A drone-borne GRS system assesses soil properties in an agricultural field. (Photo: M. Casling/IAEA)
The International Atomic Energy Agency has initiated a coordinated research project that will combine an “innovative, non-invasive, and scalable nuclear technique”—gamma-ray spectrometry (GRS)—with drones and satellite imagery to gather and analyze data that can reveal the quality of soil on agricultural lands around the world.
Agriculture uses 70 percent of the world’s fresh water with less than 50 percent efficiency, according to the IAEA, and more than 75 billion metric tons of topsoil are lost to erosion each year. Healthy soil is important for crop productivity and climate resilience, and effective land and water management requires a robust understanding of soil conditions.
The project: The IAEA wants to standardize and scale the use of GRS to measure the gamma radiation emitted by radionuclides naturally present in soil, such as potassium, uranium, and thorium. The technology, aided by digital and remote sensing tools, could provide high-resolution assessments of soil properties to monitor soil texture, total carbon, total nitrogen, and moisture.
Through field-based research and collaboration with member states, the IAEA wants to develop and validate standardized methodologies using GRS deployed on stationary, mobile, or drone platforms to assess agricultural fields without disturbing the land. When GRS data is combined with satellite imagery, the project will yield high-resolution soil maps to guide sustainable land and water management practices and improve agricultural planning and productivity.
“Informed soil management starts with accurate data. This coordinated research project will provide practical protocols and tools to generate actionable soil information from nuclear-based assessments, enabling farmers and policymakers to make informed decisions,” said Gerd Dercon, head of the IAEA Soil & Water Management & Crop Nutrition Laboratory.
Open to proposals: Research institutions can apply by email to join the CRP no later than August 3. More information is available by contacting the project officer through the CRP page.
