A Smart Approach to Soil Sampling

The LANDMARC project is combining on the ground research with high tech Earth observation and modelling technologies. Perhaps the most graphic intersection of these techniques is our partner AgroInsider’s approach to soil sampling, where cutting edge satellite technologies are helping to support the work of scientists who are, quite literally, getting their hands dirty in the field. We call this ‘smart sampling’.

Soil sampling is used across the LANDMARC case studies. Samples are taken in the field and sent for laboratory analysis by our partner Bioclear. Soil properties include the physical-chemical content, such as the nutrients essential for fertility, and its biological content, such as organic matter and microbial life. This information tells us about the health of the soil, its ability to store carbon and how it is affected by different Land-based Mitigation Technologies.

But where do we take our soil samples from? Each LANDMARC case study covers a large geographical area in different systems (forestry, agroforestry, pastures, agriculture, etc.), and with limited resources it is simply not feasible to take samples everywhere. Researchers need to divide the study areas into different land categories and take a number of representative samples from each category area. This is where those satellites come into play.

Using data from the European Space Agency’s SENTINEL satellites, any geographical area can be monitored to quantify chlorophyl, leaf water content, soil quality and tree canopy density. The tools can then divide the study area into clusters that share similar characteristics, and suggest sampling points for each cluster.

In practice, the case study leaders send their study areas to AgroInsider, who process the satellite data. Using a simple smartphone App, case study leaders can then view the land clusters and be guided to the suggested sampling points via satellite navigation. The system also allows logging of sample locations, photos and field notes, so that all of the relevant sampling data is held in one place.

For LANDMARC, this sophisticated system supports the work of the case study teams and helps ensure that a consistent sampling framework is being used across all case studies.

This is just one example of how LANDMARC is integrating different research techniques. Elsewhere in the project, stakeholder-based social science approaches are helping to understand the human aspects of the technologies and techniques we are studying. Climate, land-use and economic simulation models are also helping us examine the potential scaling up of candidate LMTs, whilst illuminating the environmental, human and economic impacts of their potential deployment.

Stay tuned for further developments in this work as our project progresses.