Measuring Soil Composition

Measuring soil composition is vital because nutrient balance, pH, organic matter, etc. directly influence crop growth, fertiliser efficiency, and long-term soil health. One way to detect molecules in soil could be NMR spectroscopy, but existing NMR techniques struggle to distinguish signals from minuscule amounts of complex molecules.

Quantum nano-NMR employs quantum probes, such as Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centres in diamond, acting as tiny magnetometers to detect NMR signals. Through these signals, it could be possible to deduce the molecular composition of the soil that is measured.

This capability allows for highly accurate, high-resolution analysis and rapid identification of molecules, which is crucial for understanding the soil composition and its nutrient content and can therefore suppport efficient aggricultural use.