ArtINmin – Long-term monitoring of nitrogen in soil
Autonomous sensor system for monitoring nitrate dynamics in soil
ArtINmin is developing an autonomous sensor system for weekly monitoring of nitrate dynamics in soil down to a depth of 1 m. The project combines ecological mesocosm experiments with modern sensor technology and AI-supported analysis to capture changes following fertilisation, rainfall, or drought and to support more sustainable fertiliser decisions and environmental monitoring. ArtINmin is part of the ArtIFARM alliance.
Contribution of Experimental Plant Ecology: The group develops and manages mesocosm experiments with defined nitrogen availability to test and calibrate the sensor system under controlled conditions. The work covers precisely defined substrates, monitoring plant growth and root development, recording moisture, temperature and soil structure, ecological validation of sensor data, and transfer to field experiments.
Project period: 2026–2028
Project type: Research and development project, implementation phase 1