IUSS Alert 197 (November 2021)

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IUSS News

Final Call for Abstracts for the World Congress of Soil Science 2022

IUSS kindly reminds you that submission of abstracts for the World Congress of Soil Science is still possible until Tuesday 30 November at 5:00pm GMT.

For further information on submitting an abstract to the World Congress of Soil Science, which will take place in Glasgow, UK from 31 July – 5 August 2022, please visit: https://22wcss.org/conference/abstracts/

Reminder – Call for contributions to IUSS Facebook page

The IUSS Secretariat (iuss@umweltbundesamt.at) kindly invites all IUSS members to submit contributions to the IUSS Facebook page with 14,000 followers. In particular, we are looking for very short announcements of soil events, new findings in soil science, articles about soil in newspapers and journals, astonishing photos about soil and anything else, which might interest the soil science community. Please make sure to provide a link and an image with copyright information.

IUSS Vice-Chairs Centennial selected

The executive board of the Italian Soil Science Society ISSS, who will be hosting the IUSS Centennial celebrations in 2024, selected four Italian soil scientists with proved scientific experience to cover the role of vice-chair IUSS Centennial:

Stefania Cocco (Division I)
Stefano Mocali (Division II)
Giuseppe Lo Papa (Division III)
Maria Costanza Calzolari (Division IV)

STOP SOIL DEGRADATION and the IUSS’s EDUCATIVE PROJECT TO ACHIEVE IT

Spanish Soil Science Society

On the occasion of the World Soil Day Celebration, the Soil Teaching and Citizen Awareness Section has organized the conference ‘Soils affected by salts and climate change’ which will be given by Jorge Batlle-Sales (president of the International Network of Soils Affected by Salinity (INSAS) on December 2 at 12:30 p.m.

Celebrating the WSD, the Soil Teaching and Citizen Awareness Section organizes a drawing contest “Soil and Food” for children and young people.

Mexican Soil Science Society

On October 6, 2021, the XV Virtual Symposium on educational innovations in the teaching of soil science was held virtually within the framework of the 45th Mexican Congress of Soil Science, with the participation of children and young people from Mexico, Spain and Italy. The presentations were divided into four categories, from preschool to high school.

Chilean Soil Science Society

During the WSD 2021 celebrations, the Chilean Soil Science Society will present to the Senate of the Republic the activities carried out by high school students within the framework of the educational project “The IUSS GOES TO THE SCHOOL”.

Mexican Soil Science Society

The “First Festival of Soils of the CDMX: Citizenship and Regeneration” will take place on Thursday 9, Friday 10 and Saturday 11, December 2021.

News from the Latin American Soil Science Society (SLCS)

Argentine Association of Soil Science

XI Congress on Land Use and Management, Bahía Blanca-Argentina December 1 to 3, 2021. https://ums2021.suelos.org.ar/

Spanish Soil Science Society

WSD celebration: “Soils affected by salts and climate change” Universidad de Valencia, España December 2, 2021, 12-30 hrs. For more information, please contact edafoeduca@upv.es.

Webinar: “Post-fire soil erosion risk mapping” organized by the CESAM of the Aveiro University of Portugal, celebrating the WSD.

Online conference “Soil Management Strategies in the Face of Climate Change” organized by the SECS Soil and Water Conservation Section for next December 10

Brazilian Soil Science Society

Brazilian program for soil analysis by spectroscopy: https://esalqgeocis.wixsite.com/geocis/equipe Higher School of Agriculture “Luiz de Queiroz” Universidade de Sāo Paulo October 13 to November 29, 2021.

