Geological Survey Ireland and Teagasc are embarking on a €1m project to analyse soil properties on Irish farms, Minister of State for Natural Resources Seán Kyne announced this Wednesday.

Over five years, they will analyse 10,000 soil samples taken as part of Geological Survey Ireland's Tellus survey, which has been collecting aerial and physical data in recent years.

Full samples are available for the northern half of Ireland at this point.

Agricultural properties

Terra Soil will analyse upper soil (5cm to 30cm depth) and deeper soil (35cm to 50cm depth) samples for a range of agricultural properties relating to soil fertility, crop and animal health, land drainage, nutrient management and farm economics.

Our farming community will be better informed to make better decisions

Researchers will produce maps including a new database of phosphorus levels. This will add to information already extracted from the Tellus survey on soil metals, pH and organic matter.

"This new resource is exciting because of the extent and depth of analysis," said Teagasc's director of research Frank O'Mara.

Soil management

"We know that by analysing our soil, we can get meaningful data which will greatly benefit the farming community to help them manage soil as an important natural resource. Our farming community will be better informed to make better decisions, which will hopefully positively impact crop yield, land fertility, the environment and farming costs.”

Minister Kyne said the data would inform agricultural policy, such as the Food Wise 2025 strategy, and support agricultural advice at the local level.

Data from the Terra Soil project will be available free of charge.

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