When geophysics meets agriculture to uncover hidden soil and water dynamics for climate resilient cropping systems
What happens beneath a crop field when it rains? Where does the water go? How long does it remain in the root zone? How does it move through the soil profile, and when does it become water that is no longer available to the crop?
- agricultural research
- Climate Resilience
- Climate-Smart Agriculture
- Multifunctional Landscapes
When geophysics meets agriculture to uncover hidden soil and water dynamics for climate resilient cropping systems
What happens beneath a crop field when it rains? Where does the water go? How long does it remain in the root zone? How does it move through the soil profile, and when does it become water that is no longer available to the crop?
These are fundamental questions in agricultural research, but they are also difficult to see. We can observe the crop above ground, measure rainfall at a weather station, measure soil moisture at selected points and assess crop yield at harvest. Yet between these measurements lies a dynamic underground system in which soil structure, pores, water, roots and groundwater interact continuously across space and time.
This hidden system matters greatly for farmers. As rainfall becomes increasingly variable and dry periods occur within growing seasons, the ability of a soil to capture, store and supply water to crop roots can influence whether a crop continues to grow or experiences water stress. Practices such as retaining crop residues and maintaining soil cover are widely promoted as climate-smart approaches because they can protect the soil surface, improve soil condition and reduce water losses. However, important questions remain about how these practices actually change water movement and storage beneath the field.