SOIL CONNECTS is the biannual newsletter of Division 4 in the
International Union of Soil Sciences
Issue 1 - December 2014
this
edition
Welcome to SOIL CONNECTS - 1
IUSS Division 4 & Newsletter Information
3
It is a pleasure to inally produce this inaugural edition of the newsletter covering
the stories, issues, events from the members of Division 4. Just as importantly
this newsletter will contribute to a suite
of newsletters already produced within
the IUSS and will give its members the
opportunity to share their knowledge of
soil with other members and the broader
community.
Division Chair’s Report
4
As we approach the International Year
of Soil (IYS) 2015 there is a magniicent
opportunity to put soil into the world’s
conversation about the future challenges
we are facing. I am sure that this is a challenge that all members, not only of this
division, but the IUSS will step up to and
play their part.
I look forward to working as editor of this
newsletter into the future and call on all of
you who are reading it to make a contribution to future issues.
Articles
5
Towards the International Year of Soils: the challenge of
bring people to care about the soil
5
Making connections through Global Soil Security 7
he soil judging juggernaut gathers momentum
9
Growing Food Crops on Urban Brownields: Best
Management Practices to Reduce Potential Human
Health Risk
10
Connecting people with soil
13
Soil compaction: causes, concerns, prevention and alleviation
16
Recent publications of Interest
Books
Journals
18
18
20
Events
22
Contacts
26
Damien Field
Editor, Soil Connects
Cover Photo - he irst international
Soil judging competition held in Jeju
at the 20th World Congress of Soil
Science. Photo provided by Stephen
Cattle, he University of Sydney,
Australia.
Soil Connects logo designed by;
David van der Linden
Newsletter design inspired by Proile, a newsletter produced for Soil
Science Australia
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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DIVISION 4 & NEWSLETTER INFORMATION
IUSS Division 4 & Newsletter Information
DIVISION 4
he Role of Soils in Sustaining Society and the Environment
his Division focuses on transfer and outreach of good soil knowledge to society, as
well as, taking responsibility for liting the proile of soil among the general community.
It takes the scientiic knowledge and information developed in the other three divisions
of the IUSS and shares this through education, international conventions and informing public policy and debate. Sharing of this knowledge between scientists, economists,
policy makers and the broader community means this division interacts well beyond
the traditional bounds of the soil science disciplines.
Commission 4.1 - Soils and the Environment
his Commisison looks at soil as part of the ecosystem and how human activites impact on the soil and environmental interactions.
Commission 4.2 - Soils, Food Security and Human Security
his Commission looks at the challenge of maintaining agricultural lands, providing
enough safe and nutritious food, and the role of soils in a changing world afecting
human health.
Commission 4.3 - Soils and Land Use Change
In the context of global sustainability, this Commission investigates how soil functions
can be managed and controlled to mitigate the impact of climate change. It also considers the impact of landuse change with increased urbanisation, and loss of productive
and forested lands.
Commission 4.4 - Soil Education & Public Awareness
A well informed public is needed so that the importance of soil is understood. his
Commission shares the developments in learning and teaching of soil science that support this aspiration, as well as, developing strategies that increase the connectedness of
the public with soil.
Commission 4.5 - History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Soil Science
his Commission deals with the past; it links the study of what has happened in history
and how soil can be used to help explain the past changes. his Commission investigates the relationship between human development and soil.
Newsletter Contributions
Soil Connects is published in December and June each year. Contributions are to be
received the irst day of the month preceding the publication and can be emailed to the
current editor Damien Field - email: damien.ield@sydney.edu.au
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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DIVISION CHAIR’S REPORT
Division Chair’s Report
Christian Feller
Chair Division 4,
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
It is with a great pleasure and a large satisfaction I announce the publication of this
irst issue of Soil Connects, the new Newsletter of the IUSS Division 4. It was an idea
of Damien Field’s (Chair, Commission 4.4) during the last World Soil Congress in
Jeju, Korea. Damien has organized this 1st issue and will continue as Editor for Soil
Connects. I thank him for having succeeded in the realization of this project.
