Predicting Cobalt deficiency in sheep using soil geochemical data
Investigator(s): British Geological Survey/Geological Survey of Ireland
Funder: EU INTERREG IVA -funded Tellus Border project/British Geological Survey/Geological Survey of Ireland
This project addresses the ‘information gap’ that exists in translating regional geochemical data into outputs directly useful to the agricultural sector. A number of pressing objectives including Food Harvest 2020 require farmers to increase productivity and this study shows how soil chemistry data could be used to contribute to meeting quality and quantity targets, particularly with regard to micro‐nutrients. Using cobalt as an example, the study applied existing Teagasc soil threshold values for sheep to Tellus soil geochemical maps to identify areas in the border region of Ireland where a cobalt deficiency in sheep is likely to occur. To address problems of uncertainty in communicating mapped results, probabilistic outputs using a verbal and numerical communication scale were developed. Opportunities exist to apply this approach to the prediction of other important micronutrients and to inform farm-level land-management decisions.
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Geophysical remote sensing of subsurface properties for sustainable agricultural management
Investigator: Dr Eve Daly, University of Galway
Funder: Geological Survey Ireland Short Call 2017
This proof of concept project will start by integrating airborne and ground geophysics with remote sensing to access surface and subsurface permeability variations over a Teagasc Agricultural Catchment which is covered by existing Tellus data, in the context of agricultural management. The project will explore the best methods to then upscale to Water Framework Directive scale catchments and the tools and international collaborations needed to build a functional land management tool for the sustainable management of agricultural intensification envisioned in Food Harvest 2020 and Food Wise 2025.
This multidisciplinary proposal is aligned with three Short Call research themes:
- Geophysics
- Groundwater Resources and Protection
- Quaternary Geology of Ireland
The project will develop a new research programme covering hydrogeophysics, soil science and catchment science building on expertise gained in the 2007 Griffith Geoscience Award to University of Galway and develop the recent collaborations between Teagasc (Ireland's Agricultural and food development authority), University of Galway and the Geological Survey Ireland.
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TellSoilBio
TellSoilBio is a three year project being run by researchers from UCD and University of Galway, with intended completion in 2026. Funded through the EPA 2022 Research Call, the project is investigating the relationship between spatial patterns of soil biodiversity and soil geochemistry.
The TellSoilBio team has, in collaboration with the MMeSH group, sampled over 200 sites, chosen to match those previously visited by the Tellus programme. Along with analysing for the geochemistry of the samples, the team are collecting data on abundances and species of micro and meso-fauna, as well as nematode and enchytraeids.
Final results are to be mapped, with the aim of better understanding natural patterns in soil biodiversity, as well as relationships with agriculture and land use suitability. This data may then feed into improved advice on soil management for biodiversity protection.
More information can be found at the TellSoilBio website below:
https://www.ucd.ie/tellsoilbio/
MMeSH
The MMeSH project, researching Microbial and Metabolomic indicators of Soil Health, is a three year project being carried out by researchers at TUD and DCU, as part of the EPA 2022 Research Call.
Having commenced in March 2023, the project aims to characterise soil microbial bio- and metabolite diversity, leading to identification of “novel chemical and biological indicators" that can feed into a modern soil quality monitoring programme.
The MMeSH team, are analysing samples from over 200 sample sites, chosen based on original Tellus soil sampling locations. The samples were collected in collaboration with the TellSoilBio group from a range of landscapes across the northern 50% of Ireland.
More information can be found at the MMeSH website below:
https://sites.google.com/view/mmeshatu/home
