soil testing, and more specifically related to an apparatus for testing soil to determine availability of nutrients e.g. micro and macronutrients, in the soil.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] Role of chemical fertilizers in increasing yield and production has led the agriculture sector to over utilize without prior knowledge of deficiency of the land. With the world population expected to reach 9.7 billion people by 2050, the agricultural sector needs to increase its productivity by 60% compared to that in 2005 to meet the increasing demand of food. Hence, the role of soil and farmers is of greater importance for an agriculture-based country like India. There is no direct method to judge the status of soil health.
[0003] Just like human health, there is no single machine that can be used to access and define deficiencies where the soil is healthy or not. The usage of fertilizers cannot be avoided completely but the excess usage of fertilizers can be avoided if the deficiencies of the soil can be known in prior. This is possible through the accurate identification and remedial measures taken to reduce the usage of chemical fertilizers for obtaining a balanced and sustainable productivity and yield.
[0004] As soil nutrients are an essential part of agriculture, farmers needs to study various aspects of soil before farming for better yield and production for a crop he wants to grow. They should be aware of the nutrients that the soil can provide to the crop that he wants to grow. Conventional methods of testing the soil to determine the deficiencies thereof are time consuming and tedious for the results of fertilizer recommendations to reach the farmers.
[0005] There are various nutrients that help in growth of plants. Nutrients contributing to growth of plants include micronutrients and macronutrients. The macronutrients include Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K). Nitrogen helps in growth of leaves, Phosphorous contributes to root growth, flower growth and fruit development whereas potassium helps overall functions of the plant growth. Similarly, micronutrients such as Iron, Zinc, Boron, Manganese, Magnesium, Copper and Sulphur, provide other essential ingredients for supporting plant growth.
[0006] The fertilizers available in the market are addressing to these nutrient need of soil. Unless the farmers are aware of these values and nutrients, it is difficult for them to choose the right fertilizer for the right crop. The conventional test methods do not provide instant results to the farmers to choose the right crop and hence the fertilizer to it. In a greed and no existing products addressing to these needs, the farmers are not aware of the soil deficiency and thus use the fertilizers as a general and a mandatory step and end up using excess of fertilizers weakening the soil properties.
[0007] Indian Patent Application No.: 201941032268 discloses a device for real-time soil analysis, wherein the soil sample is mixed with certain reagents. The device analyses the color of the mixture and volume/weight based reaction of reagents with the mixture to determine soil fertility. However, this needs an extensive lab setup to conduct the analysis.
[0008] Similarly, Pessl Instruments GmbH has developed a soil macro-nutrients analyzer named “iMETOS MobiLab” for analyzing availability of NO3 and NH4 from the soil and other nutrients from plant sap and other sources. It uses an expensive microfluidic chip to holding the soil sample solution for conducting the test. Furthermore, it requires a certain level of training to handle the device and to conduct the test.
[0009] Hence, there is still a need for a simple, accurate and inexpensive solution for analyzing soil sample that is practicable by common men with or without minimal expertise(requirement of automation in the manual steps).
OBJECT OF INVENTION
[0010] The principal object of the embodiments herein is to provide an apparatus for testing soil in a simple, quick and cost efficient manner without a need for highly complex and expensive components capable of analyzing wavelengths long enough to penetrate deep into soil contents.
[0011] Another object of the embodiments herein is to accurately determine a total concentration of both micro and macronutrients in the soil that are available for the crop.
[0012] A further object of the embodiments herein is to convert the nutrients such as micro and nutrients, in the soil from a bounded form into an ionic form, such that rotational and/or vibrational motions are simulated at a molecular level of the nutrients to allow easy and simple measurements of an concentration of the nutrients present in the soil.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0013] Accordingly, embodiments herein disclose an apparatus for testing soil for determining nutrients present therein and for fertilizer recommendation, comprising a sample preparation module, a testing module, a testing chip, an output module, at least one controlling module and at least one power module. The sample preparation module is capable of preparing a soil sample solution and the testing module is capable of testing the sample solution to determine an concentration of at least one macronutrient available in the sample solution by means of spectral analysis. The testing chip is removably positioned in the testing module for holding said sample solution during test. The output module is capable of outputting a test result.
