Low-cost wireless RFID sensing system for soil moisture and nitrogen monitoring in tomato greenhouses
Low-cost, compact RFID-based wireless sensors designed to detect soil moisture and nitrogen content in tomato greenhouses. Combines broadband antennas, microwave passive resonators, and smart materials for chipless RFID sensing, enabling real-time fertigation management and precision agriculture.
Overview
This solution offers a low-cost, compact wireless sensing system based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to monitor soil moisture and nitrogen levels in tomato greenhouses. By enabling precise fertigation management, the system helps growers optimize irrigation and fertilizer application, reduce resource waste, and improve crop yields. The technology integrates broadband antennas, microwave passive resonators, and smart sensing materials into a passive, chipless RFID design, making it an affordable and scalable option for precision agriculture in greenhouse environments.
Technical specifications
Core technology components:
- Chip-based and chipless RFID sensor designs for wireless soil parameter detection
- Broadband antennas optimized for greenhouse RF environments
- Microwave passive resonators in various geometric configurations under investigation
- Smart materials integrated with resonators to detect moisture and nitrogen variation
- Time-domain reflectometry-based sensing approach for soil moisture measurement
- Laboratory and greenhouse-based measurement protocols for sensor validation
Key capabilities demonstrated:
- Proof-of-concept RFID-based soil moisture sensor with simulation and experimental validation
- Smart material-based soil moisture sensor prototype
- RFID-based soil salinity sensor concept validation
- Paper-printed leaf wetness sensor for small-scale gardening applications
Technology readiness level
The technology is currently at an early-to-mid stage of development. Preliminary studies have validated the design and analysis of chipless RFID soil moisture sensor prototypes through both simulation and wireless experimental testing. Smart material-based moisture sensors and soil salinity sensor concepts have also been demonstrated. Next steps include optimizing resonator geometries, identifying smart materials sensitive to moisture and nitrogen variation, fabricating integrated sensor prototypes, and validating performance in both laboratory and greenhouse settings.
About North Dakota State University (NDSU)
North Dakota State University is a comprehensive public land‑grant research university (R1) in Fargo with a pragmatic, industry‑engaged culture. Companies engage through an adjacent research and technology park offering incubator space and prototyping resources, and shared high‑performance computing supports data‑intensive work. Pilot‑scale processing facilities and co‑located labs in the Peltier Complex and the campus pilot plant help de‑risk scale‑up and validate manufacturing processes. A statewide Extension network provides access to field sites, stakeholders, and dissemination channels for real‑world testing and deployment. Research is backed by competitive federal funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and a dedicated technology transfer office streamlines IP, licensing, and startup formation.
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