Title : ICT application for prediction of physical properties of soil for digitization
Abstract:
The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in modern agriculture has transformed farming on a different scale which has resulted in increased competence and reduced costs. It has also created decision making tools that increase agricultural productivity and manage natural resources. The natural resources of most countries are under threat, and many nations are gradually worried about attaining environmental sustainability through efficient use of land and water resources. To overcome these problems land and water resources must be studied thoroughly and their records must be maintained digitally. Health status of every field must be recorded in soil health card because maintenance of soil health has become a major threat due to declining nutrients response, decreasing Organic carbon, increasing bulk density due to high soil compaction, and reducing moisture retention capacity. Soil physical properties altered soil environment, which may greatly influence growth and production of crops. It is now well established that unless the soil physical, chemical, and biological environment is maintained at its optimum level, the genetic yield potential of a crop cannot be realized. Soil health includes study of soil chemical, biological and physical properties. Without studying physical properties, soil health card does not have any meaning. Among the physical properties estimation of bulk density is easy, requires fewer instruments and moreover has strong (positively or negatively) correlation with other physical properties. This relationship can be helpful to predict the other properties by developing an ICTs application, based on regression equation without applying extra cost and time. In this application bulk density, which is a crucial property influencing soils’ other properties has been used as an independent variable. The study indicates a strong negative correlation (r= -0.936 to - 0.999) between bulk density and different physical properties. Data shows that predicted value of different physical properties through regression equation developed in this study are close to observed values. Therefore , prediction of physical properties is reasonable also the estimation of physical properties is costly and time consuming. Measurement of soil properties continuously of each location throughout the sphere is difficult for digitization of global soil resources. Therefore, for digitalization of global soil resources, it is necessary to have a strong ICT base system that can predict soil properties of a given location easily and can be stored digitally. Under this study an application has been developed to predict infiltration rate, hydraulic conductivity, porosity, aggregate stability, and moisture limits with accurate and cost-effective manner from bulk density of soils. Prediction of properties through application is found easy and quick and will be useful because predicted values can be used to prepare the soil health card. To prepare soil health card all the properties including chemical, biological, and physical values must be shown in health card and rating of these properties in 100 scale parameters must be presented. The average of these rated values is reflected as health status of the soil.
