IUSS Alert 231 (January 2025)

IUSS News

IUSS Centennial Conference Proceedings

Dear colleagues,
We’d like to remind you to submit your short paper or extended abstract for the proceedings of the Centennial. This is a historic occasion not to be missed. Few other scientific societies can boast of having published the proceedings of both their founding conference and their centennial conference! The Royal Society of London and a few others in America have done so, but their founding proceedings were always just a few pages. In our case, we will have the opportunity to compare hundreds of contributions on the same soil subjects! It is still possible to submit your extended abstract for the proceedings of the IUSS Centennial Congress. This is the last call, the deadline for submission is January 31, 2025, after this date it will not be possible anymore to submit your paper.
Send it to: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it
Attached is the template for the extended abstract/short paper.

Genealogy book announcement-Last call

Dear Presidents of the IUSS National Soil Sciences Societies!
In preparation of the 2nd.edition of the “IUSS Genealogy” book, we invite you to submit the documentation of your national soil science society. This document should not only describe the foundation of the national societies, but possibly also document outstanding members, who contributed to the development of the former International Soil Science Society (ISSS) and the transition to the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS).
We hope that the idea to prepare and to publish the 2nd. Volume of the IUSS genealogy documentation finds not only your agreement, but also your active support.
We would be very happy, if you can prepare a 4 – 8 pages documentation of your society:
1. year of foundation, development of membership until today;
2. members of the Executive Committee and time period;
3. outstanding activities of your members, e.g. in specific research areas, awards for excellency etc.;
4. perhaps short interviews in written form with some members about their opinion regarding ISSS or IUSS, and further suggestions for future generations;
5. further topics.
Dear colleagues, we hope, that you are willing to contribute to this document, and that we can count on your report on the history of your national society.
We will finally publish this document as an open access IUSS contribution.
Moreover, it would be very supportive, if you could also contribute a few photos which underline the direct link of your society to ISSS or IUSS as an additional document.
We hope to receive the final text by the end of January 2025. This would allow to prepare the final text until the end of next year for printing.
Please send your replies to the following email address: rhorn@soils.uni-kiel.de
With our best regards and thanks for your agreement and contributions.

Laura Bertha Reyes Sanchez, Winfried Blum and Rainer Horn

Deadline: January 31th, 2025

State of the art

The IUSS Divisions, Commissions and Working Groups Chairs can now share their publications on the IUSS Alert. Every month, send your publications to the Secretariat and they will be published here. Please do so by the 15 of every month to make sure your articles will be published in the monthly current issue. Let’s keep our community posted on the progress of Soil Sciences.

Next Stimulus Fund Call

The new Stimulus Fund Call was launched January 15 and will be open for two months.
Do not forget to submit your projects via e-mail to iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it within, 2025.

Deadlines: March 15 th, 2025

The initial application process requires a short-written proposal of no more than 500 words plus a budget indicating how the funds awarded are to be spent. The funds can be used for a wide range of activities; the principal aims are the promotion and development of Soil Science.

Applications should be sent to: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

2nd Workshop on Soil degradation control, remediation and reclamation

Date: 9th -11th June, 2025
Location: Sofia, Bulgaria

Organized by: Commission 3.5 of the International Union of Soil Sciences, Institute of Soil Science, Agrotechnologies and Plant protection Nikola Poushkarov (ISSAPPNP), Agricultural Academy in cooperation with the Potsdam University and Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences.

Awards

IUSS is seeking nominations for general awards, medals, and prizes for the 2026 WCSS. From research accomplishments to contributions in soil science, there are opportunities for both new and established researchers and scientists. Nomination instructions and award details can be found at https://www.iuss.org/awards-medals-and-prizes/
All nominations are due on 5 June 2025.

News from national and regional soil science societies 2025-2026

AFES (Association Française pour l’Étude des Sols)

WSD 2025

Date: July 7th – 11th, 2025
Location: Geneva, Swiss

2025 Soil Study Days: A Meeting Place for Francophone Researchers and Professionals. The 17th edition of the Soil Study Days (JES 2025) will take place in Geneva from July 7 to 11, 2025, welcoming researchers and professionals working in the field of soil science. JES 2025 is organized by the Geneva School of Landscape, Engineering, and Architecture (HEPIA) and the French Association for Soil Studies, in close collaboration with the Swiss Soil Science Society.
Main Theme
The central theme for this edition is: “Soils, Functions, and Transition”.
In light of current events related to soils from bio-physical, legal, and socio-political perspectives, this edition aims to focus on the role of soils and their functions in our daily lives, as well as methods for evaluating, monitoring, and sustainably managing soils in a transitioning society.
Scope
In addition to the main theme, as is customary for JES, contributions on:
• General soil knowledge,
• Soils in warm regions, and
• Proposals that extend beyond the initial theme, are also welcomed and encouraged.

