Integrated digital soil sensing and mapping for sustainable soil management

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There is no Planet B; food security must be achieved now. We will only be able to meet the demand of ever-increasing population through optimized management of our finite land and arable soil resources. However, due to spatial and temporal variability, `better management' of our soil is only possible through `better measurement'. Unlike the `status quo' approach to define soil fertility through traditional sampling and laboratory analysis, proximal soil sensing (PSS) technologies provide quality soil information with greater spatial and temporal details to develop site-specific management of input resources to improve production and maintain environmental sustainability. However, technologies are developing at a faster pace than our knowledge base, thus, restricting their adoption. It is critical and timely to move forward with much needed research on the feasibility of PSS technologies to understand and characterize soil; develop a framework, algorithms and theories to test, calibrate and validate various PSS technologies to characterize soil properties and their variability in space and time; and develop strategies for sustainable soil management. During the grant period, my core research will focus on integrated proximal soil sensing and digital soil mapping (long-term goal) through developing algorithms and theories for fast and non-destructive soil characterization (in-situ, ex-situ, on-the-go, on-the-spot) using individual or a combination of sensors, quantification of soil spatial variability, representative soil sampling, mapping and management zone delineation (short-term goals). These questions will be examined through 6 testable hypotheses in studies conducted by 4 PhD and 4 MSc students with the help of 4 undergraduate summer students over the next 5 years. Gender equity and diversification will be a guiding principle in recruiting and training these HQPs in the era of disruptive technologies in the agri-food production systems with multidisciplinary knowledge through field (10 field across ON), laboratory, modelling, mapping and optimization-based studies. The anticipated impact (nationally and internationally) of this research program lies in developing theories and algorithms for fast and non-destructive soil characterization, quantifying soil distribution and assisting in the development of management decisions for overall economic benefit and agricultural and environmental sustainability at the regional, provincial and national levels. In addition, adoption of these technology-based precision agriculture will reduce the harmful effects of agriculture on our environment by optimizing management of Canada's finite soil resources. This will lead to indirect but valuable and long-term social, health, and environmental benefits for all Canadians.