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Soil sensing: A new paradigm for agriculture

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  • Viscarra Rossel, Raphael A.
  • Bouma, Johan

Abstract

Last century, during the ‘Green Revolution’ the use of synthetic fertilizers contributed to increased agricultural production. However, their use did not reflect local soil and water conditions because recommendations were developed for larger agro-ecological zones. They only focused on increased productivity, neglecting any adverse environmental consequences. Largely, this legacy remains and recommendations are still made using ‘top-down’ procedures based on limited data and generic, empirical relations between soil nutrient contents, fertilization rates and yields. Using soil sensors in agriculture can fundamentally change this approach by allowing innovative ‘bottom-up’ approaches that characterize local soil and environmental conditions in space and time, improving the efficiency of production to maximize farm incomes and minimize environmental side effects. The sensed information can be used to build site-specific databases of relations between soil and plant condition and growth. Recent technological developments in sensing coupled with ongoing advances in information and communication technologies have given ground to a renewed interest in soil sensing and its use in different applications at different spatial scales. Soil sensing can facilitate the measurement and monitoring of the soil's physical and biochemical attributes (e.g. nutrients, water) to better understand their dynamics, their interactions with the environment while considering their large spatial heterogeneity. The new sensing methods can also be used to effectively monitor soil organic carbon and be central to the adoption of best agronomic practices that also allow carbon sequestration and a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Thus, sensing can help us to better articulate the potential of soil to meet the world's needs for food, fiber, climate adaptation and environmental sustainability allowing the design and implementation of innovative management practices and policy aimed at sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Viscarra Rossel, Raphael A. & Bouma, Johan, 2016. "Soil sensing: A new paradigm for agriculture," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 71-74.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:148:y:2016:i:c:p:71-74
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2016.07.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Schattman, Rachel E. & Jean, Haley & Faulkner, Joshua W. & Maden, Rebecca & McKeag, Lisa & Nelson, Katie Campbell & Grubinger, Vernon & Burnett, Stephanie & Erich, M. Susan & Ohno, Tsutomu, 2023. "Effects of irrigation scheduling approaches on soil moisture and vegetable production in the Northeastern U.S.A," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    2. Alireza Abdollahi & Karim Rejeb & Abderahman Rejeb & Mohamed M. Mostafa & Suhaiza Zailani, 2021. "Wireless Sensor Networks in Agriculture: Insights from Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-22, October.
    3. Lajoie-O'Malley, Alana & Bronson, Kelly & van der Burg, Simone & Klerkx, Laurens, 2020. "The future(s) of digital agriculture and sustainable food systems: An analysis of high-level policy documents," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    4. Hassan P. Ebrahimi & R. Sandra Schillo & Kelly Bronson, 2021. "Systematic Stakeholder Inclusion in Digital Agriculture: A Framework and Application to Canada," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-21, June.
    5. Gardezi, Maaz & Abuayyash, Halimeh & Adler, Paul R. & Alvez, Juan P. & Anjum, Rubaina & Badireddy, Appala Raju & Brugler, Skye & Carcamo, Pablo & Clay, David & Dadkhah, Ali & Emery, Mary & Faulkner, J, 2024. "The role of living labs in cultivating inclusive and responsible innovation in precision agriculture," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    6. Lobell, David B., 2020. "Viewpoint: Principles and priorities for one CGIAR," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    7. J. Bouma & C. P. Veerman, 2022. "Developing Management Practices in: “Living Labs” That Result in Healthy Soils for the Future, Contributing to Sustainable Development," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-14, December.

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