2025 will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, fostering connections among the French-speaking soil science community and beyond.

Canadian Society of Soil Science

Soils For Our Future – A Gathering of Global to Local Perspectives

Date: July 20th-25th, 2025
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

The SOILS FOR OUR FUTURE 2025 brings together three conference events: 5th Global Soil Security Conference, Canadian Society of Soil Science Annual Meeting, and International Union of Soil Sciences Division 1 – Soils in Space and Time Meeting. Hosted by the Soil Conservation Council of Canada and the Manitoba Soil Science Society. With over 700 researchers, industry members, leaders of farmer organizations, graduate students and other attendees, SOILS FOR OUR FUTURE 2025 provides a global perspective to today’s research to sustain our future. Spanning five days, the conference provides attendees of the events to meet in plenary/technical sessions with their individual organizations and for all to come together in keynote sessions, tradeshow, posters, workshops and field tours.
The Organizing Committee of the SOILS FOR OUR FUTURE (SFOF) 2025 International Joint Meeting of the Canadian Society of Soil Science (CSSS), the International Union of Soil Sciences – Division 1 – Soils in Space and Time (IUSS Div 1), and the 5th Global Soil Security (GSS) Conference, hosted by the Soil Conservation Council of Canada (SCCC) and the Manitoba Soil Science Society (MSSS), would like to remind all that Abstract Submissions for CSSS and IUSS Division 1 joint sessions or GSS plenary sessions are open until March 31, 2025.
Further information can be obtained from the website (soilsforourfuture.ca) or by email (soils2025@mbsoils.ca )

Registration to open: February 2025

European Confederation of Soil Science Societies

VII INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE ECSSS
VII EUROSOIL 2025 & X Congreso Ibérico de la Ciencia del Suelo

Date: September 8th – 12th, 2025
Location: Seville, Spain

EUROSOIL is the official meeting of the European Confederation of Soil Science Societies (ECSSS). It is held every four years and is one of Europe’s most important Soil Sciences events. It provides an excellent opportunity for knowledge transfer among the Soil Sciences community. Over 2000 participants are expected to attend the event and present their findings through oral and poster presentations encompassing all scientific aspects of Soil Science. The event will also feature workshops, and an exhibition of products and services aimed at raising awareness in society, facilitating the exchange of ideas and information, and creating business opportunities offering a platform for researchers, scholars and professionals to exchange knowledge, insights, and innovations. Additionally, during this edition of EUROSOIL, the Iberian Congress of Soil Sciences (CICS) will also be held along with the 1st European Soil Judging Contest in Alicante, one week before the event in Seville.

Registration:
https://www.eurosoil2025.eu/eurosoil2025/call-abstracts/guidelines

Abstracts Submission:
https://www.eurosoil2025.eu/eurosoil2025/registration/registration-fees

Deadline:
31 March 2025: Early registration deadline
15 May 2025: Regular abstract submission deadline
31 May 2025: Abstract notification to authors
15 June 2025: Regular registration deadline
15 July 2025: Last minute submission (only posters)
8 September 2025: EUROSOIL 2025 starts

e-mail: eurosoil@viajeseci.es

Austrian Soil Science Society

International Symposium 2025
Molecular modeling in soil science – achievements and perspectives
Centre Européen de Calcul Atomique et Moléculaire (CECAM-AT)

Date: September 24th-26th, 2025
Location: BOKU University, Vienna, Austria

It is undeniable the major role of soils in ecosystem functions at very different spatial and temporal scales (local and global) from microscopic to macroscopic phenomena. In view of the great demand for information regarding best practices for soil use and management, as well as remediation, new methods traditionally used in other areas have come into play to provide a better understanding of important soil processes and functions. With the arrival of powerful and more efficient computers, molecular modeling has become an important tool, offering insights into scales unattainable experimentally, being able to simulate complex molecular systems. The application of such methods in soil science has proven success to understand the interactions within soil at microscopic level, key to determine the fate of pollutants.
This symposium represents an opportunity to bring together scientists of high prestige in different areas of molecular modeling applied to soil science to discuss the state-of-the-art, promote meaningful discussions and contrast in-depth points of view to determine future perspectives and challenges regarding molecular modeling applied to soil science. Furthermore, the symposium presents an opportunity to foster cooperation and dissemination of knowledge on methods for the simulation of representative soil models, according to today’s needs as well as the prediction of physicochemical properties.
Plenary sessions:

