Combined Stationary and Drone-Mounted Gamma Ray Spectroscopy and Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensing for Soil Moisture and Soil Property Mapping in Coastal Desert Agricultural Soils of Lima, Peru

Soil health and moisture availability are essential for sustainable agricultural productivity, particularly in light of increasing climate variability and land degradation. This 36 month project will deploy and validate an integrated sensor framework for real time monitoring of soil moisture and secondary soil properties in irrigated agricultural soils of coastal Lima, Peru—a region defined by hyper arid desert climate (6–16 mm annual precipitation), persistent fog (garúa), and high humidity (~84 %). Stationary soil moisture instrumentation is already available: the Medusa gSMS 100 gamma soil moisture sensor and RDT Cosmic SMM cosmic ray neutron moisture monitor, complemented by a Davis Vantage Pro2 meteorological station. Pending funding, drone-mounted gamma mapping capabilities will be achieved through procurement of a Medusa Radiometrics MS 1000 spectrometer and a GEOX Robotic Air Systems (or suitable alternatives) UAV for high-resolution dynamic mapping. Field sites will include irrigated experimental plots at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina. Outputs will include validated estimation models (moisture and secondary properties), high-resolution soil maps, and decision-support tools for precision irrigation, nutrient management, and soil conservation adapted to desert coastal conditions.