Smartphone-Based Spectrometric Analyzer for Accurate Estimation of pH Value in Soil

This article demonstrates a cost-effective, compact, and handheld smartphone-based sensing tool for accurate estimation of pH values of agricultural farmlands. We develop a spectrometric tool with a resolution ability of 0.22 nm/pixel by utilizing 3D printing technology, regular optical components, a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) as a grating element, and the rear camera of the phone. The sensor responses for standard pH samples within the pH range 4 to 10 are observed to be linear yet yield a sensitivity of 0.129 per pH unit. The resolution of the proposed sensor for the considered samples is observed to be 0.09 pH units. The results obtained from the designed tool while measuring the pH values of six field-collected soil samples are found to be accurate. The designed sensor’s performance has been evaluated by comparing the experimental data with the commercial-grade pH sensing tool. With the advantages of being a low-weight and data-sharing ability, we envision that the proposed sensing scheme could emerge as a promising alternative platform for in-field estimation of pH values of soil and water resources of our environment.