Seismic Technology Improves Soil Health and Boosts Crop Yields

Published: 05 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Scientists have developed a groundbreaking technique using seismic waves to measure soil health, offering farmers a powerful new tool to improve crop yields and prevent famine. Traditional soil analysis involves digging numerous holes, which is time-consuming and can damage soil structure, reducing accuracy.

The Earth Rover programme, led by geophysicists and soil experts, applies seismology—a method typically used to study earthquakes and hydrocarbons—to understand soil conditions. This innovative approach, dubbed “soilsmology,” allows researchers to map living soils with remarkable precision. By striking a metal plate on the ground and measuring the resulting seismic waves, experts can detect underground structures, soil dryness, and microbial activity.

These waves reflect off compacted soil and rocks and pass through the tiny channels created by earthworms and microorganisms. The data helps farmers know when to irrigate and how to enhance soil fertility using organic matter. George Monbiot, co-founder of the non-profit initiative, believes this technique could revolutionize agriculture. The organisation plans to launch a free app, enabling farmers to monitor soil health and receive tailored advice.

Prof Simon Jeffery, a soil ecologist and co-founder, highlighted the importance of soil. “Nearly all the calories we consume come from soil,” he said. “It is a precious resource that is often overlooked. Without healthy soil, we cannot sustain life.” Poor agricultural practices, erosion, and climate-related extreme weather have degraded soils globally, potentially reducing crop yields by up to 50% in some regions.

Currently, farmers often rely on broad measures like fertilizing or tilling entire fields due to a lack of fine-scale soil mapping. These approaches can harm biodiversity, pollute waterways, and incur high costs. In contrast, soilsmology allows for targeted interventions, reducing environmental damage while improving productivity.

Peter Mosongo, a Kenyan soil scientist, emphasised the method’s potential impact in Africa. Many farmers lack access to laboratory testing due to distance and cost. “Our technology can detect subsoil compaction, reduce flood risks, and increase yields,” he explained. By identifying precise problem areas, farmers can take corrective action, such as adding organic matter, to significantly improve output.

The technique also minimizes the need for destructive sampling. “We have dug far too many holes over the years,” said Jeffery. Even the UK, with one of the world’s most detailed soil maps, lacks fine-scale data. At Harper Adams University, Jeffery found 18 soil types in a region previously recorded as only three, including significant peat deposits.

Mosongo added that soil mapping in Africa is even less accurate, relying on sparse samples. This inadequacy makes managing soil fertility and mitigating flooding during rainy seasons challenging. Protecting soil is crucial, as it can take centuries for 1cm of soil to form, which can be lost in a single rainstorm, ending up in rivers and oceans.

The technology can also improve carbon measurement in soils, reducing reliance on estimates. With a growing global population and declining agricultural productivity, the team believes soilsmology could be essential in preventing widespread hunger. “If we do not act, we are looking at starvation,” Mosongo warned.

Aidan Keith, a soil ecologist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, praised the method’s potential. He highlighted that affordable seismic sensors and robust data analysis could transform soil assessment with minimal disruption. He also stressed the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to interpret complex soil data effectively.

Soilsmology represents a promising advance in sustainable agriculture, providing actionable insights for farmers worldwide. By combining geophysics and soil science, the technique may help secure food supplies, combat soil degradation, and support ecosystems for generations to come.