Until recently, soil testing in India meant collecting large soil samples, sending them to distant labs, and waiting 10–15 days for results. This delay often forced farmers to add fertilisers blindly, leading to soil degradation and rising costs. Recognising this challenge, scientist Dr Rajul Patkar (along with her colleague) developed NutriSens — a compact, handheld soil-testing device that works much like a glucometer for blood. The farmer takes just one gram of soil, mixes it with a reagent solution, and after a short wait deposits a drop on a paper-based sensor. Within five minutes, the device analyses six key soil parameters (including pH, electrical conductivity, nitrate, phosphate and potassium) and instantly generates a “soil-health card,” downloadable on a mobile phone.

Because NutriSens is portable, affordable and easy to use (no lab infrastructure or skilled manpower needed), it has already been adopted across multiple states. In contrast to lab tests costing around ₹500 and taking weeks, NutriSens-based testing costs substantially less and delivers near-instant results. This empowers farmers to make informed, precise fertiliser decisions — reducing waste, cutting costs, and gradually helping restore soil fertility. The device can run thousands of tests per year, making it a potent tool not only for individual farmers but also for agricultural extension workers, cooperatives or rural micro-entrepreneurs eager to support sustainable farming.