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| This photo shows the Veris® near infrared spectrophotometer that will be used to map certain soil properties in eastern Washington. Information gathered from this project will help growers make soil management decisions. |
Soil Carbon Mapping Technology
The amount of carbon in our soil can help reduce the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and also improve our farmland and the agricultural economy. Crops and other plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. As crops are harvested, carbon in their roots and residue is deposited back into the soil. The benefits of increasing the carbon content of farmland are improved soil fertility, reduced erosion, and better soil and water quality. Improved soil management practices can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, e.g., nitrous oxide and methane emissions, from agriculture soils. Thus, new ideas are emerging to help reduce greenhouse gases while at the same time improving soil and water quality, which would benefit the agricultural economy.
At the WSU Center for Precision Agriculture Systems (CPAS), scientists are preparing to test a new idea for soil carbon mapping technology. In eastern Washington State, soil erosion is a major concern for dryland wheat farmers. Recent advances in sensing technology offer new opportunities to provide important information about soil properties that can help guide soil management decisions. A near infrared spectrophotometer (by Veris®) measures light as thermal radiation. These measurements tell the amount of organic matter, carbon, pH buffer capacity, and other properties of soil. The spectrophotometer then generates a map of the landscape showing the soil characteristics. This data can then be used to make decisions about how to manage the farm land.
While this new technology offers great potential, the cost is beyond the scope of individual growers. Therefore, researchers at the WSU CPAS facility have plans to investigate the ability of this new technology to map important soil properties in Washington State and evaluate its potential benefit for growers. Using the Veris® near infrared spectrophotometer, researchers will gather field measurements at locations in Benton, Columbia, and Whitman Counties. The data will then be evaluated for organic matter, carbon, buffered pH, and soil moisture as well as the ability of the spectrophotometer to measure soil nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen. In addition, actual soil samples will be collected and analyzed in the laboratory for comparison.
This potentially useful system may simplify the measurements of these important soil properties, provide a new tool to evaluate conservation management practices, and guide farmers in soil management decisions based on data heretofore unavailable.
If you would like more information about this topic or other developments in agriculture, contact Dr. Francis J. Pierce .
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