Soil Quality Assessment Research Project (SQUARE)
Soil is a vital non-renewable resource delivering multiple functions simultaneously. These multiple functions include food and fibre production, nutrient retention and cycling, carbon storage, filtration of water and a habitat for soil biodiversity. The ability of the soil to deliver multiple functions simultaneously is called functional soil capacity.
In Ireland the objectives of Food Harvest 2020 placed a demand on soil to support the intensification of agriculture to meet global food security objectives. Simultaneously, greening objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy insisted that increases in production must be achieved in a sustainable manner. In Europe, compaction has been highlighted (Creamer et al., 2010) as a major threat to soil quality, yet there is limited information available on compaction in Ireland.
This knowledge gap underpins the focus of the SQUARE project which seeks to:
- Develop a toolbox for farmers to assess soil structural quality
- Further develop understanding of the soil functional capacity and quality concept
- Evaluate the status of soil structural quality in grassland and tillage soils across Ireland
- Assess the impact of soil structural degradation on the functional capacity of the soil
Why?
In Ireland, to meet both our productivity and environmental targets it was necessary to understand the key issues impeding production as well as issues that affect soil quality. Any reduction in soil quality would impact the delivery of productivity and environmental soil functions. The demands on the soil resource in relation to functional capacity became greater. The SQUARE project sought to enhance the functional capacity of soil to support the co-existence of environmental sustainability with increased food outputs.
The Irish Soil Information System has, for the first time mapped the soils of Ireland at a scale of 1:250,000. Challenges to sustainability and production vary spatially based on location. This map therefore, provides an important platform for soils research in Ireland.
SQUARE and Farmers
Working with farmers for effective research towards sustainable soil management
The SQUARE project concerned itself with understanding threats to soil structure, such as compaction. It was also driven by an even greater focus on the positive benefits and opportunities for sustainable soil management. Together, with farmers, it aimed to develop field level tools to support sustainable soil management.
Getting involved
The SQUARE project worked with farmers to develop baselines in relation to management practices at a field level. Knowledge sharing between farmers and researchers underpinned the project. Understanding management practices and the drivers for farmer decision making assisted in supporting change. The participation of farmers/land users in the SQUARE campaign was welcomed.
The Team
Dr. Rachel Creamer – Soil Quality and Classification Research Officer
Dr. Giulia Bondi – Postdoctoral Researcher SQUARE project
Dr. Owen Fenton – Research Officer
Dr. David Wall – Research Officer Bio-geochemist
Dr. Karen Daly – Research Officer Soil and Catchment Science
Mr. Dermot Forristal – Principal Research Officer
Mr Pat Murphy – Programme Manager Knowledge Transfer
Prof. Nicholas Holden – UCD School of Biosystems Engineering
Dr. Olaf Schmidt – UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science
Dr. Achim Schmalenberger – University of Limerick, Lecturer above the Bar
Cait Coyle – IT Sligo Assistant Lecture in Earth Science
Contact us
For more information on the SQUARE project, please contact Dr. Giulia Bondi on Phone: +353 (0)53 9175050 or by email at Giulia.Bondi@teagasc.ie
This project has been funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007 -2013