Archive · 27 Nov 2025
IIT-B Scientist Creates World's Smallest Soil Tester
Dr. Rajul Patkar, a scientist from IIT Bombay, created a small device called NutriSens that helps farmers test their soil quickly and easily.
This device measures important things like pH and nutrients in the soil using special paper strips.
It gives results in just a few minutes, which helps farmers decide what to do with their fields.
The device is affordable and has helped many farmers, especially in places like Maharashtra and Solapur.
Dr. Patkar's team also trains women to use this device and become entrepreneurs, helping more farmers and improving the soil health in India.
Dr. Rajul Patkar developed NutriSens, a portable soil testing device.
NutriSens measures six critical soil parameters in less than five minutes.
The device is priced at Rs 35,000 and can perform 3,000 tests annually.
It has reached 10,000 to 15,000 farmers across multiple states in India.
Dr. Patkar's team trains rural women to become soil health entrepreneurs.
- Who
- Dr. Rajul Patkar, co-founder and CEO of Proximal Soilsens Technologies
- What
- Developed NutriSens, a portable, affordable, and user-friendly soil testing device
- When
- Inspired during her PhD at IIT Bombay over a decade ago
- Where
- India
- Why
- To simplify soil diagnostics and empower farmers with real-time data
- Inventor
- Dr. Rajul Patkar
- Device Name
- NutriSens
- Parameters Measured
- pH, electrical conductivity, nitrate, phosphate, potassium, and another major nutrient
- Testing Time
- Less than five minutes
- Cost
- Rs 35,000
- Farmers Reached
- 10,000 to 15,000
- Device Lifespan
- Three years
- Tests per Year
- 3,000