I also want to welcome too Cristine Carole Muggler and Nilvania Aparecida de Mello, recently nominated as 1st and 2nd Division 4 vice chairs by the Organization
Committee of the 21th World Soil Science Congress (Brazil). I am sure we will work
well together. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the newly
elected Commission Chairs and Vice Chairs of Division 4. I would also like to thank
all of those who have contrbuted to the irst edition of this newsletter.
At the last congress in Jeju I had the opportunity to meet with participants from various commissions and talk about the interactions and ideas for Division 4. I would
like to thank you to all participants for the fruitful discussions. I think that everyone
agreed on the proposition I put forward stating, ‘we need to refocus the general
activities of Division 4 to strengthen the link between soil science and the broader
community and noted that there are elements that need to be included in the future, including the value of soil (economics), its interactions in ecosystem services,
and management through environmental law. here is also the suggestion that a
Working Group be formed to further proclaim the cultural dimensions of soils (art,
literature, etc.)
On the last day congress I presented these ideas to the IUSS Executive Committee. he Executive approved these ideas and proposed we organize a symposium at
the mid-term congress in Rio in 2016 illustrating the future role of Division 4 with
stronger links with the human and social sciences. his will take some planning and
sharing of ideas between all of us. As a start I recently had some discussion with a
professor of Public Law at the University Jean Moulin - Lyon 3 (France) - Philippe
BILLET - Director of the Environmental Law Institute, and working presently on
environmental law for soils. I hope for the next years we will develop a good relationship with this colleague, and hope that he can make a contribution of his thoughts in
the area in the next issue of Soil Connects.
For the 5th December World Soil Day (WSD) in France, the French association for
soil science (AFES) organized a one day colloquium at the Chamber of Deputies on
ecosystem services provided by soils to human societies. he assistance was mainly
parliamentarians, representatives of diferent ministers, scientists and some farmers.
On behalf of IUSS division 4, I gave a short and general talk on “Soils and Food security”.
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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ARTICLES
For 2015 International Year of Soil, the IUSS president and Executive Committee
asked each of the Divisions to present texts on the IUSS website during one trimester in 2015. he allotted time for Division 4 is from October to December 2015. I
have just sent a short list of titles (included the articles of this issue) to the IUSS
President to start this process but more is required of us, so please don’t hesitate to
propose a paper and send it to me and to Damien.
he best for you and family and
Happy New Year
Christian Feller
Towards the International Year of Soils: the challenge
of bring people to care about the soil
Cristine Carole Muggler
Departamento de Solos, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brasil
As climatic conditions change and environmental problems grow, soil scientists and
groups of soil users continue to speak out on the need to care for our soils. We know
that soils are an integral part of the interactions between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and lithosphere, and the functions that soil provide has a role in
regulating and these interactions. Equally important is the role that this fragile layer
of the earth’s crust contribution to maintaining life. hose of us who know have given soil a special place and refer to it as a system by itself: the pedosphere.
Still, individuals and society in general do not realize that quality of life and our
welfare are at risk when soils are not cared for. More oten than not people are more
likely to be concerned with issues around water, forests, and endangers species, and
while admirable causes not realise the role of soil in supporting these issues and securing soil is one of the grand challenges facing humankind. One might argue that
soils are taken for granted, or soils are not popular. his provides a challenge for us
who know and work with soil, how are we to respond?
he International Year is a great opportunity to reach out and spread the word about
soils. Not only the functions and essentiality of soils, but also its wonders: amazing
biodiversity, incredible colours and unexpected beauty! To realize about soils is a
irst step to know more about them. With knowing comes enchantment, which is the
basis of love and care. his is a chance to ask people to know about soil and to care.
To engage present and future generations with soils is our ongoing task. For some
years now, the Latin American Soil Science Congresses has set a aside a day for
school children and teenagers to make public presentations and it is amazing to see
how many are concerned about the threats to soil and choose to study them. At the
last Congress in Cusco, Peru, Ronald Vargas, from FAO, was in charge of the initial
presentation. He started to ask the children what is soil for them, and immediately
a girl came loud and self-assured with the answer: Soil is Pachamama!! he mother
Earth from the Inca civilization.