II Pedometrics, November 24 to 27, 2021. https://pedometricsbrazil2021.ciente.live7pt/inicio/

Mexican Soil Science Society

Within the framework of the WSD-2021 Celebration the Geology Institute of the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the Youth Action Commission of the Mexican Soil Science Society, through the Suelox project organize:

a) 4th Mexican Soil Evaluation Contest. December 4, by registration at https://cutt.ly/oRooqrx

b) 2nd International Soil Evaluation Course. December 4, by registration at https://cutt.ly/oRooqrx or call: https://cutt.ly/XRoe9Ny

Paraguayan Soil Science Society

Within the framework of the World Soil Day celebrations, the Paraguayan Society of Soil Science organizes the III Soil Photographic Contest 2021. Reports at sopacisconcursos@gmail.com

Dominican Soil Science Society

The Dominican Society of Soil Sciences invites to the World Soil Day Celebration online on December 3, 2021, virtually, from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

News from national soil science societies

News from the British Society of Soil Science

Launch of First Science Note

The British Society of Soil Science (BSSS) recommends to governments that long-term financial incentives are introduced to encourage sustainable soil management practices, particularly in a bid to store soil carbon. BSSS are delighted to announce their first Science Note, on the topic of Soil Carbon. The comprehensive note sets out the academic research concerning soil carbon which is used to define clear recommendations to governments. The note, which explores the importance of carbon in soils, how it behaves, and how it might be increased to help address the climate crisis, is available as a technical, fully referenced version or a shorter version, aimed at lay people.

The full, technical Science Note: Soil Carbon can be accessed at: https://soils.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Long_BSSS_Science-Note_FOR-DIGITAL.pdf

Launch of the BSSS Blog

The BSSS Blog, a platform for our Corporate Members to publish high quality soil-related content that aims to educate, inspire and inform. The first blog, Sustainable futures over the next decade are rooted in soil science, written by Dr Dan Evans, discusses the major progress made in soil science over the past decade, particularly around five grand challenges: climate change, food security, water security, urban development, and ecosystem biodiversity.

World Congress of Soil Science 2022: Fringe Events

A number of organisations have expressed an interest in hosting a fringe event during WCSS22. The wide-reaching scope of the congress offers a unique opportunity for organisations and individuals to reach influencers and decision makers in the industry, cultivate opportunities, and promote public engagement. We are now accepting applications to host events, alongside our sponsorship opportunities, and please submit this by 31 January 2022 when all applications will be reviewed by our Working Group.

Submit application: https://22wcss.org/conference/fringe-events/

Recordings of BSSS Annual Conference 2021 – Soil Health: From Principles to Practice

The British Society of Soil Science’s Annual Conference 2021, sponsored by Arcadis, considered soil health from five different perspectives, providing insight into a prominent topic across professional and academic practice.

Catch up now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxqx1iLTv0I&list=PL1MnnrWVUv1n0hQKuT54_7PJZEZSwMyE1

[The four articles above are from the British Society of Soil Science Newsletter – Issue 3, Nov. 2021]

Tengiz Urushadze (1940 – 2021)

With great sadness we inform that Prof. Dr. Tengiz Urushadze, Director of the Michail Sabashvili Institute of Soil Science of the Agricultural University of Georgia, President of the Georgian Soil Science Society (GSSS), Editor in Chief of the Annals of Agrarian Science, Chairman of the Commission of Ecological Security of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, and Honorary Member of the IUSS, born 14th January 1940 in Tbilisi/Georgia, passed away on the 12th of November 2021 in Tbilisi, Georgia. The International Union of Soil Sciences will remember him as friend, colleague and outstanding scientist.

General News

The Call for abstracts to the EGU General Assembly 2022 is now open

Please, submit the results of your research in one of the sessions promoted by the Soil System Sciences (SSS) division.

Call for experts to join the EGU’s Biodiversity Task Force

In October 2021, Biodiversity was selected by the EGU Science for Policy Working Group and approved by the EGU Council as the 2022-2024 Policy Priority Area due to its relevance to many EGU divisions, current and future policy relevance, and the need for information and continued scientific support in the creation of new European legislation and establishment of new European and national initiatives. Now EGU is launching a call for experts to join the EGU’s Biodiversity Task Force that will support these activities and allow EGU to contribute to the EU’s upcoming biodiversity policies and activities.

