A groundbreaking technique using seismic waves to measure soil health could help avert famine and drought, scientists have said. The method, dubbed 'soilsmology', employs seismology—traditionally used to study earthquakes and detect hydrocarbons—to assess soil for the first time.
The Earth Rover programme, co-founded by Guardian columnist George Monbiot and soil ecologist Professor Simon Jeffery, aims to create a free app for farmers. By placing a metal plate on the soil and striking it with a hammer, the waves bounce back from hard surfaces and travel through earthworm holes, providing a detailed map of underground conditions. The waves also detect soil dryness and microbial activity, enabling targeted interventions.
Professor Jeffery highlighted the importance of soil: '99% of the calories we consume come from the soil... without soil we would not be here.' Poor agricultural practices, erosion, and climate change have damaged soils globally, with crop yields forecast to drop by 50% in some regions. Current soil maps are too coarse, with the UK's best map accurate only to a 5km grid, missing variations within fields.
Peter Mosongo, a soil scientist in Kenya, said the technology could be life-changing for African farmers who lack access to soil testing labs. 'We can tell farmers the problems with their soil and then they can increase their yield by taking interventions like adding more organic matter,' he said. The technique can identify subsoil compaction, reducing flood risk and improving crop resilience.
Monbiot described the innovation as 'the holy grail of agriculture,' noting it was conceived over a pint in Oxford. The non-profit aims to finely map the world's living soils, helping farmers avoid broad, harmful interventions like blanket fertilising and tilling.
