Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, NARO

New display function and database added to the Digital Soil Map available on the web

The "Digital Soil Map" available on the web has been renewed with an added data display function. and published after its renewal. The amount of standard fertilizer corresponding to the soil type published by Hokkaido, Akita and Ibaraki Prefectures can be referred from the soil map according to the soil at each spot. In addition, a characteristic value map showing water permeability and water retention of agricultural soil nationwide was also incorporated in this version. With these new functions and data, it is expected that it can be used as an efficient tool in agriculture particularly in fertilizer application and water management.


Overview

   The Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, NARO (NIAES) has developed a "Digital Soil Map" which shows the type and distribution of soils throughout Japan. It was released online via the Japanese Soil Inventory since April 2017. This soil map has been accessed more than 80,000 times so far, and has been widely used in the field such as farm guidance. In order to make it more convenient, the data display function was strengthened, a new database has been added, and the new version is now made available on the web.

   In the new version of the digital map, data such as the standard amount of fertilizer according to the type of soil in Hokkaido, Akita Prefecture and Ibaraki Prefecture released by the prefectural governments, were added to the Japanese Soil Inventory. Therefore, it is possible to refer to the standard fertilizer amount corresponding to the soil at each point from "Digital Soil Map".

   In order to be able to coordinate with other web map services, the display function of the Japanese Soil Inventory was enhanced to facilitate 2 displays. Also, a memo creation function that can show photos etc. on the soil map has been added in the e-SoilMap II. Furthermore, characteristic value map showing permeability and water retention of agricultural soil was also added in this version.


For Inquiries

Contact: http://www.naro.go.jp/english/inquiry/index.html


Reference Information




Soil moisture map corresponding to saturated hydraulic conductivity map, maximum water capacity (pF0.0), a field water capacity (pF1.5), initial wilting point (pF 2.7), permanent wilting point (pF 4.2) respectively and available water capacity map will be released as a characteristic value map showing soil's water permeability and water retentivity. pF is a value indicating how much force (capillary force) the water in the soil is retained. Higher value indicates the dryness. Normally, the available water capacity is low in sandy or clay-like soil, and high in the loamy soil.

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