Application of Ground Penetrating Radar and Penetrometer for Assessing Compaction in Agricultural Soils
Project Leads
Les Lavkulich, UBC Professor Emeritus, Program Director Global Resource Systems, Faculty of Land and Food Systems (PI)
Lewis Fausak, UBC Laboratory Technician, Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Funding
Research Grant
About the Project
Soils that are continually tilled or plowed can create a compacted layer in the subsoil known as the hard- or plow pan which can prevent the movement of water, limit crop rooting depth, and can cause water ponding. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a technique that uses high-frequency electromagnetic (EM) pulses to image the soil subsurface. Researchers will evaluate GPRs effectiveness in assessing the spatial variability of soil compaction across different land uses and soil types. If successful, GPRs could be used to help farmers address issues with compaction at earlier stages and across differing landscapes. The specificity of the results will enable farmers to make more informed decisions on management techniques for alleviating soil compaction.
Research Questions:
- Can GPRs be used to effectively assess the spatial variability of soil compaction in agricultural soils across different land uses and soil types?
- Are GPRs a more effective method of assessing spatial variability of soil compaction than cone penetrometers?