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Of course this level of enthusiasm is still sporadic and there is much more to do to raise
the soil’s proile. Groups, actions, and initiatives are everywhere promoting the need
to know and care for soil. his International Year now ofers us the possibility of bring
them together, making them visible and to potentiate activities, as well as upscale and
downscale experiences. It is a challenge as well as an opportunity.
As soil lovers it is our year! Let’s go for it!
International year of soil
Visit http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/68/232 for the
complete declaration
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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ARTICLES
Making connections through Global Soil
Security
Alex McBratney and Damien Field
Department of Enviromental Sciences, he University of Sydney, Australia
he soil science community already knows the crucial role soil has in accumulating
nutrients and water to secure our food, ibre, biofuel and freshwater now and into
the future. he role of soil as a habitat for a large diversity of organisms and supporting environmental and human health is also irmly rooted in the soil scientist
psyche. Over the last ive decades food, water and energy security, along with the
adaption to climate change, protecting biodiversity and human health are six global
challenges that soil scientists need to be addressing. he challenge though for soil
scientist is to ensure that their knowledge is not just limited to a discussion amongst
themselves but also engages the broader community who are also tackling these existential challenges.
he realization that soil has an integral part to play in the global challenges has led
to the concept of soil security, which refers to the maintenance and improvement of
the world’s soil to produce food, ibre, freshwater, contribute to energy and climate
sustainability, and help to maintain biodiversity and protect ecosystem goods and
services.
At the 20th World Congress in JeJu, Korea this concept was introduced to the soil
science community and recognised that soil security is framed by ive dimensions.
he dimensions of capability and condition focus on the biophysical evaluation of
soil and asks the questions ‘what can this soil do?’ and ‘what is the current state of
the soil?’. When focusing on food production, land suitability is an efective means
of evaluating how the current condition of the soil can support grain, livestock and
horticulture production.
But by focusing only on food production have we missed a trick? To know the soil’s
full potential we need to recognise that it provides functions that support a range of
ecosystem services, such as nature reserves, water catchment, urban development
and cultural signiicance, and when these are evaluated it is possible to describe what
the soil is truely capable of. In fact experts claim that ecosystem services contribute
$33 trillion annually to the global economy, and combining soil capability with cost,
infrastructure, and human desires the opportunities are now fully explored. Capability provides a basis to quantify the soil resource across space and time which can
be mapped, planned, modelled and forecast.
While everyone’s problem, but not the
central concern of the soil scientist, are the
socioeconomic challenges when soil is not
secure. Soil security frames this by placing
a value on the soil, a need to know how
people are connected with soil, and these
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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ARTICLES
along with the biophysical attributes, will contribute to good policy to secure the soil
against further degradation. his is covered by the dimensions of capitial, connectivity, and codiication.
Both ecosystem services and green economies accept placing a value on soil viewing
it as a stock from which goods are produced. his approach recognises that the multi
-functional nature of soil enabling both its productivity and ecosystem services to
be valued, in other words, letting us compare apples and oranges. Such an approach
was demonstrated at the World Congress by Anna van Paddenburg from the Global
Green Growth Institute in Jakarta. Talking to ‘Investing in Green Growth Investing
in Soil Security’, Anna described how a change in focus to include valuing natural resources results in synergies that support both agricultural production and maintain
the surrounding ecosystem to support wildlife and water quality.
To support famers’ connectivity with soil means having access to good soil knowledge. In the future, Johan Bouma from Wageningen University in the Netherlands
talked at the congress of the need for knowledge brokers who have both current soil
science knowledge and the social intelligence to see how this knowledge can be used
to support the soil’s capability and condition.
Connectivity though demands that society more generally is reconnected to the soil
as a means to increase its value and security. To nurture the wider public’s connection Robert Hill stated that success is oten achieved when a clear message is developed focusing on a single indicator for change. Although single indicators are not
endorsed by soil science generally, the recent focus of society and its understanding
of soil carbon would suggest that if a single indicator was needed, should be soil
carbon?
