Final soil sample of 13-year project taken in West Cork
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Ireland has become one of the only countries in the world to complete detailed geochemical national soil sampling.
After 13 years, the Tellus programme is collecting its final sample.
Starting back in 2011 in the border region, the Tellus survey, which is managed by Geological Survey Ireland, has now collected its final sample in Co Cork.
Samples were completed for Northern Ireland in 2006 and now all-island sampling is complete.
Teams of samplers have covered thousands of hectares of land, travelling through fields, bogs, and mountains to reach all corners of the island in the pursuit of soil.
Samples were taken every 4km2 on a regular grid, ensuring all types of soil were collected as part of the national survey. Samples were also collected within urban locations every 500m2.
Once collected, the samples are sent to a laboratory where the chemistry of the soil is analysed.
This helps to provide information on the variability of soils in different regions.
The derived analytical data is being used by Geological Survey Ireland as well as others such as Teagasc, the Environmental Protection Agency and researchers to map soil for agricultural, environmental, health and geological benefits.
In total, over 42,000 samples from 20,660 different locations have been collected.
Secretary general of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Oonagh Buckley was on hand to help collect the final sample from Mizen Head, West Cork.
"This has been an immense effort over many years by my department, since the first samples were collected in Donegal," Ms Buckley said.
“This is a hugely significant moment for Ireland as we will have better scientific data to help make decisions on how we best manage our soils.
"We will be making this data freely available, and I look forward to seeing it support research in a variety of areas.”
Final geochemical data from the Tellus survey is currently available for over 50% of the country, with more data being released over the coming months and years.
Once all the data has been released, it will be used to "deliver positive economic, environmental, and agricultural benefits by helping to assist in understanding the local environment, soil management and natural resource potential", according to the department.
By better understanding Ireland's soils, "we can minimise or target areas requiring fertilisers and identify contaminated soils in our cities".