[0014] The controlling module is electrically connected to each module for controlling a corresponding function. The power module is capable of supplying power to the modules. The controlling module controls the testing module to determine a pH level of the soil and controls the sample preparation module to prepare the sample solution based on the pH level. The sample preparation module selects one or more solvents based on the pH level for mixing with the soil. Each solvent is capable of bringing nutrients which are in bounded form in the soil into an ionic form.
[0015] In one aspect of the present invention, the sample preparation module includes a container for containing the solvent and the soil, an agitating unit for mixing the solvent and the soil to form a mixture of solid particles and the sample solution and at least one filter unit for filtering the mixture to separate solid particles from the mixture. The agitating unit includes at least one agitator means located within the container and an electromechanical actuator external to the container and capable of actuating the agitator means for mixing the soil and solvent. The agitator means and the actuator are separated by the container. The agitator means is pulled towards the actuator by means a magnetic force.
[0016] In another aspect, the testing module includes at least one light source capable of emitting light rays towards the testing chip and at least one spectrum unit capable of analyzing light rays reflected and/or refracted by the testing chip. Preferably, a wavelength of the light rays is within a range of 200 nanometers – 1000 microns.
[0017] In a further aspect, at least a part of the testing chip is transparent, wherein spectrum unit analyzes light rays reflected and/or refracted from the transparent part of the testing chip. At least a portion of the sample solution is held in the transparent portion during the test, such that the spectrum unit analyzes light rays reflected and/or refracted by the sample solution to determine the concentration of nutrients available in the sample solution.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the spectrum unit measures light intensity of the light rays reflected and/or refracted by the sample solution to determine the concentration of nutrients present in the sample solution.
[0019] In a further aspect, the sample preparation module includes a plurality of solvents, wherein at least one of the solvents is selected based on the pH of the soil for mixing with the soil. The solvent is Morgan solution or ammonium bicarbonate-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acetic acid (AB-DTPA) solution. Preferably, the sample solution is a colorless solution
[0020] In a further aspect, the sample preparation module selects one or more of the solvents for converting the nutrients in the soil from the bounded form into the ionic form, wherein the nutrients in the ionic form exhibit rotational and/or vibrational motions at molecular level.
[0021] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the scope thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0022] The method and the system are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 shows a block diagram of an apparatus for testing soil, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and
FIGURE 2 shows a cross sectional view of an agitator unit of the apparatus, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0023] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. Also, the various embodiments described herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some embodiments can be combined with one or more other embodiments to form new embodiments. The term “or” as used herein, refers to a non-exclusive or, unless otherwise indicated. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein can be practiced and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0024] FIGURE 1 shows a block diagram of the apparatus for testing soil, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus (10) comprises a sample preparation module (11), a testing module (12), an output module (13), at least one controlling module (14), at least one power module (15) and a housing (20) enclosing the modules (11 – 15). The controlling module (14) is electrically connected to each of the sample preparation module (11), the testing module (12), the output module (13) and the power module (15) for controlling each function of the sample preparing module (11), the testing module (12), the output module (13) and the power module (15). Preferably, the controlling module (14) includes a Peripheral Interface Controller (PIC)-based microcontroller, ATMEGA microcontroller, Arduino microcontroller or any other commercially available microcontroller device.
[0025] The power module (15) is electrically connected to each of the sample preparation module (11), the testing module (12) and the output module (13), the controlling module (14) for supplying power. In a preferred embodiment, the power module (15) includes a battery or a generator as a power source. Alternatively, AC mains can be connected as the power source.
[0026] The sample preparation module (11) prepares a sample solution by mixing soil to be tested and a solvent. The ratio of soil to the solvent to be mixed is 1:4-5. The sample preparation module (11) includes a container (16) for containing the solvent and the soil and an agitating unit (17) for mixing the solvent and the soil to form a mixture of homogenous solid particles and the soil sample solution. The container (16) is formed of a non-magnetic material, preferably plastics. Preferably, the solvent and the soil are mixed rigorously for 30 minutes. The agitating unit (17) includes an agitating means (17a) and an electromechanical actuator (17b) for actuating the agitating means (17a). A rotational speed of the motor is controlled using the controlling module (14). Preferably, the rotation speed of the motor is maintained within a range of 100-200 rotations per minute (rpm). Alternatively, the agitating unit (17) may include any other conventional means for mixing the soil and the solvent. Preferably, the sample solution is a colorless, clear solution. Alternatively, it can also be a colored solution.