For more info on how to submit your application, visit https://www.egu.eu/news/875/join-the-egus-new-biodiversity-task-force/

ISC position paper released: Science as a Global Public Good

The ISC is committed to a vision of science as a global public good. It is a vision with profound implications for the ways that science is conducted, how it is used and the roles that it plays in society. These implications, the ways they influence the responsibilities of scientists, both individually and collectively, and how they apply in the different settings in which science is practiced, are elaborated in this paper: https://council.science/current/news/science-as-a-global-public-good/

New ISC paper launched: Public perceptions and understandings of science

The International Science Council published an occasional paper in the frame of the ISC project on the Public Value of Science, outlining key ideas and recent trends emerging from studies of science communication, including the links between communication and public perceptions. The paper aims to stimulate discussion for science academies and unions by exploring the structure and characteristics of engagement with science in the global public sphere, with public perceptions as the unit of analysis.

World Soil Day Campaign – 5 December 2021 – “Halt soil salinization, boost soil productivity”

One of the key ingredients for a food secure future is a healthy soil beneath our feet. To ensure food security and improved nutrition, join the movement, halt soil salinization and boost soil productivity! Whether you’re a government, company, NGO, city, school, or an individual, FAO and the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) invite you to join and spread the call for action! Campaign materials are online to support your event/activity. Check out the page often as we will continue to produce material until December!

[From Global Soil Partnership Newsletter No. 33, November 2021]

Pin your event on the WSD map

Advertise your event on the World Soil Day 2021 Interactive Map of Events. Organizing a quiz? A workshop? A class? A podcast? Shooting a documentary? A Wiki ‘Edit-a-thon’ event? A theater performance or a TED Talk? A documentary film festival? A carbon-free initiative, a soil samples collection or a Soil Doctors training? Share your event on the WSD e-map!

Global Symposium on Salt-affected Soils, 20-22 October 2021

A digital success! With over 5 500 registered participants from more than 180 countries, the GSAS21 held on 20-22 October 2021 succeeded in catalyzing efforts to prevent, mitigate and adapt to soil salinization and sodification – a fast-growing threat to our planet’s soils. More than 100 major media outlets picked up the news. Discussions focused on how policy and scientific evidence can be translated into concrete actions to sustainably manage salt-affected soils (SAS) to nurture food security, ecosystems’ health and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Throughout 20 hours of interactive plenary and parallel sessions, a total of 70 presentations and 58 scientific posters illustrated the most recent studies and testimonies on SAS. A poster contest was a hit, gathering over 70,000 votes. Congratulations also to the winners of the photo contest on soil salinization. The GSAS21 Outcome document “Halt salinization, boost soil productivity” and the “Proceedings” will be published soon.

[From Global Soil Partnership Newsletter No. 33, November 2021]

Global map of Salt-affected soils (GSASmap) V1.0

On 20 October 2021 FAO’s GSP launched the Global Map of Salt-Affected Soils, a country-driven effort to map salinity and sodicity which is a key tool for halting salinization and boosting productivity. The map estimates that there are more than 833 million hectares of Salt-affected soils (SAS) around the globe (8.7% of the planet). Most of them can be found in naturally arid or semi-arid environments in Africa, Asia and Latin America. However, the map also shows that between 20 to 50 percent of irrigated soils in all continents are too salty, meaning over 1.5 billion people worldwide face significant challenges in growing food due to soil degradation.

Download the flyer: https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cb7247en

[From Global Soil Partnership Newsletter No. 33, November 2021]

Global Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Potential map

Country-driven map on SOC sequestration potential in agricultural soils released on 8 September 2021.

FAO has launched practical tools to encourage soil organic carbon sequestration. FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu says: “healthy soils are crucial for sustainable agri-food systems”. The Global Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Potential Map (GSOCseq) allows for the estimation of topsoil soil organic carbon sequestration potential in agricultural areas under four soil management scenarios: a business as usual and three sustainable soil management scenarios. GSOCseq is one of the most cost-effective nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, unlocking this potential relies on the establishment of strong mechanisms to monitor, report and verify (MRV) changes in SOC stocks.

[From Global Soil Partnership Newsletter No. 33, November 2021]

GSBI submits position paper to the Executive Secretary of the UN Convention of Biological Diversity on the need to protect soil biodiversity

The Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative Secretariat and Scientific Advisory Committee recently submitted a position paper to Executive Secretary of the UN Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD), Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, urging science policy officials at the UN CBD to protect, restore, and promote soil biodiversity.

[From GSBI Newsletter – Nov/Dec 2021]

Changes in the relative abundance of fungal functional groups and dominant taxa due to soil warming are associated with losses in total soil carbon

Global warming poses major challenges to the health and functioning of forests, with the direction and strength of such effects on forest ecosystem processes such as carbon cycling remaining uncertain. The authors built upon previous research in temperate deciduous forests and assessed changes in the diversity and composition of soil fungi following soil warming. Since fungal responses to warming have been previously shown to be associated with changes in soil chemistry, a secondary objective was to assess key soil chemical properties and examine any relationships between soil fungi and soil properties.

[From GSBI Newsletter – Nov/Dec 2021]

EU Mission: A Soil Deal for Europe

In September 2021, the EU published the EU Mission “Soil Deal for Europe.” The EU Missions are initiatives that promise concrete solutions to pressing environmental issues by 2030. Please see the following documents on the “Soil Deal for Europe.” Details on the communications from the Commission on European Missions and implementation strategies are available online.

[From GSBI Newsletter – Nov/Dec 2021]

Land degradation debt data

We provide data for global land degradation in a ‘debt’ based approach. Environmental Debt is the difference between the natural potential condition and the current condition. Naturally, there could be 4.6 Gha of tree cover but currently there are only 3.2 Gha (Global tree cover debt is 1.4 Gha). The natural rate of soil erosion would be 10 Gt per year, but currently, it is 36 Gt (debt is 26 Gt – rising). Above-ground biomass would be naturally 871 Gt C, but currently, it is only 601 Gt C (debt 270 Gt C). Below-ground carbon, naturally, there would be 899 Gt C, but currently, there are only 863 Gt C (Debt 36 Gt C). This study contributes to the developments towards an improvement of Land Degradation Methodologies.

[From ESDAC Newsletter No 136 (November 2021)]

EU Soil Strategy for 2030: reaping benefits of healthy soils for people, food, nature and climate

The new EU Soil Strategy sets out a framework and concrete measures for the protection, restoration and sustainable use of soils, in synergy with other European Green Deal policies. It also sets a vision and objectives to achieve healthy soils by 2050 and announces a new Soil Health Law by 2023. Key actions include: the promotion of Sustainable Soil Management, boosting the circular economy, restoration of degraded soils, prevent desertification, increase of research, the monitoring of soil and associated data collection, mitigation and adaption in relation to Climate change and the mobilisation of societal engagement and financial resources

[From ESDAC Newsletter No 136 (November 2021)]

Copper accumulation and export in European vineyard soils

Copper-based fungicides are used in European (EU) vineyards to prevent fungal diseases. Soil physicochemical properties locally govern the variation of the total copper content in vineyards. Using a machine learning model, a study found that the main variables to predict the Cu distribution in EU vineyards are precipitation, aridity and soil organic carbon. The estimated average net accumulation and net export of Cu in topsoil in European vineyards are respectively 24.8 and 0.29 kg Cu per ha.

Data: https://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu/content/copper-distribution-topsoils

[From ESDAC Newsletter No 136 (November 2021)]

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops

Due to the Corona pandemic and ensuing travel restrictions most of the events planned for 2020 had to be cancelled or postponed. This continued to some extent in 2021. For a current list of upcoming events, please consult the IUSS website: https://www.iuss.org/meetings-events/

2021

2nd International Soil Judging Workshop

November 29th – December 3rd, 2021, online, in Spanish

Programme: soil_judging_programme_english.jpg

The Underestimated Role of Soil Animal Diversity in Bioturbation

December 2, 2021, 8-9:30am MT, 4-5:30pm CET, 3-4:30pm UK, webinar

[From GSBI Newsletter – Nov/Dec 2021]

WSD 2021 Global Ceremony by FAO

3 December 2021, 12:30 – 13:30 CET, online

The WSD ceremony will be held virtually with the participation of Dr Qu Dongyu – FAO Director-General and thousands of soil enthusiasts. Artistic performances and keynotes will animate the ceremony. The winners of the Glinka World Soil Prize and King Bhumibol WSD award will also be announced. The winners of the Contest for Children on Soils will be announced by Laura Bertha Reyes Sánchez, President International Union of Soil Sciences. An interactive quiz will put your knowledge of salt-affected soils to the test.

[From Global Soil Partnership Special announcement No. 35, November 2021]

Launch of the International Network on Soil Biodiversity (NETSOB)

3 Dec. 2021, virtual event

FAO and its Global Soil Partnership are now committed to start with the implementation of the recommendations of the GSOBI21 Outcome Document, “Keep soil alive, protect soil biodiversity” and support the International Initiative for the Sustainable Use and Management of Soil Biodiversity. One of the key recommendations of the Outcome Document is the establishment of the International Network on Soil Biodiversity (NETSOB). The NETSOB aims to bring soil biodiversity experts and existing initiatives together to become the critical mass that contributes to the implementation of the Global Soil Biodiversity Observatory (GLOSOB). The NETSOB will be open to scientists, researchers, international organizations, institutions, decision makers, farmers, and any other relevant stakeholders with expertise in the assessment, mapping, monitoring and sustainable use of soil biodiversity.

Agenda: https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/GSP/NETSOB/NETSOB_agenda_2.pdf

Registration: https://fao.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0qduGuqD8qGNPABuIkyRiuN7vfckV0yrbg

Registration form for working groups: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7PPniiRSUt6KJ9dMN2R0M0G0YFH_VUi8vZp-kgML9jbC04g/viewform

Concept note: https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/GSP/NETSOB/NETSOB_Concept_note.pdf

4th Mexican Soil Judging Contest

December 4, 2021, online, in Spanish

Invitation: soil_judging_invitation_english.jpg

2022

Winter School

Sustainable land management and Earth Critical Zone (ECZ): a journey from ECZ characterization, modelling and Geospatial Decision Support Systems

14-18 February 2022, Portici Royal Palace (Portici, Napoli, Italy)

This winter school aims at developing basic knowledge about (i) understanding and processing ECZ data as acquired by field observation, lab analysis and remote sensing techniques. This includes raster, vector data and datacube technologies, (ii) ECZ modelling such as water flows and pollutants transport in the vadose zone-soil-plant-atmosphere system, crop growth, land take, etc., and (iii) developing WEBGIS or S-DSS applications by using data-modelling pipelines.

Website: www.landsupport.eu

Save our soils: Decision-supporting tools towards SDG’s policy implementation

27-28 April 2022, Portici Royal Palace (Portici, Napoli, Italy)

Aim: Recent progress in Geospatial modelling and Geospatial Decision Support Systems promises to deliver smart operational land planning and management tools for supporting land sustainability policies from small to large areas such as required by SDGs and New Green Deal.

This conference aims at bringing together current research on this topic. This may include the findings from the H2020 LANDSUPPORT project as well as other International, European and national projects (e.g. Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, LIFE+).

Additional information will be provided in due course.

Read more: www.landsupport.eu

International seminar Soil and water conservation under changing climate in Northern and high-altitude conditions

4-6 May 2022, Ås, Norway

The objective of the seminar is to bring new knowledge on soil and water conservation under changing climate in Northern or high- altitude conditions (cold climate). Climate change is expected to bring changes in precipitation, rainfall, frozen soils, snowmelt conditions, drought periods and extreme weather that will affect runoff and hydrological pathways in the agricultural landscape. Also, soil functions and soil health will face new challenges. These changes will influence losses of nutrients and erosion processes- and put pressures on the need of efficient measures. Best farming and management practices must be revised and developed to expected changes in climate. The seminar will also address monitoring, modelling and development of planning tools for analysing effects and planning for adaptation measures.

Topics:

Soil and water conservation challenges

Soil functions and soil health
Changes in hydrological pathways
Best farming and management practices
Monitoring, modelling and planning tools

The seminar is organised in cooperation with IUSS (International Union of Soil Science), the Norwegian Society of Soil Science (Norsk Jordforening), ESSC (European Society for Soil Conservation), NJF (Nordic Association for Agricultural Science), Norwegian extension Service (NLR), NIBIO and NMBU.

