Mobile Apps for Supporting Soil – and Soil Biodiversity – Management for Sustainability

Authors: Herrick, Jeffrey - Jeff; BEAUDETTE, D. - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA); MIZE, M. - University Of Colorado; O'GEEN, T. - University Of California, Davis; Salley, Shawn

Submitted to: Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/10/2019
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Anyone with a mobile phone can ask any question about soil, anywhere, and any time they have a data connection. Search engines will always provide an answer, but eliciting a relevant response is more challenging. Generating useful information for reliably informing land use and management of a particular area can seem impossible. Fortunately, there are now an increasing number of mobile apps available to guide non-soil scientists to the information they need and, in some cases, help them learn more about their soil through observation and measurement. We will briefly describe the features of several powerful mobile apps, including the Land-Potential Knowledge System (LandPKS) and SoilWeb that begin by helping users identify their soil. We will then provide examples of how these and other apps have already been applied to extension, K-12 education, on-farm and ranch research, and monitoring and evaluation. We will conclude with a discussion of how these apps can be used to help scientists, educators and the general public understand the value of soil biodiversity - and its importance for sustainable land management.