ECO-SUELO: Evaluación y Mitigación de la Compactación del Suelo en Sistemas Agrícolas de Costa Rica mediante Tecnologías de Precisión Manejo Sostenible

Soil degradation has direct consequences on natural resources and poses a threat to food security. When the mechanical capacity of the soil is exceeded, water infiltration, fertility, structure, and water retention capacity are reduced, leading to increased production costs and decreased agricultural profitability. Although tillage has been associated with soil compaction and consequently, with the loss of soil structural stability, knowledge gaps remain regarding how to perform it properly without surpassing the resilience limits of Costa Rica’s agricultural soils.
This research aims to evaluate the dynamics of soil compaction induced by agricultural machinery in representative soils of Costa Rica, through the characterization of their physical, hydraulic, and mechanical properties. The study includes a comprehensive soil diagnosis, combining field and laboratory analyses with in-situ evaluations of machinery use. Additionally, predictive models based on machine learning will be incorporated to anticipate the impact of different machine-implement combinations under various edaphoclimatic conditions.
The main outcome will be the development of predictive models for soil structural stability, which will enable the establishment of sustainable tillage management systems based on technical criteria. These models will support decision-making to optimize soil management, preserve its edaphic functionality, and prevent the loss of agricultural productivity.

The international collaboration of this project is carried out in partnership with the Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel (Germany). The national collaboration is based on joint work with the Reventazón Watershed Management and Planning Commission (COMCURE) and the company Corporación de Desarrollo Agrícola del Monte S.A., who will be beneficiaries of the project's results. Likewise, the project will be registered in the Doctoral Program in Natural Sciences for Development (DOCINADE) to pursue a PhD degree. The results are expected to contribute to the design of more effective public policies regarding soil protection and environmental conservation.

Evaluar la dinámica de la compactación del suelo inducida por la maquinaria agrícola en suelos agrícolas representativos de Costa Rica, mediante la caracterización de sus propiedades físicas, hidráulicas y mecánicas, así como la validación de modelos predictivos basados en herramientas de machine learning, con el propósito de establecer criterios técnicos que optimicen el manejo del suelo y preserven su funcionalidad edáfica, evitando así la disminución de la productividad agrícola.

Suelo