Deadline of abstract submission: 15 January 2022

InterPore2022

30 May 2022 to 2 June 2022

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and online

Deadline for submitting abstracts: 3 January 2022

Flyer: media/interpore2022_flyer.pdf

Conference website: https://events.interpore.org/event/40/

12th International Symposium on Earthworm Ecology

July 10-15, 2022, in Rennes, France

The symposium will include sessions on the following topics: earthworm evolution and biodiversity; earthworm eco-immunology, eco-physiology and stress response; earthworms and soil functioning; earthworms and sustainable agriculture; earthworm community ecology and ecological network; earthworm ecotoxicology.

Abstract submissions are open now through December 31, 2021.

Registration from 1 December 2021 to 30 June 2022

[From GSBI Newsletter – Nov/Dec 2021]

11th international conference of the IUSS Working Group on Soils of Urban, Industrial, Traffic, Mining and Military Areas (WG SUITMA)

‘Soils in the food-water-energy-nexus’

September 5 – 9, 2022, Berlin, Germany

The topic of SUITMA 11 is SUITMA – Soils and the food, water, energy nexus. In a world of ecologic, economic and social challenges soils and their management are part of both the major problems and the starting points for its solutions. Soils play a crucial role in the cycles of nutrients, water and energy – in all its forms and manifestations. They act as sources, sinks, habitats, storage, buffers and transformation systems. SUITMAs are influenced by anthropogenic activities which alters – enhances, decreases – their functionalities in these cycles. SUITMAs, different to more natural soils also offer the opportunity for optimizations – which opens the field for a discussion on aims and targets.

Call for sessions until Dec. 15, 2021 to suitma2022@gmail.com

SUITMA 11 website: https://suitma11.org/

Soil Classification and Education Conference

12-14 September 2022, Toruń, Poland

Globalization and global environmental issues, as well as unification of scientific research and teaching on the European Union and global levels require harmonization of technical languages, such as the terminology used in soil science. An important part of our technical language is soil description and classification. The long-term development of the unified system – World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB), is an important challenge for teaching of soil science related subjects in Europe and the World. National/local focus in soil sciences teaching still dominates which complicates exchange of information, students and professionals. The aim of this conference is to present solutions for international education in soil science, elaborated within the Erasmus+ SYStem project, to discuss the new attempts at soil description and classification and to share ideas on how to educate Youth and Adults for the benefit of society and environment. Another aim is to raise awareness of global pedosphere-related threats like soil depletion, erosion, salinization and desertification. Participants’ experiences and thoughts related to soil science teaching would be a frame for both indoor and outdoor discussions.

Conference website: https://sites.google.com/view/soil-classification/home

LuWQ2022 – 5th International Interdisciplinary Conference on LAND USE AND WATER QUALITY: Agriculture and the Environment

12-15 September 2022, Maastricht, The Netherlands

A conference on the cutting edge of science, management and policy to minimise effects of agriculture and land use changes on the quality of groundwater and surface waters. Target groups (professionals, fields of expertise, audience) are scientists, managers and policy makers involved in the policy cycle for water quality improvement.

The key strength of the conference is twofold. On the one side, Land Use and Water Quality conferences have a well-defined narrow focus on ‘agriculture and water quality’. On the other side, the conferences are broadly oriented with regard to the various professional disciplines related to the conference topics. It is just the diversity in professional background of participants which results in a multi-faceted conference programme.

Deadline of abstract submission: 7 February 2022

Download conference flyer: https://www.luwq2022.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/LuWQ2022_Flyer_A4page_4pages_17-05-2021.pdf

Conference website: https://www.luwq2022.nl/

For the complete list of upcoming events, please see the event calendar on the IUSS website: https://www.iuss.org/meetings-events/

New publications

Soil Science Americana – Chronicles and Progressions 1860-1960

By Alfred E. Hartemink. Dordrecht: Springer; 2021. 623 pages, ISBN 978-3-030-71134-4, price hardcover Euro 43.99.

This book narrates how the study of the soil became a science and institutionalized in the USA between 1860 and 1960. The story meanders through the activities, ideas, publications, and correspondence of people who influenced the progressions, that led to the budding and early blossoming of American and international soil science. Interwoven is a tale of two farm boys who grew up 900 km apart in the Midwest USA in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The book also details the founding of the International Society of Soil Science (ISSS) and the role of American soil science in the ISSS; progress of all world congresses in 1927, 1930, 1935, 1950, 1954, 1956 and 1960 are reviewed.

