All-solid-state multimodal probe based on ISFET electrochemical microsensors for in-situ soil nutrients monitoring in agriculture

We report the design of a silicon chip dedicated to the in-situ monitoring of soil nitrogen cycle in wheat crop. Our study shows that ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) microsensors are suitable for quick on-site or long-term analysis of nutrients measured directly in soil as opposed to soil extracts analysis. Our pH-ISFET recorded soil pH for six months with results in good accordance with standard sampling method and without any loss of sensitivity. The adaptation of pH-ISFET in pNO₃ and pNH₄-ISFET allowed, for the first time, the in-situ measurements of natural variations of soil nitrogen contents caused by microorganisms' activity.