The EU project "DeepHorizon" will change our understanding, assessment and utilisation of soils in Europe. "DeepHorizon" focuses on the entire soil profile - including and especially the subsoil from 30 cm to 2 metres deep. This mostly overlooked and underestimated area below the topsoil contains a great deal of potential for tackling the major and pressing problems of climate change and sustainability in agriculture. Specifically, these problems range from soil degradation and nutrient leaching to water scarcity and loss of biodiversity.
For this project, 200 undisturbed soil cores up to 2 metres long will be taken from 40 sites (arable land, grassland, forest and organic soils) across Europe. These cores will then be analysed using modern analytical methods and the soil functions and ecosystem services of these sites will be assessed using geophysical models. From these findings, tools and methods are then developed to determine the potential of a soil in Europe and to develop a sustainable, site-adapted land utilisation. Together with land users, the utilisation recommendations are evaluated with regard to their practicability and communicated via various channels (e.g. app for the sustainable use of subsoils, board game).
The project's target groups are agricultural and forestry businesses, advisors, people and institutions involved in spatial planning, political decision-makers and the general public. FiBL is involved with several experts from the Department of Soil Science, who are in charge of several of the 40 reference sites and are responsible for characterising the spatial heterogeneity of all soil cores.
Project partner
