Several years ago, a group of USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists saw great potential for apps in agriculture. Their foresight led them to develop “LandPKS,” an app that allows users anywhere in the world to access, collect, store, interpret and, if they wish, share soil, vegetation cover, and management data via a smart phone or tablet. The goal of LandPKS is to provide global access to knowledge for sustainable land management.
Short for Land-Potential Knowledge System, LandPKS has four input modules that can be used individually or together to customize the app to the user's needs:
LandInfo
LandManagement
LandCover
SoilHealth
Using GPS for pinpoint location, LandPKS allows access to vast amounts of existing, open-source data on soil, ecology, climate, and more. Much of the U.S. data is from ARS and USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and each time users input data on their own soils, the app's soil identification accuracy improves. Herrick pointed out that users have the option to keep their information private if desired. So, what can it do?
help users discover the value and potential of their land based on its characteristics
allow access to soil information from anywhere
accurately identify soil type
help users track planting and harvest dates and management efforts
Researchers evaluate the LandPKS mobile app for vegetation monitoring at the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range. (Shawn Salley, D4424-1)LandPKS is not just for farmers and ranchers; anyone can use it. It's a handy tool for gardeners, who can use it to help determine the soil type of their garden. Teachers are also using a curriculum unit based on the app that aligns with Next Generation Science Standards used by many states by promoting an understanding of how soils and topography determine the land's potential to support crop production.
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