[0027] Additionally, filter unit (18) is provided in the sample preparation module (11) for filtering the mixture to separate the solid particles from the mixture. In a preferred embodiment, the filter unit (18) is similar to the filter unit disclosed in Indian Patent application No.: 202141028625. Alternatively, any commercially available filtering means can be incorporated. In a preferred embodiment, the agitating means (17a) is in the form of a pellet, more preferably a cylindrical pellet, made of any conventional ferromagnetic material. Similarly, a matching component (17c) made of any conventional ferromagnetic material is attached to a rotor (17d) of the actuator (17b). At least one of the agitating means (17a) and the matching component (17c) is configured as a permanent magnet such that the agitating means (17a) is pulled towards the actuator (17b) due to magnetic force between the agitating means (17a) and the matching component (17c).
[0028] During a soil testing process, the agitating means (17a) is placed within the container (16) along with the soil and the solvent, and the container (16) is positioned adjacent to the matching component (17c), such that the agitating means (17a) and the actuator (17b) are separated by a wall of the container (16). Preferably, the agitating means (17a) and the matching component (17c) are separated by a bottom wall of the container as shown in FIGURE 2. Due to the magnetic force, ends of the agitating means (17a) are parallelly aligned with ends of the matching component (17c), such that the agitating means (17a) rotates along with the matching component (17c), when the rotor (17d) is rotated. However, since there is no mechanical connection between the agitating means (17a) and the matching component (17c), the container (16) can be easily moved or rotated to transfer the mixed content to the filter unit (18), as shown by dashed lines in FIGURE 1, without a need for any manual intervention for decoupling the agitating means (17a) from the matching component (17c).
[0029] The testing module (13) includes at least one light source (12a) e.g. visible light source, infrared source and ultraviolet source, capable of emitting light rays towards a testing chip (21) and at least one spectrum unit (12b) capable of analyzing light rays reflected and/or refracted by the testing chip (21). Preferably, wavelength of the light rays is within a range of 91 nanometers i.e. far ultraviolet, – 1000 microns i.e. far infrared. The testing chip (21) includes one or more channels (not shown) for holding the sample solution received from the filter unit (18) during the test. At least a portion of the testing chip (21) is transparent, wherein spectrum unit (12b) analyzes light rays reflected and/or refracted from the transparent portion of said testing chip (21). Preferably, the spectrum unit (12b) measures light intensity of the light rays reflected and/or refracted by the sample solution to determine the concentration of nutrients (both micro and macronutrients) present in the sample solution. The macronutrients include Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K), and the micronutrients include Iron, Zinc, Boron, Manganese, Magnesium, Copper and Sulphur.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, at least one channel of the testing chip (21) is formed of a transparent material such as glass and plastics, wherein the sample solution is held in the transparent channel during the test, such that the spectrum unit (12b) analyzes light rays reflected and/or refracted by the sample solution in the transparent channel to determine the concentration of nutrients available in the sample solution. A vacuum pump (not shown) is fluidly and removably connected to the chip (21), such that, by operating the vacuum pump, at least a portion of the sample solution in the filter unit (18) is pulled through the transparent channel in a controlled manner, is held in the transparent channel during test and is moved out of the chip (21) after completing the test. Optionally, the testing module (12) can include any conventional cleaning means for cleaning the container (16), the filter unit (18), the chip (21) and the vacuum pump after each test cycle. The filter unit (18) is easily removable for cleaning as the pump is not directly connected to the filter unit (16).
