The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Saturn Agrisense Inc. $174,785 on September 30, 2025, under the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program (CFDA 10.212) to advance robust and continuous data collection methods from an existing lab-based in-soil sensing system, develop a calibration protocol for lab and field measurements across varied soil textures, and conduct preliminary usability testing and sensor reliability evaluation with different users.
Saturn Agrisense's novel in-soil sensing system will provide near real-time, depth-specific soil nitrate concentration measurements with soil moisture and temperature within the root zone and the ability to estimate nitrate leaching rates. The resulting system can optimize fertilization management in intensified crop production and assure acceptable soil nitrate concentration and on-site leaching transport in urban landscapes associated with shallow groundwater tables. The work aligns with the program's priority of improving nutrient management and reducing nutrient load to surface or groundwater.
Performance occurs at Madison, Wisconsin, with a completion date of May 8, 2026. This Phase I award demonstrates technical feasibility of the innovation as a prerequisite to potential Phase II funding.