Rapid field-based sugarcane tissue measurement using an integrated smartphone and lab-on-a-chip system

This project revolutionises nutrient management in the Australian sugar industry by advancing a ‘lab-on-a-chip’ (LOC) smartphone technology for real-time plant tissue nutrient analysis. Designed for affordability and ease of use, the LOC device delivers instant estimates of nitrate and phosphate concentrations in sugarcane tissues, aligning nutrient management practices with critical plant growth stages.

The LOC system features a compact plastic device containing chemical reagents tailored to specific nutrients. With built-in calibration standards for quality assurance, the technology provides accurate, on-the-spot data, offering an efficient and cost-effective alternative to traditional laboratory analyses. Its integration with smartphone technology enables seamless data visualisation and cloud-based tracking, empowering farmers and agronomists with actionable insights to optimise crop productivity while minimising environmental impact.

Soil nutrient levels can vary significantly within a field due to texture, organic matter, moisture, and microbial activity. Measuring plant tissues bypasses these complexities and reflects the cumulative effect of all soil factors influencing plant availability and nutrient uptake. By targeting sugarcane tissues such as fully expanded leaves, stalks, and juice samples during key growth stages, this portable and user-friendly LOC device accelerates nutrient testing, reduces costs, and enhances fertiliser efficiency, setting a new standard for precision agriculture in the sugarcane industry.

Acknowledgement
This project is fully funded by the Department of Primary Industries and managed by Sugar Research Australia.

This project aims to improve nutrient management in sugarcane farming by addressing the inefficiencies of current nutrient analysis methods. Specifically, it focuses on developing a rapid, affordable, and user-friendly LOC device integrated with a smartphone application to measure key nutrients like nitrate and dissolvable phosphate directly in sugarcane tissues at various growth stages, including establishment, tillering, grand growth (vegetative stage) and maturity.

Targeting tissues such as leaves, stalks, and juice during critical phases—establishment, tillering, vegetative growth and maturity—the system will provide real-time insights to optimise fertilisation strategies. By eliminating reliance on distant laboratories, the technology simplifies the testing process, delivers instant results, and enables growers to make timely, data-driven decisions.

Key developments include a user-friendly sampling device, an enhanced smartphone app for seamless data interpretation, and customisation with input from industry partners. This innovation aims to improve yields, reduce fertiliser waste, and minimise environmental impacts, particularly nutrient runoff into sensitive ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef. The project supports precision nutrient management, empowering growers with practical tools for sustainable and productive sugarcane cultivation.