TerraBlaster
TerraBlaster offers a towed implement that measures soil nutrients in real time using NASA-developed Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technology. The Blaster 1000 captures readings every 80 feet at up to 6 mph, delivering lab-equivalent data within minutes. Its high-resolution maps integrate directly with existing variable-rate fertilizer application workflows.
- Agriculture Technology
- Data & Analytics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Hardware
- Internet of Things
Funding
Raised to date
$3MRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Farmers face significant losses due to imprecise nutrient application, leading to wasted fertilizer, reduced crop yields, and environmental runoff. Traditional grid soil sampling averages nutrient levels over large areas, hiding deficient pockets and places where excess fertilizer is wasted.
Solution
TerraBlaster provides an integrated sensor and AI platform that delivers real-time, high-resolution soil nutrient data directly to agricultural machinery. Leveraging NASA-developed Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technology, the Blaster 1000 towed implement measures soil nutrients continuously at up to 6 mph, taking roughly twenty measurements per second and averaging them into points every 80 feet. Results are delivered in the field within minutes in standard lab formats (ppm against named extractions). Proprietary AI algorithms process the data to quantify plant-available nutrients at six discrete one-inch depth layers, enabling automated variable-rate fertilizer application with plant-level precision.
Target Audience
Primary customers are row crop farmers and ag retailers in the Midwest, particularly those in Iowa where on-farm demos are being offered, as well as agricultural equipment manufacturers seeking to optimize nutrient management.
Features
- Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) sensor that measures soil directly with a laser pulse, reading emitted light wavelengths to determine exact composition
- Real-time measurement of 20+ soil properties including P, K, pH, buffer pH, organic matter, CEC, texture, nitrate-N, ammonium-N, moisture, total N/C, base saturation, and micronutrients
- Measurements at six discrete one-inch depth layers (0-6") plus a composite value, revealing nutrient stratification that core sampling misses
- High-resolution mapping down to 0.15-acre grids (~80 feet on a side), offering 17x faster coverage than manual sampling crews
- Output in .shp and .csv files designed to feed existing variable-rate prescription software
- Results delivered within minutes in the field, with no lab turnaround time