Advances of MM methods in soil science
Soil minerals
Soil organic matter (SOM)
Interactions of minerals and SOM
Fate of contaminants in soils

Registration deadline: July 18, 2025
Read more: https://www.cecam.org/workshop-details/1393

Soil Science Society of China
The 23rd World Congress of Soil Science – Call for Parallel Session Topics

Date: 7th -12th June, 2026
Location: Nanjing, China

The World Congress of Soil Science is the most authoritative and influential international conference in the field, sponsored by the International Union of Soil Sciences. It is a major event for scientific and technological professionals in soil science and related disciplines worldwide to engage in academic exchange. Held every four years, the conference covers a wide range of topics and serves as a platform for exchange and collaboration among soil scientists from around the globe.
The 23rd World Congress of Soil Science will take place in Nanjing from June 7 to June 12, 2026. To enrich the content of this conference and enhance its academic level and international influence, we are now inviting proposals for sub-themes from experts in the field of soil science. We look forward to your active participation and valuable contributions!
Read more: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops 2025

CLIMAAX Webstival II: From Insights to Action – Advancing Climate Resilience

Date: January 29th-30th, 2025
Location: Online event

The Second CLIMAAX Project Webstival: From Insights to Action – Advancing Climate Resilience will take place online over two days, offering an opportunity to share knowledge and strengthen climate resilience across European regions.

The event will highlight key achievements of pilot regions, including Setúbal (Portugal) and Zilina (Slovakia), and provide support for newly selected regions as they begin implementing the CLIMAAX Framework and Toolbox. Participants will benefit from practical insights, interactive Q&A sessions, and co-learning activities tailored to advance regional adaptation strategies.

Please find below a brief overview of the agenda:
Day 1: Presentations from pilot regions, focusing on outcomes, challenges, and the integration of the CLIMAAX Framework.
Day 2: Practical guidance for newly selected regions, including breakout sessions and networking opportunities.

Read more and registration: EUSurvey – Survey

The International Scientific Conference XXVIII Dokuchaev Conference for Young Scientists «Information capacity of knowledge about soil»

Date: 27th, February – 1st, March 2025
Location: St. Petersburg, Russia

The conference is devoted to the information capacity of knowledge about the soil, starting from the origins of the formation of soil science as a science to the present day. The conference is dedicated the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the nuclear industry and Decade of Science and Technology in Russia.

Second announcement: international conference SUITMA13

The Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET) of the National Research Council (CNR) on behalf of the International Union of Soil Science (IUSS), is pleased to invite colleagues from all around the world to participate in the SUITMA (Soils of Urban, Industrial, Traffic, Mining and Military Areas) 13th international conference, which will be held in Pisa, Italy, from the 5 -9 October 2025, at the CNR (Italian National Research Council) in Pisa.
The conference will focus on “SUITMA from a One Health Perspective”. Soil is a key component of the water and nutrient cycle, and a major contributor to global carbon sequestration. Soil also provides habitats for nearly all land plants, as well as a large proportion of terrestrial fauna. Despite its global importance, it is estimated that one third of global soil is degraded. In anthropized areas, soils undergo many forms of disturbance: manipulation, compaction, and pollution which impact their quality. However, even degraded soils have the potential to alleviate environmental problems and play a vital role in supporting vegetation. Degraded soils of urban areas and other anthropogenic lands merit scientific and professional attention in order to enhance their ecosystem services and to support nature- based solutions, to tackle the urgent challenges of climate change, and for the health of all organisms and ecosystems.

Date: October 5th – 9th, 2025
Location: Pisa, Italy

Call for abstract and registration – opening: March 1, 2025
Abstract submission deadline: May 1, 2025
Abstract acceptance: May 31, 2025
Deadline for early bird registration: June 10, 2025

Read more: www.suitma13.it
Contacts: suitma13@cnr.it

International Lysimeter and Ecotron Workshop. “Measurement Methods for Environmental Monitoring “

Date: March 24th-26th, 2025
Location: Hallbergmoos, Germany

The International Lysimeter & Ecotron Workshop gives scientific presentations by renowned soil science researchers for studying soil-plant interactions.

