fbpx
Print this page
Friday, 07 September 2018 07:55

Nitrate sensor to hit the market

Written by  Nigel Malthus
James Wang from Lincoln Agritech installing a HydroMetricsTM nitrate sensor in a monitoring well in Canterbury. SUPPLIED/Lincoln Agritech James Wang from Lincoln Agritech installing a HydroMetricsTM nitrate sensor in a monitoring well in Canterbury. SUPPLIED/Lincoln Agritech

A Lincoln-developed optical nitrate sensor for groundwater is now in use nationwide after a low-key but successful commercial launch.

Developed by Lincoln University-owned Lincoln Agritech, the slim stainless steel device is designed to be lowered down bores and wells for real-time monitoring of nitrate levels. 

It is cheap and simple enough for widespread deployment, the company says.

Dr Blair Miller, Lincoln Agritech’s group manager of environmental research, told Rural News that after six to eight months of limited release “to make sure there’s no hidden fishhooks,” the device is now ready for much wider distribution.

It is being marketed under the brand name Hydrometrics and an Australian distributor has been appointed.

Miller says the sensor had been in use at the Hinds-Hekeao Managed Aquifer Recharge project – from prototype through to the current commercial model – and was giving good results. Five regional councils have bought or leased it, so have companies. 

Miller says that unlike some alternatives the Hydrometric sensor fits down a 50mm sampling well, which was much less expensive than drilling larger bores.

At about US$S5000 it’s also “price disruptive” when similar technology typically cost upwards of US$15,000.

 “We’ve actually brought the price down to a level that farmers could start looking to use it themselves to understand the impact of their own operations. And we have sold it to farmers.”

Miller says nitrate leaching into groundwater is a huge NZ farm problem. 

“If you can’t measure it you can’t manage it,” he says. “One of the drivers behind the sensor of course is to give all stakeholders who are interested a cost-effective and reliable option to measure water quality, but particularly nitrates.”

A surface water variant is now in development, although it would have to handle a much larger range of contaminants.

“To come up with a lower-cost version of a sensor suitable for surface water is a challenge but we’re well into the initial research phase.”

More like this

MOU a significant milestone

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Lincoln University and Ballance Agri-Nutrients is being hailed as a significant milestone.

Rural resilience programme expands

Mental health and resilience programme WellMates is available at Massey University for a second year after research found that it has significantly benefitted participants.

Study puts value on food safety research centre

A new study from Lincoln University’s Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit (AERU) has put a valuation on the NZ Food Safety Science & Research Centre in terms of its value to New Zealand.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

A different shade of blue for Norwood

Norwood and ARGO Tractors, the Italian manufacturer of Landini and McCormick tractors, have announced an agreement that gives Norwood exclusive…

Kubota tests diesel engines

Kubota last month used the UK LAMMA Show to test the water with its new 200hp, four-cylinder 09-series diesel engines.