[0031] Furthermore, the testing module (12) includes a pH probe (not shown) for determining acidity of the soil, wherein the soil is mixed with distilled water and the pH probe is dipped in the mixture to determine the soil acidity. Optionally, the testing module (12) includes an additional container (not shown) and an additional agitating unit (not shown) wherein the soil is mixed with distilled water and the pH probe is dipped to determine the pH. The sample preparation module (11) further includes a plurality of solvents, wherein at least one of the solvents is selected based on the pH of the soil for mixing with the soil. Preferably, the solvents are universal extractants capable of bringing the nutrients which are in a bounded form in the soil into an ionic form. For example, a Morgan solution is used as a solvent if the soil is determined as acidic (i.e. pH<7) and ammonium bicarbonate-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acetic acid (AB-DTPA) solution as the solvent if the soil is determined as alkaline (i.e. pH>7). Thereby, the present invention provides an accurate detection of nutrients that are readily available in the soil for any crops to be cultivated in the soil. Furthermore, since the nutrients are converted into the ionic form, the present invention can easily and accurately detect the availability thereof without using highly complicated and expensive components that are capable of sensing longer wavelength rays that are strong enough penetrate into soil contents. Conventionally one extractant or solvent is used to prepare the sample solution for identifying each nutrient in the solution. In the present invention, Morgan solution and AB-DTPA solution are used as universal extractant solutions for converting all the nutrients in the acidic sample solution and alkali sample solutions into ionic form, respectively, and thereby enabling determining a concentration of all nutrients in the sample solution without a need for preparing multiple sample solutions.
[0032] The sample preparation module (11) selects one or more of the solvents for converting the nutrients in the soil from a bounded form into an ionic form, wherein the nutrients in the ionic form exhibit rotational and/or vibrational motions at molecular level. When the light rays are incident on the sample solution, the light rays are reflected, refracted and/or absorbed due to the motions. The spectrum unit (12b) measures light intensity of the light rays reflected and/or refracted by the sample solution, wherein the measured intensity is compared with an intensity of light rays emitted towards the sample solution to obtain a change in the light intensity. The spectrum unit (12b) converts the obtained change in light intensity with respect to different wavelengths as the concentration of different nutrients present in the sample solution.
[0033] In conventional methods, expensive and sophisticated devices are applied for penetrating soil with higher wavelength rays and sensing rays reflected/refracted by the soil for determining the composition of the soil sample. This is entirely avoided in the present invention, as the pH level of the soil is measured to select an appropriate extractant (solvent), the nutrients present in the soil in bounded form are converted into ionic form, wherein vibrational and/or rotational motions are stimulated at molecular level in the sample solution, which in turn reflect, refract and/or absorb light rays when incident on the sample solution. Thereby, the present invention is capable of detecting the concentration of nutrients present in the soil in a simple, inexpensive and accurate manner, which would otherwise require irradiating dry soil with high wavelength rays and sensing the reflected rays, which in turn requires highly sophisticated equipment and processes. The present invention the simplicity of wet chemistry and accuracy of dry chemistry to come up with simple and accurate detection of nutrients.
[0034] The output module (13) includes one or more outputting means such as LCD, LED display, plotting unit, wireless communication unit and printing unit, for outputting the test result. Furthermore, the wireless communication unit may communicate the test results to a user device e.g. mobile phone, desktop computer and portable computer, by means of short messaging service (SMS) or notification readable through a web application or a mobile app. In a preferred embodiment, the outputting means provides the test result in the form of color coding representing a proportion of the nutrients in the soil and one or more recommendations on a type of fertilizer to be applied to compensate for any lacking nutrients. The output module (13) can also include a keyboard, touchpad and/or keypad for inputting commands and/or data directly into the controlling module (14) for controlling functions of the modules (11 – 13 & 15).
[0035] In one embodiment, the output module (13) communicates the test results to an external data storage unit such as remote database or cloud storage, through any conventional communication means. Furthermore, the controlling module (14) can also include an onboard-computing unit such as Raspberry Pi, wherein the computing unit is configured with a machine learning module trained for processing historical test results stored in the external data storage unit for conducting a predictive analysis of the stored data and provide recommendation with respect to fertilizers, crop, water requirements and the like.
[0036] The controlling module (14) receives test results from the testing module (12) and controls the output module (15) accordingly for outputting the test results in a format that is readable by a user. Preferably, the output module (15) includes a printing unit for printing out the test results on a printing medium i.e. paper, a display unit e.g. LCD or LED, for displaying the test results.
[0037] In one embodiment, the apparatus (10) includes a tilt mechanism (not shown) capable tilting the container (16) for pouring/moving the soil solution from the container (16) to a funnel-like arrangement, wherein the filter unit (18) is provided for separating the sample solution and the solid particles. The filter unit (18) can include a filter paper e.g. Whatman filter paper, preferably with pore size within a range of 41-45, positioned in the funnel-like arrangement, so that when the vacuum pump operates, the sample solution gets filtered and reaches the testing module (12).
