Field Experience Validates On-The-Go Soil pH Sensor

The Veris sensor adapts and automates lab technology for field use. In the lab, a soil sample is mixed with a specific amount of water, then an electrode is placed in the solution to read the pH. With the on-the-go sensor, a device scoops a small amount of soil, presses it against an electrode, waits for a moment for the electrode to stabilize, records the reading, and then rinses the mechanism to prepare for the next sample. The apparatus is mounted on a toolbar pulled by a pickup truck or small tractor. The sensor is marketed as the pH Manager option when purchasing the Mobile Sensor Platform (Figure 1), which includes the EC Surveyor 3150 to measure soil electrical conductivity.