Longnan Shi

Project Title: Predicting soil carbon sequestration potential of Irish soils

Overview: Based on two national scale soil spectral libraries (Irish Soil Information System and the Geological Survey of Ireland Terra Soil Project), Longnan’s PhD study is to develop chemometric models to predict soil organic carbon from spectral data to enable soil carbon saturation potential to be predicted and mapped for Irish soils. Supervised learning algorithms, such as Random Decision Forests, will be used to develop a global model (i.e. a model for the whole country) to predict soil organic carbon concentration based on the Irish SIS. Soil carbon saturation potential will be calculated from soil organic carbon, clay and silt. A spectrally derived method for soil carbon saturation potential will be developed and used to predict and map soil carbon saturation potential for the Terra Soil Project. The natural variability of Irish soils will be spectrally characterised and the extent to which soil factors such as soil texture, soil type, parent material, soil geochemistry and soil drainage class control current soil carbon will be assessed. The potential for soil carbon sequestration in Ireland will be determined, including the soils and locations of highest soil carbon sequestration potential and the most vulnerable soils for soil carbon loss

Programme Area: Environment, Soils and Land Use

Supervisors: Dr. Karen Daly and Dr. Sharon O'Rourke

Location: Johnstown Castle

Funding Source: Teagasc