NuTerra Solutions

NuTerra Solutions offer a transformative approach to combating soil salinization by combining Rhodobacter capsulatus with advanced biosensor technology for a holistic agricultural solution. Rhodobacter capsulatus, our proprietary salt-tolerant, IAA-producing bacterium, enhances the resilience of seeds coated with the solution by improving the crops’ root growth, nutrient absorption, and stress tolerance when germinated and sprouted.

Complementing this biological solution is the NuTerra Biosensor, which provides real-time monitoring for soil salinity levels and overall soil health through IoT integration and proprietary algorithms. Together, these components create a seamless feedback loop, enabling farmers to optimize soil conditions, reduce water usage, and increase crop yields by up to 30%. NuTerra Solutions not only restores degraded lands but also empowers farmers with actionable data, ensuring sustainable and efficient farming practices.

Rhodobacter capsulatus is a photosynthetic bacterium known for producing indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a plant growth-promoting hormone that enhances plant tolerance to saline conditions. In the context of tackling soil salinization, NuTerra Solutions has utilized this bacterium, demonstrating its ability to mitigate salt stress on crops by regulating auxin biosynthesis and further promoting chlorophyll production. Studies have shown that R. capsulatus can support the growth of plants while also inhibiting fungal growth, making it a very promising solution for addressing soil salinization and enabling sustainable agriculture in salt-affected areas​​.

Rhodobacter capsulatus

The NuTerra Biosensor is a cutting-edge component of our solution, designed to monitor soil salinity and health in real-time. Leveraging advanced biosensor technology and IoT integration, the device provides real-time data and actionable insights to farmers, enabling them to make precise and efficient decisions. By continuously tracking key soil metrics, the biosensor creates a feedback loop that optimizes farming practices, improves water use efficiency, and enhances crop resilience. Its modular design ensures cost-effective scalability, making it accessible for a wide range of agricultural settings, while its proprietary algorithms offer a competitive edge in precision agriculture.

Coupled with NuTerra Solutions’ mobile application, the NuTerra Biosensor offers seamless technological integration.

The NuTerra Biosensor

How It Works

The NuTerra Biosensor is the only system available in the market that incorporates data collection, measurement, and analytical functions. The NuTerra Biosensor measures salinity and moisture levels in the soil, using an RGB color sensor that is connected to an Arduino circuit board, and saline indicators encapsulated in Alginate Beads that are 100% natural and water-soluble. Users can easily insert Alginate Beads into the device and access data on their phones by downloading our proprietary mobile application. Through Wi-Fi transmission, the Arduino chips wirelessly deliver accurate soil salinity data to the software, providing users with reliable data and actionable insights.

Key steps include:

  1. Soil Metric Detection:
    The NuTerra Biosensor is installed into the soil to monitor key metrics like salinity levels, moisture levels, temperatures, and nutrient composition in real-time.

  2. Data Collection:
    Our advanced biosensor technology continuously gathers data from the soil, ensuring precise and up-to-date information for users.

  3. IoT Connectivity:
    The Biosensor transmits collected data to our secure cloud system via IoT integration, enabling seamless communication with the NuTerra Biosensor Mobile Application.

  4. Data Processing and Analysis:
    Proprietary algorithms analyze the data to generate actionable insights, including identifying trends, anomalies, and potential problem areas.

  5. Visualization on NuTerra Biosensor Application:
    Users gain access to NuTerra Solutions’ user-friendly interface when accessing the mobile application to monitor real-time soil data, historical trends, and predictive analytics.

  6. Actionable Alerts:
    Our mobile application sends notifications or alerts when salinity levels reach dangerously high levels, prompting optimal irrigation practices and addressing salinity issues.

  7. Feedback Loop for Optimization:
    By utilizing the insights provided, users can implement precise interventions through the Biosensor’s continuous monitoring, creating a feedback loop to track its efficacy.

  8. Scalable Implementation:
    Multiple sensors can be installed across the targeted region, with all data centralized in the mobile application for comprehensive farm management.

  9. Cost-Effective Maintenance:
    NuTerra Solutions’ modular design ensures that the system remains scalable and easy to maintain or upgrade as needed.

Our Design

NuTerra Solutions underwent extensive design iterations and trials to bring its innovative approach to dissolved ion sensors to life. During the development process, numerous ideas were rigorously tested, with some being refined and others discarded. Early features, such as laser systems for illuminating the Alginate Beads, were replaced by RGB sensors with integrated lighting systems and UV light for enhanced precision. The final designs were meticulously crafted using CAD (Computer-Aided Design) programs for accurate measurements and prototyped through 3D printing, ensuring optimal functionality and efficacy of NuTerra Solutions.

Circuit Boards

To retrieve data from the RGB sensor and transmit it to mobile devices, NuTerra Solutions utilizes an Arduino Uno board to connect the NuTerra Biosensor with our proprietary mobile application. Despite its high functionality, the circuit board is designed to be versatile and can be replaced with alternative models, such as the ESP32 chip. The ESP32, a compact and efficient computer chip, offers enhanced functionality by providing both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, enabling greater flexibility and convenience for users. 

Structure

The NuTerra Solutions Biosensor consists of two main components: the base and the tower. The cuboid base (84 x 55 x 40mm) features a hole designed to hold transparent plates containing the Alginate Beads. These beads are analyzed by light sensors housed in the tower, which convert the data collected into actionable insights. Beneath the Alginate Beads is a UV LED light (DC3.2V~3.4V, 365nm), which illuminates the beads to ensure a more precise color rendition. The system is designed for durability and ease of use, requiring only the replacement of the Alginate Beads for new measurements, thereby protecting the circuit boards and maintaining the integrity of the main system.

The tower of the NuTerra Solutions Biosensor, measuring 41mm x 50mm, houses the TCS34725 RGB sensor and UV lighting within its compartment, between the lid and the main cylinder. The RGB sensor, connected to an Arduino Uno board, is positioned 30mm above the plate containing the alginate beads to ensure accurate measurements while minimizing interference from infrared spectral components. The integrated LED within the RGB sensor illuminates the beads, reflecting light within the enclosed base, while the UV light positioned beneath the beads enhances precision. This design isolates the measurements from external influences, ensuring reliable and consistent readings.