Digital Soil Mapping: A Tool for Sustainable Soil Management

The research purpose is to document and synthesize the advancements in Digital Soil Mapping (DSM), emphasizing its potential to improve soil property predictions and support global soil monitoring efforts. The advanced methodologies and applications of DSM in modern soil science have been discussed. DSM integrates numerical models, field and laboratory observations, and environmental data to produce detailed and accurate soil maps. These maps are crucial for addressing soil security, food security, land degradation, ecosystem health, and climate change impacts. Traditional soil mapping methods are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and often lack the spatial resolution required for precise applications. DSM leverages advancements in geo-information technology, satellite imagery, GIS, and remote sensing to overcome these limitations. The chapter outlines the framework of DSM, detailing the integration of legacy soil data, soil sampling, and environmental covariates. Various DSM techniques are explored, including expert knowledge-based methods, statistical and geostatistical approaches, hybrid techniques, machine learning algorithms, three-dimensional digital soil mapping, hyperspectral remote sensing, and pedotransfer functions. It also highlights the mapping of soil properties through digital approaches, focusing on soil organic carbon, bulk density, and soil texture. The importance of accuracy and uncertainty estimation in DSM is underscored, alongside the potential of DSM in global soil monitoring efforts. A case study on the digital mapping of soil texture using the Random Forest approach illustrates the practical application of these techniques. The chapter concludes by addressing the challenges inherent in DSM, such as data availability, methodological limitations, and the need for continuous technological advancements. The insights provided in this chapter underscore the critical role of DSM in enhancing soil management practices, contributing to food security, and mitigating the impacts of climate change. This comprehensive review highlights DSM’s pivotal role in advancing soil science and fostering sustainable land use.