By Scout Nelson
Students at South Dakota Mines are using their agricultural backgrounds and engineering skills to develop new solutions that support farmers and promote sustainable farming. Their research focuses on creating technologies that can reduce fertilizer costs, improve crop production, and protect soil health.
The project is part of the Advancement of Microbial Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture (AMiTSA), a research effort supported by the National Science Foundation and led by South Dakota State University. The collaboration includes South Dakota Mines, North Dakota State University, and Sitting Bull College.
The research team includes Zach Karg, a mechanical engineering doctoral student; Carson Daly, a senior mechanical and electrical engineering student; Stirling Wallace, a senior mechanical engineering student; and Prasoon Diwakar, Ph.D., an associate professor in mechanical engineering.
The team is developing precision agriculture tools that help farmers understand where crops need nutrients. Using drones, advanced sensors, machine learning, and soil testing methods, researchers aim to help producers apply fertilizers more effectively and reduce unnecessary use.
“The core of this project is precision agriculture,” Diwakar said. “If we can help farmers know exactly which parts of a field need attention, farmers can reduce fertilizer use, lower costs and minimize the adverse effects on the soil.”
Researchers are also studying microbial fertilizers that use natural bacteria to make soil nutrients more available to plants. These solutions could provide farmers with an alternative to traditional synthetic fertilizers while improving crop growth.
“My dad has been farming since he was 18,” Karg said. “Growing up on a farm in Colorado is what really drove my passion for this research. Fertilizer costs continue to rise while market prices don’t necessarily keep pace. We’re working on tools that can help producers apply nutrients more efficiently and get more value from what’s already in their soil.”
The team also works closely with farmers to understand how new technologies can be used in daily operations. Researchers believe farmer feedback is essential for creating practical solutions.
“We can do things in the lab, but unless we go out and talk to the farmers and see whether the technologies are useful, the research is insignificant,” Diwakar said. “Carson and Zach help bridge the gap because they understand both the technology and the farming community.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-fotokostic
Categories: South Dakota, Crops, Education, Sustainable Agriculture