A library for understanding the soils of the world

New soil spectral library addresses global food supply through advanced soil analysis.

A breakthrough in how soils are analyzed, known as soil spectroscopy, is equipping both farmers and government decision-makers with a new tool in combatting land degradation and improving farmers’ crop yields and income.

Farmland around the world is becoming increasingly degraded for a variety of reasons related to soil health. Unsustainable agricultural practices, often coupled with increased impacts of climate changes such as flooding, higher temperatures and drought, is seeing farmers experience more challenges, ranging from soil compaction to loss of soil structure, and from soil nutrient depletion to excess nutrient supply.