Greenhouse nutrient management commonly relies on electrical conductivity (EC), but EC does not show which individual nutrients are becoming deficient or accumulating.
This project will test whether simple substrate sensors combined with nutrient-specific measurements can provide better information for fertilizer management.
In controlled experiments at AU, the student will combine measurements such as substrate water content, EC and temperature with analysis of nitrate, ammonium and phosphate in nutrient solution or drainage. Defined nutrient deviations will be introduced to evaluate how quickly they can be detected and whether simple interpretation or decision rules can indicate when nutrient adjustment is needed. Depending on available experiments, different substrates or irrigation conditions may also be compared.
The project is aligned to UN's SGD:
