Mitsubishi Electric Technology Estimates Organic Carbon in Farmland Using Optical Measurements and Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics Models

Accurate, labor-saving solution for improved productivity and reduced greenhouse gas emissions

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that it has developed a technology to accurately estimate the amount of soil organic carbon (SOC) in agricultural land by combining optical measurements with two SOC dynamic models: a root biomass model¹ and a microbially mediated organic matter decomposition model.² The new technology will enable the efficient, low-cost, large-scale monitoring of SOC by eliminating the need for soil sampling and laboratory chemical analyses. By supporting the evaluation of agriculture‑derived carbon reductions within the GX‑ETS,³ which will be fully operational by the fiscal year ending March 2027, the technology will improve agricultural productivity and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

With the acceleration of Green Transformation (GX) policies and corporate and municipal emission‑reduction plans along with the Japanese government’s efforts to achieve its 2050 carbon‑neutral goal, agricultural soil is increasingly recognized as a promising way to store carbon. Benefits include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved soil-water retention and increased soil fertility for improved crop production. However, SOC is strongly influenced by biological and chemical processes, specifically microbial decomposition and root growth, and since these processes are difficult to observe directly, extensive soil sampling and laboratory analysis have traditionally been required.

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