2025 Judges Choice Impact Award Winner

$2.5K Prize Sponsored by Google.org

The Salty Blue Hens team developed a method where a drone mounted with a gamma-ray sensor is used to map natural radiometric isotopes in the field of the farm and the data is used to desalinate the field into zones, thereby providing effective and efficient sampling points to our modular actuator and soil sensor mounting system for an autonomous land robot. This system automates the deployment and retrieval of a time-domain reflectometry sensor that measures soil EC, volumetric water content, and temperature, allowing for rapid and repeatable soil sampling without human intervention. The actuator-driven mechanism ensures accurate, vertically aligned insertion of the sensor into the soil, enabling reliable data collection in varied field conditions. Our goal is to enhance precision agriculture capabilities for smaller farms by providing an affordable and scalable solution that reduces labor costs, improves data accuracy, and supports environmentally conscious farming practices.

Saltwater intrusion (SWI) driven by relative sea level rise (RSLR) is affecting the viability of crop yields because it will variably increase the salinity of the soil in different parts of fields throughout the growing season. Small- to medium-sized farms often lack the sources to collect consistent and precise soil data, which is essential for informed crop management and efficient irrigation. Traditional methods of soil salinity and moisture monitoring are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and prone to human error, limiting farmers’ ability to make real-time decisions that improve yield and sustainability. While advanced soil sensors exist, their deployment typically requires manual effort or large-scale machinery, making them inaccessible for many smaller agricultural operations. While large farms do have the machinery, the collection of data is not well optimized and is time-consuming.