Any good farmer worth their salt should be able to tell the health of the soil on their farm, by sniffing the dirt.
However, it’s an inexact science at times, which is why the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture is working on mini sensors which sample gasses in the soil detecting various compounds which are produced through biological activity.
The samples are taken several times an hour over a few days to give an accurate insight into how the soil is doing.
Crop farmers from along the Coast are being invited to the institute’s Vegetable Research Facility at Forthside tomorrow to witness what researchers have dubbed the Quoll System in action in what will be its first on-farm trial.
Farmers will also have the chance to speak with researchers about hosting a Quoll trial on their property as well.
There’s more information on the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture website.