Understanding Soils in Urban Environments

By Pam Hazelton and Brian W Murphy. 2^nd edition published by CABI in November 2021, hardback, 192 pages, ISBN 9781789249934, price £85.00 | €100.00 | $120.00.

Understanding Soils in Urban Environments is a concise book explaining how urban soils develop, change and erode. Soils provide the foundation for buildings and infrastructure, and the medium for plant growth in fields, parks and gardens. They can act as a sink for waste, and can be contaminated in urban areas by heavy metals, organic chemicals and other contaminants. Soil properties such as water retention, salinity and acidity can cause environmental and structural problems for buildings and other engineering works. This text recognises and draws attention to the particular nature of soils in urban environments and discusses their distinctive management needs.

Since the first edition was published in 2011, it has been used across a wide range of disciplines, many of which require an understanding of urban soil and specific soil properties that cause environmental concern. Urban soils are now recognised as much more important now than they were ten years ago, when they were seen as a poor relation to agriculture. The need for better understanding of all aspects of this topic has become evident especially at conferences in the last 5 years in Australia and internationally, where urban soils are now included as specific sections, not just as subsets such as contamination.

Global Soil Laboratory Assessment 2020 – Laboratories’ capacities and needs.

By Benedetti, F., Caon, L., published by FAO in Rome in 2021. 38 pages.

The Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) has published two important reports on the capacities and needs of soil laboratories worldwide. The first report ‘global soil laboratory assessment’ is the result of a survey submitted by 241 laboratories operating in 142 countries. The second report ‘global soil spectroscopy assessment’ focuses on soil spectral data submitted by 97 laboratories from 56 countries. Both documents provide an overview of the state of laboratories worldwide and will be used to improve the GLOSOLAN work plan in terms of activity planning, budget allocation and country-specific policy support. They are essential for mobilising financial resources and better developing national and regional soil laboratory work plans.

[From Global Soil Partnership Newsletter No. 33, November 2021]

Global Soil Spectroscopy Assessment. Spectral soil data – Needs and capacities

By Benedetti, F., van Egmond, F., published by FAO in Rome in 2021, 42 pages, ISBN: 978-92-5-134830-7.

The publication reports the information collected in the survey on the capabilities and needs of soil laboratories for collecting and managing soil spectral data. The text provides an overview of the current expertise, capabilities, needs and priority areas for labs that want to start or improve their spectral measurements and modelling, both for MIR and VNIR regions.

[From Global Soil Partnership Newsletter No. 33, November 2021]

Recarbonizing global soils – A technical manual of recommended management practices

This technical manual is the first attempt to gather, in a standardized format, the existing data on the impacts of the main soil management practices on SOC content in a wide array of environments, including the advantages, drawbacks and constraints. This manual introduces different sustainable soil management practices in different contexts, supported by case studies that have been shown with quantitative data to have a positive effect on SOC stocks and successful experiences of SOC sequestration in practical field applications.

Volume 1: Introduction and methodology

Volume 2: Hot spots and bright spots of soil organic carbon

Volume 3: Cropland, Grassland, Integrated systems and farming approaches – Practices overview

Volume 4: Cropland, Grassland, Integrated systems and farming approaches – Case-studies

Volume 5: Forestry, Wetlands, Urban Soils – Practices overview

Volume 6: Forestry, Wetlands, Urban Soils – Case-studies

[From Global Soil Partnership Newsletter No. 33, November 2021]

Salty experiments with soil for children and guide for teachers

Published by FAO in Rome, Italy in 2021. 20 pages, download for free.

In the framework of the World Soil Day 2021 campaign “Halt soil salinization, boost soil productivity”, the booklet compiles a series of experiments and information for children on soil salinization.

[From Global Soil Partnership Special announcement No. 35, November 2021]

Job offers

If you are interested in working in soil sciences and related fields of expertise, please see current job offers at: https://www.iuss.org/jobs/