This World Soil Day (Dec. 5), as we celebrate the theme “Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage,” UF/IFAS researchers are launching an initiative to better understand soil health dynamics. A team of scientists, including Dr. Yang Lin, Dr. Sabine Grunwald, Dr. Nikolaos Tziolas, and Dr. Chang Zhao, are leading the effort. They will investigate how Florida’s soils have changed over the past decades under the pressures of climate change and land use. They also will conduct a new soil sampling campaign with sites overlapping with historical locations. It’s called Decadal Changes in Carbon and Dynamic Soil Properties in Florida. The $500,000 in funding comes from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Collaborative Soil Survey Research.
“Soil is the cornerstone of ecosystem resilience,” explained Dr. Yang Lin, assistant professor of soil health and biogeochemistry. “Healthy soils store more carbon than the atmosphere and terrestrial vegetation combined, making them a critical ally in mitigating climate change.”
However, Florida’s soils face unique challenges, from warming temperatures to sea-level rise. These have accelerated the need for robust soil monitoring and management practices.
The research team is working alongside soil scientists at the National Soil Survey Center and the Florida NRCS State Office. The goal is to create a decadal dataset of dynamic soil properties (DSPs) using soil survey data spanning from the 1960s to 2010s. Their efforts will quantify changes in carbon storage and soil health indicators.
“This should provide insights for sustainable land and water resource management,” Lin said.
Bringing Advanced Technologies to Soil Science
The project integrates historical soil survey data with new measurements using techniques like mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy and artificial intelligence (AI).
“By leveraging AI, we can analyze soil changes on unprecedented temporal and spatial scales,” noted Dr. Nikolaos Tziolas, assistant professor of soil science artificial intelligence.
The AI workflows will combine environmental data, such as climate patterns and land-use changes, to predict soil conditions under various future scenarios. This capability aligns perfectly with World Soil Day’s emphasis on monitoring and management. It demonstrates how technology can empower decision-making in soil conservation.
Florida: A Model System
Florida’s diverse landscapes provide an ideal testing ground for this research. “Our state has experienced multiple stressors—rising temperatures, hurricanes, and seawater intrusion,” said Dr. Sabine Grunwald, professor of pedometrics. These factors make Florida an exemplary model for studying the impacts of global change on soil health.
The researchers plan a systematic soil sampling campaign statewide, with 200 of those sites overlapping historical sampling areas. This approach allows the team to construct a comprehensive picture of how soils have evolved over time.
The research will support the development of next-generation soil monitoring systems. It will help shape soil management strategies in a changing climate as well.
“We’re not just studying soil; we’re building tools to manage soil ecosystem services for future generations,” said Dr. Chang Zhao, assistant professor specializing in GeoAI for ecosystem services.
The collaboration also includes training two Ph.D. students, equipping them with interdisciplinary skills in data science and soil health assessment.
Another broad impact is improved public policy. Assessing and predicting changes in soil DSPs across critical climate change and land use scenarios should better inform policymakers.
A Step Forward in Soil Stewardship
As the world recognizes the importance of soils, the UF/IFAS team’s efforts to measure, monitor, and manage Florida’s soils will provide a path to a more sustainable future. By combining state-of-the-art technology with long-term soil stewardship, the project underscores the critical role of healthy soils in combating climate change and ensuring environmental resilience.
Featured image by Cat Wofford, UF/IFAS Photography
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