Monitoring and control of soil conditions

摘要

Disclosed is a method for analysing soil samples. The method includes the steps of obtaining aqueous samples from a plurality of suction probes (106) positioned at multiple depths within a soil substrate (103) including a root activity zone (112) of a plant (109); analyzing the aqueous samples to determine a chemical composition of the soil substrate (103); analysing the aqueous samples to determine a chemical composition of the aqueous samples, the chemical composition comprising concentrations of a plurality of plant nutrients and non-nutrients that act as marker ions; determining, via at least one computing device, nutrient utilization by the plant species based at least in part upon the concentrations and a distribution of the marker ions with respect to depth of the soil substrate; and determining amounts of an additive to be added to irrigation water supplied to the soil substrate (103) to adjust the chemical composition of the soil substrate (103) based at least in part upon the determined chemical composition and the plant.