Digital soil mapping and assessment for Australia and beyond: A propitious future

Article


Searle, Ross, McBratney, Alexander, Grundy, Mike, Kidd, Darren, Malone, Brendan, Arrouays, Dominique, Stockmann, Uta, Zund, Peter, Wilson, Peter, Wilford, John, van Gool, Dennis, Triantafilis, John, Thomas, Mark, Stower, Liz, Slater, Brian, Robinson, Nathan, Ringrose-Voase, Anthony, Padarian, José, Payne, Jim, ..., Andrews, Kaitlyn. 2021. "Digital soil mapping and assessment for Australia and beyond: A propitious future." Geoderma Regional. 24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2021.e00359
Article Title

Digital soil mapping and assessment for Australia and beyond: A propitious future

ERA Journal ID210508
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsSearle, Ross, McBratney, Alexander, Grundy, Mike, Kidd, Darren, Malone, Brendan, Arrouays, Dominique, Stockmann, Uta, Zund, Peter, Wilson, Peter, Wilford, John, van Gool, Dennis, Triantafilis, John, Thomas, Mark, Stower, Liz, Slater, Brian, Robinson, Nathan, Ringrose-Voase, Anthony, Padarian, José, Payne, Jim, Orton, Thomas, Odgers, Nathan, O’Brien, Lauren, Minasny, Budiman, Bennett, John McLean, Liddicoat, Craig, Jones, Edward, Holmes, Karen, Harms, Ben, Gray, Jonathan, Bui, Elisabeth and Andrews, Kaitlyn
Journal TitleGeoderma Regional
Journal Citation24
Article Numbere00359
Number of Pages13
Year2021
PublisherElsevier
Place of PublicationNetherlands
ISSN2352-0094
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2021.e00359
Web Address (URL)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352009421000043
Abstract

Digital Soil Mapping and Assessment (DSMA) has progressed from challenging traditional soil science paradigms, through small scale prototyping, to large-scale implementation capturing quantitative measures of soil attributes and functions. This paper considers the future for DSMA in the context of a highly uncertain world where high-quality knowledge of soil dynamics will be important for responding to the challenges of sustainability. Irrespective of whether the need is for survival, increased productivity or broadening the services provided from land management, or simply securing the soil itself, we see DSMA as a fundamental approach and essential tool. With a broadening need and a strong foundation in the practice of DSMA now in place, the theory, tools and technology of DSMA will grow significantly. We explore expected changes in covariate data, the modelling process, the nature of base data generation and product delivery that will lead to tracking and forecasting a much wider range of soil attributes and functions at finer spatial and temporal resolutions over larger areas, particularly globally. Equally importantly, we expect the application and impact of DSMA to broaden and be used, directly and collaterally, in the analysis of land management issues in coming decades. It has the capacity to provide the background to a soil and landscape ‘digital twin’ and the consequent transformation in monitoring and forecasting the impacts of land management practices. We envision the continued growth of DSMA skills amongst soil scientists and a much broader community of practice involved in developing and utilizing DSMA products and tools. Consequently, there will be a widening and deepening role of public-private partnerships in this development and application.

KeywordsDigital soil mapping; Digital soil assessment; Australia; Soil spatial prediction; Soil security; Soil covariates; Soil data systems
Contains Sensitive ContentDoes not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020300202. Agricultural land management
Byline AffiliationsCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia
University of Sydney
Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania
National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), France
Landscape Sciences, Australia
Geoscience Australia
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia
University of New South Wales
Ohio State University, United States
Federation University
University of Queensland
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, New Zealand
Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Systems
Department of Environment and Water, South Australia
Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, New South Wales
Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Queensland
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Northern Territory
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