SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING IN AGRICULTURE

1 . A device-based system adapted for operation in an agricultural setting, comprising:

a first unit deployable in soil and adapted to collect a soil pore water sample therefrom; and

a second unit coupled to the first unit and adapted to independently monitor for a condition and trigger the collection of the soil pore water sample in the first unit based on the occurrence of the condition.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second unit is adapted to analyze the soil pore water sample to determine the content of a nutrient in the soil pore water sample or an environmental quality parameter of the soil pore water sample.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the nutrient is nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, or boron.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the environmental quality parameter is calcium content, magnesium content, carbonate content, sulfur compound content, pH, electroconductivity, or temperature.

5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first unit further comprises an elongate tube having a collection chamber formed therein.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the first unit comprises a plurality of elongate tubes, each having a collection chamber located therein, wherein each of the collection chambers is positioned such that they are present at different depths when the first unit is deployed in the soil.

7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the collection chamber includes a wall, the wall having an opening to allow soil pore water to flow in.

8 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the collection chamber includes a porous region to allow soil pore water to flow in.

9 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising:

a sampling assembly comprising:

a manifold;

a pump coupled to the manifold;

a sampling reservoir; and

a sampling line coupled to the manifold and having an open distal end, wherein the open distal end is in communication with the collection chamber to draw the soil pore water sample into the collection chamber.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the sampling assembly further comprises a port coupled with the manifold, the port adapted to allow an irrigation supply sample to pass into the manifold.

11 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the second unit further comprises an ion selective electrode (ISE) sensor, the ISE sensor adapted to detect ions or anions representative of the content of the nutrient in the soil pore water sample.

12 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the second unit further comprises a microprocessor configured to process data representative of the content of the nutrient in the soil pore water sample or data representative of the environmental quality parameter of the soil pore water sample.

13 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a third unit adapted to analyze a plant tissue sample.

14 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a data acquisition and communications unit communicatively coupled to the measurement unit and configured to transmit data corresponding to the content of the nutrient to a data server remote from the agricultural field.

15 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a solar panel adapted to provide power to the second unit.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is adapted to collect an irrigation water sample, and the second unit is adapted to measure the irrigation water sample.

17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first unit is adapted to periodically collect soil pore water samples.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the periodic collection takes place at an interval between about 5 minutes and about 4 hours.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the interval is about 15 minutes.

20 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first unit is adapted to periodically collect soil pore water samples without being removed from the soil.

21 - 62 . (canceled)