Proximal soil sensing technologies for soil fertility assessment – SOILdarity intensive training course

The second SOILdarity specialised training course is getting started!

The concept of proximal soil sensing was established in 2011 and involves the application of soil sensors directly on the field. These techniques involve different disciplines, whose integration has allowed successful sensor application for the spatial diagnosis of soil fertility attributes.

The aim of the SOILdarity course “Proximal soil sensing technologies for soil fertility assessment” is to enhance the capacities of the researchers in applying proximal sensing technologies to assess soil fertility and increase the efficiency and profitability of agricultural production, while reducing negative environmental impacts. Proximal sensing technologies can help us identify the exact quantification and application of fertilisers without compromising crop yields.


The course is totally free of charge but
places are limited, so hurry up! Registration is open until 6 May 2022, 23:59 (Portugal Time).


The Content of the Course

Two world leading institutions in precision agriculture, MIGAL (Israel) and Gent University (Belgium), will lead the theoretical and practical sessions of the course that will take place at Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (Lisbon) from 9 to 20th of May 2022. The course will be held in English over face-to-face modules including theoretical sessions, practical challenges, informal discussions, and field trips.

The objective

The objective of the course is to train primarily early stage researchers, MSc students and scientists of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon and then farmers and technicians engaged in precision agriculture and in its relationship with soil fertility. This aims at increasing the future adoption of precision agriculture by farmers and related actors.

When & Where

9-20 May 2022

Faculdade de Ciências- Universidade de Lisboa

How to participate

Would you like to participate or receive more information on the course?

Nothing more simple!

You can click here below

or copy and paste this https://forms.gle/iPx7138FHC1JJYCx9 into your web browser.

If you’d like to receive more information, you can email us at

amventura[at]fc.ul.pt | Ana Maria Ventura (FCUL)

or

ccruz[at]fc.ul.pt | Prof. Cristina Cruz (FCUL)

Here below you find a detailed programme schedule.


Programme | (GMT+1, Lisbon time)

9th May 2022 | (9:00 – 13:00, Lisbon Time)

Instructor: Prof. Iggy Litaor (MIGAL)

Theoretical lectures

  • Electrical conductivity of soils
  • Electromagnetic Induction techniques
  • EMI survey techniques
9th May 2022 | (14:00 – 18:00, Lisbon time)

Instructor: Prof. Iggy Litaor and Assaf Israeli (MIGAL)

Theoretical lectures

  • Case Studies
  • Data analysis
10th May 2022 | (9:00 – 20:00, Lisbon Time)

Instructor: Prof. Iggy Litaor and Assaf Israeli (MIGAL)

Practical Session

  • EM38 MK2 operation, calibration, and survey
  • Field trip and measurements
11th May 2022 | (9:00 – 13:00, Lisbon Time)

Instructor: Prof. Iggy Litaor and Assaf Israeli (MIGAL)

Practical Session

  • Demonstration of data analysis and mapping techniques
12th May 2022 | (9:00 – 18:00, Lisbon Time)

Instructor: Prof. Iggy Litaor (MIGAL)

Practical Assignments

  • Soil sample preparation
13th May 2022 | (9:00 – 13:00, Lisbon Time)

Instructor: Prof. Iggy Litaor (MIGAL)

Final classroom session

  • Summary, results discussion and concluding remarks
16th May 2022 | (9:00 – 13:00, Lisbon Time)

Instructor: Prof. Mouazen (UGENT)

Theoretical lectures

  • Optical techniques
  • Electrochemical technique
  • Gamma ray technique
16th May 2022 | (14:00 – 18:00, Lisbon Time)

Instructor: Prof. Mouazen and Dr. Munnaf (UGENT)

Practical session

  • Demo of UGENT laboratory spectroscopy methods
  • Demo on UGENT sensing platforms
17th May 2022 | (9:00 – 13:00, Lisbon Time)

Instructor: Prof. Mouazen (UGENT)

Theoretical lectures

  • Multi-sensor data-fusion
17th May 2022 | (14:00 – 18:00, Lisbon Time)

Instructor: Dr. Munnaf (UGENT)

Theoretical lectures

  • Data analysis techniques
  • Mapping techniques
18th May 2022 | (9:00 – 19:00, Lisbon Time)

Instructor: Dr. Munnaf (UGENT)

Practical assignments

  • Field trips & field measurement
  • Soil sample preparation
  • Spectra collection
19th May 2022 | (9:00 – 19:00, Lisbon Time)

Instructor: Dr. Munnaf (UGENT)

Practical assignments

  • Modelling of collected spectra
  • Mapping using Geostatistical software
20th May 2022 | (8:30 – 11:00, Lisbon Time)

Main Speaker: Prof. Mouazen (UGENT)

  • Discussion and conclusions

The implementation of the course contributes to fulfil the task 2.2 of the project SOILdarity “Specialized training module on the use of sensor-based technology, biofertilisers and precision agriculture techniques, specifically the module “Use of sensor-based technology to measure soil fertility parameters”.