Embedded soil sensor technology for precision seeding depth control
OEM-integrated precision seeding technology that uses real-time, in-furrow soil moisture sensors to autonomously adjust seeding depth and downforce during planting. Designed to improve crop establishment, reduce fuel use, and generate soil variability maps without additional sampling programs.
Overview
This precision seeding technology integrates embedded soil sensors directly into a seeder to optimize seed placement in real time. By measuring soil moisture and variability at the exact point of seed placement, the system enables autonomous adjustments to seeding depth and downforce, replacing fixed planting assumptions with site-specific data. The approach aims to increase yield through uniform germination, reduce fuel consumption by avoiding unnecessarily deep planting, and eliminate the need for separate, costly soil sampling programs by mapping soil conditions during the seeding pass itself. The technology is designed to retrofit or integrate with existing broadacre seeding equipment without increasing operational complexity.
Technical specifications
- Embedded in-furrow sensors that perform real-time soil moisture and variability mapping at the seed placement point
- Electro-hydraulic row unit controls that autonomously adjust seeding depth and downforce as soil conditions change
- Continuous data collection and mapping during the seeding operation, generating spatial soil variability maps as a by-product of planting
- OEM-integrated design intended to fit standard broadacre seeding machinery, including a 12-metre scale-up configuration
- Side-by-side field trial capability to compare yield outcomes against conventional seeding equipment across different soil types and cropping areas
Technology readiness level
The technology has been demonstrated on a small three-row prototype machine and is now being scaled to a full 12-metre production-ready seeder for broader validation. Planned validation includes side-by-side field trials comparing the smart seeder to existing farm machines across both private and corporate farming operations, covering multiple soil types and cropping areas. The system is at an early-to-mid stage of development, moving from prototype demonstration toward commercial-scale field validation.
About MPT.ag
MPT AgTech develops OEM-integrated precision seeding technology designed to improve crop establishment in broadacre farming. The system utilizes embedded Sensortine sensors to perform real-time, in-furrow soil moisture mapping at the exact point of seed placement. By integrating these sensors with electro-hydraulic row unit controls, the MPT platform enables continuous, autonomous adjustments to seeding depth and downforce as the machine moves across variable field conditions. This technology transforms standard seeding equipment from a fixed-process tool into a responsive, intelligent system, replacing assumptions with site-specific data to optimize seed placement.
For farmers, this technology addresses the issue of uneven crop emergence caused by soil variability, compaction, and inconsistent moisture levels. By ensuring seeds are consistently placed into moisture, the system helps reduce the risk of failed establishment in dry starts, optimizes the efficiency of seed and fertilizer inputs, and improves overall yield potential. The solution is designed to operate seamlessly within existing broadacre seeding workflows without increasing operational complexity, providing a more resilient and precise approach to crop establishment that is scalable across large-scale farming operations.
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