A national baseline database of soil geochemistry has been established in Ireland for the first time and will help scientists understand the impact of global warming.
It includes maps of well-known elements like potassium, phosphorous and magnesium, as well as less-known elements like gallium, tungsten and vanadium.
The database project was conducted by Johnstown Castle in association with NUI Galway and Sligo IT, and part-funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to develop a national baseline database for soils geochemistry in Ireland.
The study also looked at the microbial population of soils and could be used as a database on which future studies on the effects of global warming can be measured.The study also developed a national soil archive, comprising soil samples and a nucleic acids archive, valuable resources for soil research in Ireland.
Dr Deirdre Fay of Teagasc Johnstown Castle Environment Research Centre, who led the team which carried out this work, said 1,310 soil samples were collected and subjected to chemical and microbiological analyses.
"We have generated a national baseline database of soil geochemistry, as well as a nucleic acids archive. The data were evaluated and interpreted with respect to geology, glacial history and soil types of Ireland," she said.
"The National Soil Database will provide a starting point of reference in underpinning Ireland's response to European directives. While the implementation of agricultural and environmental legislation is critical in achieving the sustainable management of soil, the benefits of disseminating the findings cannot be over emphasised," she added.