SoilRob Information

SoilRob – Towards Healthy Soils with Autonomous Field Robots SoilRob is an interdisciplinary research group at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), dedicated to advancing soil health and sustainable agriculture by integrating autonomous field robots into diversified cropping systems. Our mission is to enhance soil health, increase yields, and improve the sustainability of agricultural landscapes by leveraging digital technologies and robotics. We investigate how autonomous field robots can reduce soil compaction, promote biodiversity, and increase resource efficiency—key factors for the future of farming. What we do: • Conduct field experiments across Germany, comparing conventional farming with robot-managed systems in diversified landscapes. • Analyze a comprehensive set of soil parameters, including nutrient cycling, carbon storage, water retention, and biodiversity. • Develop a digital twin of our landscape experiments, enabling simulation and prediction of soil changes under different management scenarios. • Generate practical recommendations for farmers, policymakers, and the agri-robotics industry. • Healthy soils are the foundation of resilient, productive, and climate-smart agriculture. By using autonomous robots, we aim to enable smaller, more diverse fields, reduce the environmental footprint of farming, and secure long-term food production. Who we are: SoilRob is led by Dr. Kathrin Grahmann and a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and technical experts, in collaboration with leading universities and research institutes across Germany. Key Partnerships: • Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) - Host Institution • Technical Universities of Berlin and Dresden • University of Göttingen Institute for Sugar Beet Research • Bavarian State Institute for Agriculture Contact: soilrob.official@gmail.com