Project highlight: Urban soil quality measurement

Our Ready-To-Go lysimeters in urban use. Read more about research into sustainable urban planning.

Our CEO Sascha Reth visited the project group around Margaux Clesse of the Laboratoire Sols et Environnement of the Université de Lorraine. They had a look at the four installed RTG Lysimeters and talked a lot about the possibilities of soil science. Read an excerpt from the project report by Margaux Clesse.

Project goal

"[...] Soil is a key issue in urban areas and is subject to very rapid landuse changes (e.g. urban and industrial activities, green spaces, horticulture, market gardening or peri-urban agriculture). Therefore, one of the main scientific objectives is to improve the knowledge of urban soils for the sustainable development of cities through the implementation and extension of an urban soil quality measurement network."

Lysimeter research

"The main objectives of the project are:

• To study the dynamics of water in soils by carrying out water flux budgets from the atmosphere to the depth of the profile.
• To understand the availability of water to organisms within the profile
• To understand the quality of rainwater, soil solution and leachate (contaminant fluxes, nutrient fluxes). 
• To monitor changes over time in the storage of elements in the soil profile
• To compare 4 urban soil profiles in contrasting use situations, representative of urban vegetation.
• To observe in situ, continuously and over time, the functioning of soils and the dynamics of water and elements.

Weather data and lysimeter specific data (e.g. soil moisture, weight of the lysimeter) are collected every 15 minutes. Soil solutions and rainwater are also sampled for analysis (major and minor elements). These systems aim to study the dynamics of water in the soil carrying out water and nutrient budgets.

Lysimeters are also communication tools and media for raising awareness and informing stakeholders. They are also a support system for training students and urban nature operators."

Project outlook

"Ultimately, the results obtained from the lysimeters will provide a better understanding of urban soil’s functioning and how they change over time, so that soil resources can be better taken into account in planning strategies to achieve cities with a high level of ecosystem services."

Thanks for the warm welcome, the interesting talks and generally for being part of this fascinating and important project. We wish you much success!