Soil analyzers are specialized instruments used to detect the composition and physicochemical properties of soil, primarily serving agricultural research, soil resource assessment, environmental monitoring, and agricultural production guidance. In 2025, ABB Group designed a lunar soil analyzer for the Canadian Space Agency's lunar rover, expanding its space applications.
This device features a modular design, allowing users to select detection parameters according to their needs. Its core functions include the determination of readily available nutrients, organic matter, pH, salinity, and other indicators, and it can analyze pollutants such as heavy metals. The instrument is equipped with a high-definition touchscreen or LCD display, with some newer models featuring an Android smart system and a quad-core processor. The built-in data storage module supports thousands of data recordings and can achieve remote transmission, printing, and multi-platform data synchronization via USB, WiFi, Bluetooth, or 4G/5G networks. Some models integrate intelligent fertilization calculation functions based on AI algorithms, automatically generating fertilization plans based on crop type and yield. The instrument is compatible with both laboratory and field environments, featuring a portable structure, long-lasting battery, and onboard charging capabilities. It supports temperature compensation, multi-form sample (solid/paste/liquid) detection, and standardized data export. The detection technologies employed include near-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, organic elemental analysis, discrete analysis, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). Among these, portable XRF analyzers are commonly used tools for on-site soil screening. Measurement accuracy covers parameters such as pH (±0.01) and conductivity (±5%), and techniques like near-infrared spectroscopy can control detection errors to within 3%.