Sewage sludge can provide valuable nutrients for agricultural soils, but its use requires careful management. Understanding its composition and determining the right application rate are essential to meet crop needs while limiting excess nutrients in the soil. The RAINS project is developing OPTIFANGS-AI v1.0, a digital tool designed to support this process through rapid analysis and tailored dosage recommendations.
Combining near-infrared technology and artificial intelligence
OPTIFANGS-AI v1.0 combines near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy with artificial intelligence (AI) to estimate the composition of sewage sludge without invasive sampling methods. The system integrates hardware and software to support analysis and management, with the aim of making the process faster and more accessible.
In approximately two minutes, the technology estimates the sludge’s composition and feeds this information into a decision support system (DSS). The system recommends an application dose based on the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) requirements of the target crop and takes the soil type and cropping system into account.
The tool also includes information on total and available NPK inputs in an agronomic and environmental report, helping users better understand the nutrients being applied to the soil.
From analysis to application decisions
The OPTIFANGS-IA application helps turn analysis results into practical guidance for agricultural use. A machine analyses a sample of sewage sludge using near-infrared (NIR) technology, producing a file containing information about its composition. This information can then be used in the application to assess how the sludge should be applied to agricultural land.
By combining the estimated nutrient content with information about the target crop and its requirements, the tool helps farmers determine an appropriate application rate. This provides a clearer picture of the nutrients being added to the soil and supports more informed fertilisation decisions, helping farmers match nutrient inputs to crop needs and avoid applying excess nutrients.
The application provides access to the tool and its information to support this decision-making process.
Supporting more informed fertilisation decisions
By providing a rapid estimate of sewage sludge composition, OPTIFANGS-AI can help farmers and other users make more informed decisions about its agricultural application. Knowing the nutrient content of each application can support fertilisation adapted to the specific conditions of the soil and crop, while helping to reduce excess nutrient inputs.
This approach is intended to support more efficient nutrient management and the responsible use of sewage sludge as an organic soil amendment, in line with relevant EU legislation.
Testing the solution in real agricultural conditions
As part of RAINS, OPTIFANGS-AI v1.0 will be tested at demonstration sites in Spain and Greece. The trials will examine how the tool can be used to estimate sewage sludge composition and determine appropriate application doses across different agricultural scenarios and water-management conditions.
Through these demonstrations, RAINS will assess the potential of OPTIFANGS-AI to support more precise and context-specific nutrient management in agriculture.
Explore the OPTIFANGS application: https://optifangs.umh.es/
