The Global Soil Health Map: Implications for Society

• Grant number: 24/11100-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: José Alexandre Melo Demattê
• Grantee: Marcelo Henrique Procópio Pelegrino
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/05129-8 - The Brazilian soil quality determined by geotechnologies: mapping, interpretation and agricultural/environmental applications: a legacy for society, AP.TEM

Abstract

Sustainable land management and the enhancement of agricultural productivity critically depend on the understanding and continuous monitoring of soil health. This project introduces an innovative and comprehensive methodology for spatially assessing soil health across the Globe. Leveraging remote sensing data, advanced data science techniques, and the Python API of Google Earth Engine, our approach will employ Random Forest algorithm to map individual soil attributes. These attributes will be integrated using a weighted model based on six distinct soil functions, resulting in the creation of a comprehensive and detailed soil health map. The efficacy of the methodology will be demonstrated through its ability to provide valuable insights for informed decision-making in crucial areas such as land-use planning, environmental management, and sustainable development within the many global regions. This research significantly may contribute to the advancement of soil science and has far-reaching implications for policy-making and land management practices on both regional and global scales.