Biosensor and methods of in-situ measuring of nutrient content of a crop cultivation substrate
AssigneeNorth Carolina State University
InventorsChadi SAYDE, Riley LAWSON, Amy Michele GRUNDEN
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Abstract
The subject matter described herein is directed to systems, detection devices and enzyme sensors for real-time determination of the concentration levels of nutrients in a crop cultivation substrate using thermal signals and change in enthalpy per unit of enzyme. Methods of using the systems, detection devices and enzyme sensors for agricultural applications are described.
Claims28
A detection device for detecting at least one nutrient concentration in a crop cultivation substrate, comprising a test thermal sensor configured to generate one or more thermal signals, wherein the test thermal sensor comprises an enzyme, wherein the one or more thermal signals is indicative of the enthalpy of a reaction between the enzyme and a nutrient if present, wherein the nutrient is a substrate of the enzyme, and the enthalpy is indicative of the concentration of the nutrient.
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A method of measuring a nutrient in a crop cultivation substrate, the method comprising:
- receiving a thermal signal from a test thermal sensor comprising an enzyme, wherein the nutrient is a substrate of the enzyme, and receiving a thermal signal from a reference thermal sensor that does not comprise the enzyme, wherein the test thermal sensor and the reference thermal sensor are in physical communication with the crop cultivation substrate;
- comparing the test thermal signal to the reference thermal signal to determine the change in enthalpy per unit of the enzyme;
- and,
- calculating a concentration of the nutrient in the crop cultivation substrate from the change in enthalpy per unit of the enzyme.
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A detection device for detecting urea or nitrate concentration in soil, comprising a test thermal sensor configured to generate one or more thermal signals, wherein the test thermal sensor comprises urease or nitrate reductase, wherein the one or more thermal signals is indicative of the enthalpy of a reaction between urease and urea or nitrate reductase and nitrate if present, and the enthalpy is indicative of the concentration of the nutrient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.