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Project title

Agrogeophysics for Sustainable Soil Management under Climate Extremes

Primary Funding Agency

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

Lead Organisation

University College Dublin (UCD)

Lead Applicant

Not listed

Project Abstract

Agriculture is the economic sector most vulnerable to climate change, with food crops particularly impacted by rising temperatures and extreme weather. Achieving food security, a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, requires developing climate-resilient crops and sustainable land management to optimize yields. This project focuses on cereal crops like maize and wheat, examining agricultural practices such as nitrate fertilizer applications and irrigation. Central to the study is the subsoil, which drives soil water and nutrient availability, critical for crop resilience under stress conditions like drought and nutrient deficiency. Traditional soil sampling methods are either sparse or rely on large-scale remote sensing, failing to capture soil heterogeneity effectively. Agrogeophysics, utilizing high-resolution geophysical methods, offers potential for characterizing soil types and states at finer scales. This study employs three complementary methods�electromagnetic induction (EMI), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and ground-penetrating radar (GPR)�to explore the soil-plant continuum, focusing on soil water, root growth, and nutrient uptake. Experiments will be conducted at various scales across Germany, Ireland, and Uruguay, exposing crops to diverse climate conditions and soil types. The trials will examine the effects of fertilizers and irrigation/drying on plots with replicates over growing seasons, validated using soil sensors. UAVs equipped with multispectral cameras will capture above ground shoot information. In a second phase, stress factors like prolonged droughts and heavy rainfall will be simulated to study plant and root performance across genotypes. Advanced machine learning and clustering algorithms will analyze large datasets to establish links between data points, derive spatial maps, and support sustainable field management strategies. This project aims to develop workflows integrating geophysical methods, soil sensors, and machine learning to improve monitoring and management of the soil-plant continuum. Ultimately, it seeks to enhance crop resilience, optimize resource use, and ensure sustainable agricultural practices under climate extremes.

Grant Approved

�362,069.20

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

2. Ireland's Future Climate, its Impacts, and Adaptation Options

Start Date

01/07/2025

Initial Projected Completion Date

30/06/2028