Objectives of the service
Growers face challenges in optimizing fertilization as they can only rely on general outdated statistics that are not tailored to their field, leading to suboptimal timing, amount, and type of fertilizers, and resulting in nutrient losses, unnecessary costs, and environmental pollution.
The "BodenPulse" service, provided by Digit Soil, offers a solution by integrating satellite Earth Observation (EO) data with precise in-situ measurements from the "Bob" Soil Enzymatic Activity Reader and a companion mobile application. This enables users to:
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Evaluate past soil nutrient availability and crop performance.
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Strategize future fertilization using soil nitrogen availability predictions.
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Mitigate potential yield and fertilizer losses by simulating crop nutrient needs.
The project aims to deliver fast, accurate, and actionable insights for optimized fertilizer application, maximizing yield while minimizing environmental impact. It will involve finalizing a marketable product, improving its robustness and accuracy, and then testing it through demonstrations with users to gather feedback before scaling sales.
Users and their needs
Who We Help & What We Solve
Soil is a black box. Farmers, growers, and land managers often based their decision on how much fertilizer to apply on outdated general statistics, leading to an average of 65% waste. This inefficiency costs them thousands annually and harms the environment through water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Digit Soil provides the solution. Our technology gives users a clear window into their soil's biological health, predicting its natural fertility. This allows for precise, data-driven fertilization, saving money, boosting soil health, and protecting our planet for a sustainable future.
Service/ system concept
The "BodenPulse" project by Digit Soil provides a smart fertilisation planning service that integrates satellite Earth Observation (EO) data with in-situ soil enzymatic activity measurements. The core of the service is the SEAR - Soil Enzymatic Activity Reader (a physical device) and a companion mobile application.
Space Added Value
The DigitSoil system utilizes satellite data from Copernicus, specifically Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and Sentinel-3. The added value of using satellite assets, as opposed to relying purely on agroecological models or average values, is significantly improved accuracy in modeling crop development, soil temperature, and soil moisture. Combining these space assets enables more precise and reliable predictions for farmers, directly impacting fertilization strategies and overall field management.
Current Status
Great news! The BodenPulse project is officially underway. Since our launch on May 15, 2025, we've been busy getting to know our future customers and retail partners. We've collected valuable feedback on their needs and wishes, and we're excited to report that we've successfully assessed the technical feasibility of their requests.
To make sure we get this right, we've already developed a prototype app and a user manual to gather even more feedback. This helps us ensure our service is not only attractive but also practical for farmers.
We've combined all this new information with our past experiences to fine-tune our strategy. This includes looking at technical limitations, costs, and the best ways to quickly integrate data from various sources.
As a result, we've created a draft system architecture that balances user needs with what's technically possible, all while keeping a focus on speed.
We're proud to announce that our first major review was completed successfully on August 14th, right on schedule. Come meet us at VII EuroSoil conference in Seville - Spain in September 2025!
Prime Contractor(s)