Evidence suggests that national, let alone internationally agreed, policy around soil
is sporadic with few countries, such as Korea, having well-developed integrated regulatory strategy. Having society connect with soil and providing accessible soil capability and condition data will improve the opportunity for policy development to
secure soil. All of this can only be achieved when soil scientists, economists, social
science and policy makers discuss and all contribute to the decision making about
soil and this is what soil security is striving to achieve.
herefore, there is a seventh global and existential challenge, that of
soil security !
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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ARTICLES
he soil judging juggernaut gathers
momentum
Stephen Cattle
Department of Enviromental Sciences, he University of Sydney, Australia
he year of 2014 will prove to be a pivotal one in the history of soil judging.
Although this ield-based discipline of
competitive soil description, classiication and interpretation has a long and
rich history in the USA (annual regional
and national contests), its uptake in other countries has been poor. Prior to 2014,
only Canada and Australia had hosted a
single soil judging contest each. However, the ‘soil judging landscape’ changed
signiicantly at the 20WCSS held in Jeju,
Korea in June, when the inaugural International Soil Judging Contest was held
in the three days leading up to the start
of the Congress. Twelve teams of university soil science students from Australia,
China, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Mexico,
Soil judgers in action at WCSS in JeJu, Korea.
South Africa, Taiwan and USA
competed, pitting their wits against the ash-derived soils of Jeju, and each other.
Ultimately, the well-trained USA teams took irst and second places in the overall
classiication (team-judged pit scores plus individually-judged pit scores), with Japan third. In the individual judging classiication, the top three placegetters were
Chien-Hui Syu from Taiwan, Tyler Witkowski from USA and Fei Yang from China.
For all involved, this inaugural international contest was a great experience and
built a lot of goodwill towards the discipline of soil judging.
Since June, the 2nd Australian Soil Judging Competition has been run at Melbourne in conjunction
with the Australian National Soils Conference, and
other countries/groups have commenced planning
for soil judging contests in 2015 to help celebrate the
International Year of Soils. In addition to the usual regional and national soil judging contests in the
USA, an International Field Course and Soil Judging
Contest is planned for Hungary in September, and
a soil judging competition is also planned for Western Australia during 2015. hese activities bode well
for the future of soil judging, which has proven to be
both a valuable educational mode, as well as a great
way to engage a new generation of soil scientists.
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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ARTICLES
Growing Food Crops on Urban Brownields:
Best Management Practices to Reduce Potential
Human Health Risk
Ganga Hettiarachchi
Kansas State University, Manhattan, USA
Growing of local crops, especially in urban areas is on the increase and many gardens are or will be located on land that may be impacted by previous use. hese
kinds of properties, i.e. vacant or abandoned properties with real or perceived contamination issues are called “brownields”. Not all brownields sites will, of course,
be suitable for growing food crops as the environmental conditions may not allow
for this use. Growing food crops safely on mildly contaminated sites is possible for
both the grower and consumer, if precautions are taken and best management practices are adhered to. Common urban soil contaminants include lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
(Spittler, 1979; Chaney et al., 1984; Alloway, 2004; Brown, 2009; Roussel et al.,
2010). Of these, Pb is by far the most dominant and wide-spread contaminant in
urban environments. Soil remediation or managing risk posed by contaminants
can be challenging as a result of poor soil quality and the presence of co-contaminants. Options such as raised-bed gardening or soil replacement can be physically and inancially restrictive and there is a great need for sharing science-based
knowledge on risk management associated with common urban soil contaminants.
Researchers at Kansas State University have been evaluating the uptake of heavy
metals, metalloids and other contaminants by food crops grown on urban brownields sites. he goal of this research is to enhance the capabilities of urban agriculture initiatives to produce food crops locally without concern about adverse
health efects for the grower or the end consumer; to increase conidence in urban food production quality; to provide resources for producers, urban land
managers, local and state government, and extension agents to implement proposed best management practices, and to contribute to the meaningful revitalization of brownields sites in a sustainable manner. he research is made
possible by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
Nationwide, seven test sites established thus far on brownields sites slated for community gardens were evaluated by planting food crops over two consecutive growing seasons. Prior to adding a site to the project, historic site use of all sites was
researched to narrow down potential contaminants. Soils were then tested for potential contaminants as well as for general soil properties. Soils at the various test
sites exhibited lead concentrations from 100 mg/kg to 2,000 mg/kg, arsenic concentrations from 50 mg/kg to 130 mg/kg, and total PAH concentrations ranging
up to 50 mg/kg. hree vegetable crop types with three very diferent growth and
contaminant uptake patterns were planted over two growing seasons and soil and
plant tissue samples were analyzed for contaminants associated with the respective
sites. Efectiveness of selected site-speciic soil amendments to reduce bioavailability of lead, arsenic and/or PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) was evaluated.
