A farm-led project aimed at transforming nitrogen management in UK arable farming has been launched.
Funded through Innovate UK’s Farming Innovation Programme: ADOPT, the SMART (Soil Monitoring for Adaptive Resource Targeting) project brings real-time soil nutrient monitoring technology directly into farmers’ fields.
Three Yorkshire farms – Potter & Sons’ Grange Farm, Topcliffe, near Thirsk, Harrison Farms (Kilham) and R H Leonard Limited will partner with Paul-Tech, Future Food Solutions and the UK Agri-Tech Centre.
Over the next two years, the project will investigate how real-time soil moisture and nitrogen monitoring can help farmers make more informed fertiliser decisions, improve nitrogen use efficiency and support more sustainable land management practices.
At the heart of the initiative is Paul-Tech’s in-field sensor technology, which provides continuous monitoring of nitrate levels and soil moisture directly within the crop rooting zone.
The data generated will enable growers to better understand nutrient availability throughout the season and respond proactively to changing field conditions to achieve economic and environmental benefits.
The trials will compare nutrient dynamics across different management approaches, including regenerative farming practices, helping to build a clearer picture of how soil health and nutrient availability interact under varying systems.
Saro Rengaraj, trials & validation coordinator at UK Agri-Tech Centre said: “This project is about giving farmers access to the information they need, when they need it. By understanding what is happening beneath the soil surface in real time, growers can make more informed nutrient management decisions to improve efficiency while maintaining productivity and supporting environmental goals.”
