A detection conductive section and a monitor conductive section made of a conductive material having a higher electrical resistivity than that of PM are included. A deposition surface on which the PM is deposited is provided to the detection conductive section. A pair of detection electrodes are provided to the deposition surface. A pair of monitor electrodes are provided to the monitor conductive section. The configuration is made such that no PM is deposited on the monitor conductive section between the pair of monitor electrodes.

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring soil properties including soil moisture, soil electrical conductivity and soil temperature during an agricultural input application. Embodiments include a soil reflectivity sensor and/or a soil temperature sensor mounted to a seed firmer for measuring moisture and temperature in a planting trench. A thermopile for measuring temperature via infrared radiation is described herein. In one example, the thermopile is disposed in a body and senses infrared radiation through an infrared transparent window. Aspects of any of the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in or communicate with an agricultural intelligence computer system as described herein.

A method for evaluating the functionality of a ceramic sensor for detecting soot, the sensor including two measurement electrodes exposable to an exhaust and spaced apart from one another, and an electrical resistance heating element. The method includes: activating the resistance heating element to heat up the sensor and to burn soot off the two measurement electrodes; then deactivating the resistance heating element; then waiting for a first predetermined time period and/or waiting until a signal that is received from the sensor and represents the sensor temperature reaches a first predefined value; then measuring a first variable representing the electrical resistance between the measurement electrodes; then evaluating the functionality of the sensor based on the first variable representing the electrical resistance between the measurement electrodes.

Method and apparatus are provided to select target metal particles from aggregate ore. A feed stream of aggregate is directed along a path and a higher density portion is segregated therefrom. Detectors are arranged in-line and along the flow of the higher density portion. High resolution detection of a target particles within the feed stream triggers ejection of a select portion of the feed stream and target particle as a concentrate and the balance continues to a further phase of detection/ejection. The concentrate is processed in further stages or collected as product. Multiple parallel detector/ejectors across the path can isolate target particles and minimize the ejected gangue portion associated therewith. Dry or hydrodynamic transport of the feed stream is available determined by aggregate characteristics. A compact footprint of the apparatus is achieved with arcuate paths and multi-level conveyance whilst low energy requirements enables use in artisan installations.

A device (1), for measuring an amount of dirt (50), comprising: a receiver (2) for receiving a sample collector (40), with a dirt sample attached to the front surface (42); a first (11) and second (12) contact; an electrically conductive surface (14); an aligner (20) for positioning the electrically conductive surface (14) in contact with the back surface (44) of the received sample collector (40); and a resistance meter (30) configured to measure an electrical resistance between the first (11) and second contact (12), wherein, when the first (11) and second contact (12) are placed in contact with the front surface (42) and the electrically conductive surface (14) is placed in contact with the back surface (44), the measured electrical resistance between the first (11) and second contact (12) represents the amount of dirt (50) of the dirt sample between the first (11) and second contact (12).

The method for determining soil moisture includes the following steps: measuring an initial electrical conductivity and an initial dielectric constant of a training sample of a soil, adjusting the training sample's water content by adding a fixed amount of water and obtaining a plurality of adjusted electrical conductivities and dielectric constants from the adjusted training sample, entering the initial and adjusted electrical conductivities and dielectric constants into a computing device, obtaining a regression value from the initial and adjusted electrical conductivities and dielectric constants of the training sample, measuring a final electrical conductivity and a final dielectric constant from a real sample of the soil, and determining the soil moisture of the soil using the regression value and the final electrical conductivity and dielectric constant of the real sample.

A method for detecting clogging of a subsurface flow constructed wetland, including the steps of firstly emptying water in the subsurface flow constructed wetland, and then measuring the apparent resistivity of the subsurface flow constructed wetland bed after the water is emptied, wherein the water holding capacity of clogging sediments in the clogged region after emptying is strong, the apparent resistivity of this region is further measured to be lower than an unclogged region and the clogged region can thus be positioned and analyzed, the apparent resistivity of the region clogged more seriously is lower and the degree of clogging can thus be quantitatively analyzed.

A device for detecting soil nutrients on site, including an extracting grid, an on-site real-time detection assembly and a transfer assembly for transferring a soil extract from the extracting grid to the on-site real-time detection assembly. A soil nutrient detection method using the device and a microfluidic chip are also provided. The microfluidic chip includes a cover plate and a base plate. The base plate includes a soil extract feeding groove, a quantitative feeding groove, a reagent storage groove, and a serpentine groove.

One aspect relates to a soot sensor for detecting electrically conductive and/or polarizable particles, including a substrate, an electrode layer that is formed on the substrate and that includes at least two spatially separated electrodes that engage into each other. At least one cover layer is formed on the side of the electrode layer facing away from the substrate. Multiple openings are formed in the cover layer, the openings at least partially exposing a surface of one electrode of the at least two electrodes.

A sensor system and process that utilizes impedance/conductivity measurements to track the movement of hardness in an ion exchange media. The impedance/conductivity sensor is a vertical, longitudinally directed, axially lengthwise electrode system having electrodes placed within a bed of ion exchange material and separated by water and the ion exchange material. The electrodes generally run parallel to one another. Hard water is introduced to the water softener and softened by the ion exchange material. A hardness gradient is tracked by the sensor, and regeneration is initiated when it is determined that the ion exchange material is depleted or exhausted.