[0038] Optionally, the controlling module (14) may also be configured to provide suggestions on a fertilizer to be used for compensating any lack in nutrients. Furthermore, the apparatus (10) may include a global position system (GPS) device for linking a location data with the test results in real-time and a storage device for recording the test results for future analytics. The apparatus (10) may also include a wireless transceiver in the output module (15) for communicating test results to a user device e.g. mobile phone, desktop computer and portable computer, in the form of SMS or a notification readable through a web application or a mobile app and/or for receiving a control command to/from a remote device such as cloud server, the user device and the like.
[0039] The list of reference numerals and part names thereof are as follows:
(10) Apparatus for testing soil
(11) Sample preparation module
(12) Testing module
(12a) Light source
(12b) Spectrum unit
(13) Output module
(14) Controlling module
(15) Power module
(16) Container
(17) Agitating unit
(17a) Agitating means
(17b) Electromechanical actuator
(18) Filter unit
(20) Housing
(21) Testing chip
[0040] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
, Claims:CLAIMS
We claim:
1. An apparatus (10) for testing soil, comprising:
- a sample preparation module (11) for preparing a soil sample solution;
- a testing module (12) for testing said sample solution to determine an concentration of at least one nutrient present in said sample solution by means of spectral analysis;
- a testing chip (21) removably positioned in said testing module (12) for holding said sample solution during test;
- an output module (13) for outputting a test result;
- at least one controlling module (14) electrically connected to each module (11 – 13) for controlling a corresponding function; and
- at least one power module (15) for supplying power to said modules (11 – 14),
characterized in that said controlling module (14):
• controls said testing module (12) to determine a pH level of the soil; and
• controls said sample preparation module (11) to prepare said sample solution based on said acidity level, wherein said sample preparation module (11) selects one or more solvents based on said pH level for mixing with the soil, wherein each solvent is capable of bringing nutrients which are in bounded form in the soil into an ionic form.
2. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sample preparation module (11) includes:
- a container (16) for containing said solvent and the soil;
- an agitating unit (17) for mixing said solvent and the soil to form a mixture of solid particles and said sample solution; and
- at least one filter unit (18) for filtering said mixture to separate solid particles from said mixture.
3. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said agitating unit (17) includes at least one agitator means (17a) located within said container (16) and an electromechanical actuator (17b) external to said container (16) and capable of actuating said agitator means (17a) for mixing the soil and solvent, wherein said agitator means (17a) and said actuator (17b) are separated by said container (16).
4. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said agitator means (17a) is pulled towards said actuator (17b) by means a magnetic force.
5. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said testing module (12) includes at least one light source (12a) capable of emitting light rays towards said testing chip (21) and at least one spectrum unit (12b) capable of analyzing light rays reflected and/or refracted by said testing chip (21).
6. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least a part of said testing chip (21) is transparent, wherein spectrum unit (12b) analyzes light rays reflected and/or refracted from said transparent portion of said testing chip (21).
7. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said transparent part holds at least a portion of said sample solution during the test, and the spectrum unit (12b) analyzes light rays reflected and/or refracted by said sample solution in said transparent portion to determine the concentration of nutrients present in said sample solution.
8. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 5-7, wherein the spectrum unit (12b) measures light intensity of said light rays reflected and/or refracted by said sample solution to determine the concentration of nutrients present in said sample solution.
9. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 5-7, wherein a wavelength of said light rays is within a range of 91 nanometers – 1000 microns.
10. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sample preparation module (11) further includes a plurality of solvents, wherein at least one of said solvents is selected based on the pH of the soil for mixing with the soil.
11. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said solvent is Morgan solution or ammonium bicarbonate-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acetic acid (AB-DTPA) solution.
12. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said sample preparation module (11) selects said one or more solvents for converting said nutrients in the soil from said bounded form into said ionic form, wherein said nutrients in said ionic form exhibit rotational and/or vibrational motions at molecular level.
13. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sample solution is a colorless solution.
14. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said nutrients include micronutrients and/or macronutrients.
15. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 14, wherein said macronutrients include at least one of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K).
16. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 14, wherein said micronutrients include at least one of Iron, Zinc, Boron, Manganese, Magnesium, Copper and Sulphur.