iSDAsoil: The first continent-scale soil property map at 30 m resolution provides a soil information revolution for Africa

Résumé

Open access, high-resolution soil property maps have been created for Africa at 30 m resolution, using machine learning trained on over 100,000 analysed soil samples.Combined with other field-level information, iSDAsoil enables the possibility of site-specific agronomy advisory for smallholder farmers.WhyAU : Pleaseconfirmthatallheadinglevelsarerepresentedcorrectly:should we care about soil?Soil is an often overlooked resource, but its importance in our everyday lives should not be underestimated.Plants are the basis of life on earth but depend on a thin layer of soil to grow.Soils are of particular importance to our food production systems.A healthy soil not only supplies nutrients, but also water to support plant growth.Soils are essential components of the global cycle of nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus, as well as filtering waste and pollution.Healthier soils can also capture more carbon and help in the fight against climate change.In short, soil health and human health are inextricably linked. Soil information in AfricaAfrica is home to a strikingly diverse set of soils [1]; however, high-resolution, continent-wide soil information in actionable form has historically been lacking.Mismanagement of soils due to a lack of soil information can degrade the soil and limit crop yields.Farmers that invest in a fertiliser that is poorly tailored to soil conditions can find themselves out of pocket and cause damage to the environment.To address this gulf in information, the African Soil Information Service (AfSIS) project was created.The AfSIS project developed a consistent methodology for sample collection and analysis of soil chemical and physical properties.Using this methodology, AfSIS collected and analysed a consistent dataset of around 40,000 soil samples across more than 15 countries, representing diverse environments across sub-Saharan Africa. From soil data to soil mapsWhile the AfSIS approach revolutionised many aspects of soil data collection at scale, advances have also been made in the area of DigitalAU : Anabbreviationlisthasbeencompiledforthoseusedthrougho Soil Mapping (DSM; [2]).DSM aims to understand the relationship between lab-measured or field-observed soil properties and the surrounding measurable environment, incorporating climatic, geological, and remote sensing data.

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