18th International Symposium on Soil and Plant Analysis.
Advancing Agricultural Science for Global Sustainability

Date: June 9th -13rd, 2025
Pre-Symposium Workshop: June 9th. Post-Symposium Tour: June 14th-16th

Location: Durham, North Carolina USA

The Soil and Plant Analysis Council (SPAC) announces that registration, sponsorship opportunities, and a call for abstracts for the 18th International Symposium on Soil and Plant Analysis (ISSPA) are now open. The meeting of ISSPA 2025 is hosted by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and North Carolina State University and will take place in Durham, North Carolina, USA, June 9 – 13, 2025, in partnership with the Australasian Soil and Plant Analysis Council, Agri-Laboratory Association of Southern Africa, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s Global Soil Partnership.

Abstract Deadline: March 7th, 2025
Abstract Acceptance Notification: April 1st, 2025

The Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress, SRI 2025

Date: June 16th -19th, 2025
Location: Chicago, USA e online

The Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress will celebrate its fifth anniversary in Chicago, Illinois, where it will be held from 16-19 June 2025 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk. SRI is an annual convening focused on action-forward, knowledge-based and inclusive approaches to sustainability.
SRI2025 will be the first time the Congress is held in the United States. The event will build on the momentum of Congresses in Australia, South Africa, Panama, and Finland, connecting both in person and around the world with satellite events and interactive online experiences.
The Congress has a global audience with strong participation from industry, governments, civil, non-governmental, Indigenous, and intergovernmental organizations as well as researchers and innovators and the agencies and ministries who fund their forward-looking efforts. Each Congress has attracted around 2000 participants from more than 80 countries.
The SRI Congress series is co-convened by the Belmont Forum and Future Earth. In 2025, we are excited to work with the University of Illinois System to mobilize sustainability solutions in the US and around the world.
SRI2025 will spotlight Pathways to Sustainability, sharing implementation strategies and legacies of successful approaches to critical sustainability concerns facing Chicago, the United States, and the globe. It will also provide opportunities to overcome engagement, policy, resourcing, and other hurdles that slow our transformation to more resilient and equitable futures.
This year’s Congress focuses on Pathways to Sustainable Solutions. I2025hemes
Read more: SRI Congress | Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress

17th Symposium on Bacterial Genetics and Ecology – BAGECO 2025 – Bacteria drive our planet’s health (in conjunction with the 11th Theodor Escherich Symposium)

Date: July 1st – 4th, 2025
Location: Graz, University Library Graz, Austria

Main topics of the symposium are:

Defining pathogens from an ecological perspective
Anthropocene and biogeochemical cycles
Soil microbiome and One Health
The human microbiome in health and disease
Food-gut microbiome axis
Microbiome engineering for sustainable agriculture
Microbial production systems and artificial intelligence Submit your abstract until

The scientific programme will be published on the conference website in spring 2025.

Deadline for abstract submission: 28 February, 2025
Abstract submission: https://bageco.org/programme-abstracts/abstract-submission
Deadline for early bird registration: 31 March, 2025
Registration: https://bageco.org/registration

Read more: https://bageco.org/

THE 10 th INTERNATIONAL ACID SULFATE SOILS CONFERENCE (idem come sopra)

Date: CONFERENCE – September 15 th-17th, 2025
EXCURSION – September 18 th-20th, 2025
Location: Luleå, Sweden

We are delighted to invite you to the 10th edition of the International Acid Sulfate Soils Conference (IASSC), celebrating over three decades of groundbreaking research and collaboration in the field of acid sulfate soils. In 2025, the conference will be held in Luleå, Sweden. As the leading interdisciplinary platform for acid sulfate soil research, management, and policy development, the IASSC brings together researchers, industry professionals, environmental managers, and policymakers from around the world to share knowledge and advance the field. Over the course of three days, the conference will feature a rich program of oral and poster presentations, highlighting the latest research and cutting-edge advancements in the field.
In addition to the main conference sessions, we are excited to offer pre- and post-conference excursions that will explore the unique landscapes and environmental challenges of northern Sweden and Finland. These excursions will provide valuable insights into the practical applications of acid sulfate soil management in the region, offering a unique opportunity to engage with local experts and experience the environment firsthand.
Whether you are presenting your latest research, looking to expand your professional network, or seeking inspiration for new solutions to acid sulfate soil challenges, the 10th IASSC is the place to be. We look forward to
Deadline for abstract submission is 15.04.2025
Contact Us
For any inquiries, feel free to reach out to our conference team.
Conference-related questions: sarah.conrad@ltu.se
Excursion-related questions: anton.boman@gtk.fi
Read more: https://event.trippus.net/Home/Index/AEAKgINaZaTdCFzBKUcmTlLR9EZJnOe_7IMVKbLfLB10EZD5nrx0n7RnIkUT7ob0MOVWwsr29RiG/AEAKgIPmAO63b8dcXtm99Oas7FVacW0oEMV8IpPQ2FskOAqru2UClkW25UR7fvWVVZjQPoPNU3_j/eng

