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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #368447
Research Project: Science and Technologies for the Sustainable Management of Western Rangeland Systems

Location: Range Management Research

Title: Landpks: Mobile App for Participatory Soil Health Research, Innovation and Monitoring

Author
item Herrick, Jeffrey - Jeff
item AMEDE, TILAHUN - International Crops Research Institute For Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) - Nigeria
item Bestelmeyer, Brandon
item BUENEMANN, MICHAELA - New Mexico State University
item BUNI, ADANE - International Centre For Research In Agroforestry (ICRAF)
item DESTA, LULSEGED - International Center For Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
item ELLIS, CHAD - Noble Research Institute
item GLOVER, JEFF - Us Agency For International Development (USAID)
item GOODWIN, JEFF - Noble Research Institute
item HOOVER, DAVID - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)

Submitted to: Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2019
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Data-driven innovation for soil health requires soil-specific documentation of management systems and their impacts across a broad range of soil and climate conditions. The free (iPhone and Android) Land-Potential Knowledge System (LandPKS) now includes 4 modules that allows virtually anyone with a cell phone to easily and rapidly (a) contribute to global data- and knowledge-bases, and (b) use the same data to adapt their own management. Outputs from the LandInfo module include soil identification (from NRCS Soil Survey and global maps) and calculated plant available water holding capacity, infiltration capacity, and Land Capability Class (LCC). These outputs are based on user inputs for location, soil texture, color and slope. Use of the LandInfo module ensures that management responses can be interpreted relative to the land’s unique potential. The new LandManagement module is a calendar-based recordkeeping tool for rainfall, irrigation, fertilizer, weed and pest control, tillage and yields. The SoilHealth module currently includes simple, easily observable indicators. Fields for laboratory measurements are being added. Finally, the LandCover module can be used for pasture and rangeland vegetation monitoring, as well as crop residue, weed cover and seedling density. Together the four modules provide all of the types of non-economic data required to document and evaluate the impacts of management on soil health. This paper will briefly describe the four modules, and how they can be applied to support on-farm and on-ranch research from the rangelands of Colorado to small farms in Africa. We will conclude with an invitation to the audience to consider how LandPKS might be linked to or integrated with existing knowledge-sharing platforms and systems (from extension to Facebook) to accelerate knowledge sharing and innovation.