Soil-sensing robots will be trialled in a £4m research project exploring new farmland management strategies to benefit “net zero” targets, biodiversity and agriculture.
Researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) have launched the three-year OpenLAND project, which will evaluate “climate-resilient interventions” for soil health and sustainable farming.
The work will be led by Prof Rachel Warren of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change at UEA, and Prof Brian Reid from the School of Environmental Sciences.
It aims to extend the capability of the “OpenCLIM” computer modelling framework, including “ground-truthing” soil health and carbon data by developing and trialling soil sensors mounted on autonomous robots, in partnership with the University of Plymouth.
Brian Reid, professor of soil science at the UEA, is working on the £4m OpenLAND project exploring land management strategies for net zero targets, biodiversity and agriculture (Image: UEA) Prof Reid said: “Using nature-based solutions to contribute to a net zero future has enormous potential. The funding will allow us to build a much better understanding of carbon storage, both above and below the ground, and to use eDNA approaches to link soil carbon properties to soil health.
“The project will trial sensor technologies, mounted on autonomous in-field robots, to streamline assessment of soil carbon stocks and soil health. We seek to evidence win-wins for climate change mitigation and a healthier more resilient environment.”
Prof Warren added: “OpenLAND will use computer models to look at how the way land is managed in the UK can contribute to net zero.
“It will map out plans for land use management that combine carbon storage, restoration of biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.
“We will use the computer models to quantify and map the relative merits and effectiveness of alternative land management plans with stakeholders to assist them with their decision making.
“A unique aspect of the project is that we will calibrate the computer models with measurements of carbon stored in the soil at a number of field sites in Norfolk and beyond.”
The UEA is one of five projects to share £14.5m in funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the government under the Transforming Land Use for Net Zero, Nature and People programme (LUNZ) – which supports research and innovation which unlocks solutions needed to achieve UK “net zero” targets by 2050.
Prof Gideon Henderson, chief scientific adviser at Defra, said: “Decarbonising agriculture and land use sectors is extremely challenging, and UK emissions have remained stubbornly high.
“These new projects will address important land types, from grassland to peatland, and provide exciting modelling to assess optimal routes towards net zero while still using our land to produce the food on which we all depend.”