6th WASWAC World Conference. First Announcement
Resilient Landscapes: Innovations and Traditions in Climate-Adaptive Soil and Water Conservation (RISE-SWC)

Date: September 15th-17th, 2025
Location: Rabat, Morocco

World Association for Soil and Water Conservation (WASWAC), in collaboration with the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), is organizing on the 6th WASWAC World Conference on “Resilient Landscapes: Innovations and Traditions in Climate-Adaptive Soil and Water Conservation” (RISE-SWC). The conference will provide an exchange platform for soil and water resources conservation on a global scale, fostering collaboration among scientists, experts, policymakers, and practitioners from around the world.

Call for abstracts:
Abstracts are invited on any of the above theme areas or other related areas. The abstracts should not exceed 300 words, should be typed follow the template in attached file. The abstract and the registration form (download here Registration form for 6th WASWAC World Conference.docx) should be sent through e-mail at RISE-SWC@inra.ma and make a copy to waswac@vip.163.com in MS word format. Author(s) will be intimated regarding the acceptance of the abstracts.

Important dates:
Abstract submission begins: January 1, 2025
Last date of abstract submission: May 30, 2025
Intimation of acceptance of abstracts: June 30, 2025
Registration fee payment begin: January 1, 2025

10th edition FESP (Fire Effects on Soil Properties)

Date: November 25th -28th, 2025
Location: UFRO, Pucón Campus, Chile

Organized by the Universidad de la Frontera and La Universidad de los Lagos.

The conference website will be available very soon with all the information.

Read more: For now more information you can write to: fesp10@ufrontera.cl

Other News

Publication highlighted by Division 3

Drawdown of soil phosphorus by crop removal: A meta-analysis of 56 fields with interrupted fertilization

By Gatiboni, L., Shober, A. L., Fiorellino, N., Osmond, D., & Mosesso, L. R. (2025), Agricultural & Environmental Letters, 10, e70007.

Cropping without phosphorus (P) fertilization is one of the few options to reduce soil test P (STP). A meta-analysis of the annual P drawdown rate was performed using 56 sites presented in 14 publications. Fields were grouped into four initial STP classes based on Mehlich-3 STP equivalent. The STP was reduced from 4.3% to 8.2% per year in fields with high and low initial STP. The time needed to reduce the STP by half varied from 8.4 to 15.9 years depending on the initial STP.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.70007

New publications

Global status of salt-affected soils – Main report

By FAO 2024 Rome

Salt-affected soils, characterized by high soluble salts (saline) or exchangeable sodium (sodic), impact plant growth and occur globally, especially in arid and coastal regions. Salinization stems from natural causes (e.g. climate change, sea level rise) and human actions (e.g. poor irrigation practices, excessive water use). FAO’s Global Map of Salt-Affected Soils reveals that over 1 381 million hectares, 10.7 percent of global land, are affected, with Australia, Argentina and Kazakhstan among the most impacted countries. Increasing aridity and water demand amplify soil degradation risks, particularly in developing regions. Climate change and water scarcity threaten agricultural productivity, with substantial crop yield losses observed in saline areas. Halophytes and salt-tolerant crops provide a foundation for saline agriculture, yet many salt-affected soils remain unprotected and inadequately regulated. FAO’s INSAS (International Network of Salt-Affected Soils) underscores the need for updated data, harmonized salinity measurements, and sustainable management practices, with enhanced training and policy frameworks. Mitigation strategies like improved drainage, soil amendments, and the cultivation of salt-tolerant plants are recommended. Key recommendations include scaling sustainable practices, investing in salt-tolerant crop markets, improving data collection and water quality monitoring, conserving ecosystems, and fostering cross-sector collaboration. Such integrated efforts aim to boost food production and resilience in affected regions while protecting vital ecosystems.

ISBN: 978-92-5-139307-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4060/cd3044en
Download: https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/32d3b78b-d720-4f54-9163-70f55039dbb9/content

IUSS Secretariat Service Communication

To IUSS Commission and Working Group Chairs: you are kindly requested to inform the Secretariat whenever there is a change within your Commission and/or Working Group officers. In this way, it will be possible to keep the IUSS Officers Mailing List regularly updated.

To IUSS Full Members: please do not forget to let the Secretariat know about your new President, Secretary, Contact Person. This will be vital in keeping the mailing list updated, so you will not miss out any communication.

Please provide the new name, surname, position and e-mail address to: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

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