SKSIS-3: Synergies and Sustainability for the Saskatchewan Soil Information System
Term: 4 years ending March 2024
Status: Complete
Researcher(s): Angela Bedard-Haughn, U of S
SaskCanola Investment: $42,768
Total Project Cost: $399,814
Funding Partners: ADF, WGRF, SWDC
Grower Benefits
• A web platform for detailed soil mapping called SKSIS Mapper (mapper.sksis.ca) has been launched by the Saskatchewan Soil Information System Working Group.
• This platform allows users to generate detailed predicted soil maps and recommended soil sampling designs for their fields based on data collected from those fields.
• Detailed soil maps help agronomists and producers understand how the soil varies across a field, which can help decision making for precision agricultural management.
• The sampling designs can be used to support predictive mapping or standard agronomic soil testing.
• The SKSIS Offline application has been launched as a beta version (available at sksis.ca). This app allows you to download the soil survey information that is featured on sksis.ca so that you can access it in the field in areas of the province without network connectivity.
Project Summary
This project set out a few objectives, all of which were met. The first objective was to build on the previous SKSIS predictive soil mapping (PSM) efforts by operationalizing PSM for user-partners. Researchers also wanted to explore data-sharing models with data partners that leveraged the power of information for PSM and soil resource management. The third objective was to develop a business plan to provide self-generating base operating funds for maintenance and updates of SKSIS and PSM modules. The last objective was to develop a standalone SKSIS feature for efficient remote use in internet-deficient areas of Saskatchewan.
A fully featured web platform to provide predictive soil mapping and soil sampling design generation has been successfully developed and launched. This platform makes these technologies accessible to Saskatchewan agronomists and producers and with it they can achieve another level of understanding of the soils they manage. This enables effective and more informed decision making for precision agricultural management. The recommended sampling designs support predictive soil mapping but can also be used for standard agronomic soil testing. Feedback received through various avenues has indicated that Saskatchewan agronomists and producers who utilize GIS technologies are keen to incorporate the services SKSIS Mapper offers into their operations.
The platform helps support the Saskatchewan Soil Information System (SKSIS) by creating a means to collect soil and environmental data that would not otherwise be accessible and by providing a means for generating self-sustaining funds to keep the project operational. Through focus group interactions with agronomists and producers, we learned that they were willing to share their soil and environmental data with the SKSIS Working Group so long as that data was not made publicly available, and the purpose of that data collection was made clear. In working with the University of
Saskatchewan Legal Counsel, we defined a Terms of Service agreement that reflects those requirements.
A business plan was developed for SKSIS Mapper that was informed by market research, our survey of Saskatchewan agronomists, focus groups with agronomists and producers, and our goals for the platform. A paid subscription model was determined to be the most appropriate for the platform because it could accommodate management of user data storage and technical support requirements and could be more easily supported by an invoice payment system that works within the university’s structure. The price of $0.10 per acre was determined to be reasonable as it could enable agronomy firms to offer predictive soil mapping through use of SKSIS Mapper, while keeping their fees affordable.
The SKSIS Offline desktop application further enhances the usefulness of SKSIS for informing field work in Saskatchewan. It does so by allowing users to download the soil survey information for a specified region so that it can be accessed and utilized in the field even when they are in regions of the province without network access.
A walkthrough of the platform can be found in the final report, linked below.
Final Report PDF: SKSIS-3: Synergies and Sustainability for the Saskatchewan Soil Information System