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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ARTICLES
Associated best management practices focusing on reduction of both direct
(soil-human) and indirect (soil-plant-human) exposure to the gardeners and their
children, and potential human health risks were established. Root crops were the
only crops accumulated soil lead above the WHO/FAO maximum levels (MLs) with
carrots taking up more lead than beets, radishes and sweet potatoes. In sandy soils
with lead concentrations around 200 mg/kg to 250 mg/kg, lead concentrations in
root crops exceeded the WHO/FAO MLs of 1-1.5mg/kg (dry weight basis). Arsenic uptake by all crop types was low in all vegetables indicating that food-chain
transfer of arsenic may not be a problem for urban brownields. PAH uptake by
all crop types tested at our test site contaminated with PAHs was non-detect.
his picture shows growth diference in tomato plants growing in nonamended control plots and
Tagro (a biosolids based soil product) plus dolomite amended plots, Tacoma, Washington test site
(Defoe et al., 2014).
Associated best management practices focusing on reduction of both direct
(soil-human) and indirect (soil-plant-human) exposure to the gardeners and their
children, and potential human health risks were established. Root crops were the
only crops accumulated soil lead above the WHO/FAO maximum levels (MLs) with
carrots taking up more lead than beets, radishes and sweet potatoes. In sandy soils
with lead concentrations around 200 mg/kg to 250 mg/kg, lead concentrations in
root crops exceeded the WHO/FAO MLs of 1-1.5mg/kg (dry weight basis). Arsenic uptake by all crop types was low in all vegetables indicating that food-chain
transfer of arsenic may not be a problem for urban brownields. PAH uptake by
all crop types tested at our test site contaminated with PAHs was non-detect.
Overall indings indicate the following:
a) he potential exposure pathway of concern is direct exposure of humans to contaminated soils. he pathway from contaminated soil to plant to human is
insigniicant.
b) In general, concentrations of lead, arsenic and PAHs in vegetables harvested at
test sites were low.
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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ARTICLES
c) Contaminants were consistently diluted by the addition of compost.
d) Bioaccessible lead and arsenic in soils tested were low when measured using a
physiologically based extraction method (modiied from Ruby et al., 1996), mimicking GI tract dissolution processes.
When deciding to grow food crops on a mildly contaminated brownields site,
two options exist: growing in-situ (directly in the soil) or growing in raised beds
illed with imported (tested) soils. If raised beds are selected as a best management practice, care should be taken that the garden paths, sideways and in between
the beds are covered to prevent exposure to dust. If in-situ growing is selected,
the soil very likely needs to be amended using compost and fertilizer because
brownields soils tend to be of poor quality. Generally, actions are taken to improve soil quality may also help to reduce the bioavailability of soil contaminants.
Examples are:
1) Compost addition will dilute overall contaminant concentrations, and mature/
stable organic matter in the compost and the iron oxides present in some products
such as composted Class A-biosolids will bind metals and organic contaminants in
soils and thereby reduce their bioavailability.
2) In addition, compost addition helps maintain good soil nutrient status in soils.
Maintaining good soil fertility and thereby increasing biomass production diluted
lead concentrations in the vegetables.
3) he nutrient phosphorus, will transform lead into lead phosphate and reduce bioavailability.
4) Adjusting pH to around neutral (i.e. 6.5 to 7) will reduce the mobility of cationic
metals such as lead and cadmium. For arsenic containing soils, the pH should not be
adjusted to values over 6.5 to avoid enhanced arsenic mobility.
5) Soils may be impacted by more than one contaminant and a mixture of amendments (compost, phosphorus, and biosolids) would be beneicial.
Dilution efect on total contaminant concentration in soils upon compost addition at 28 kg m-2,
Kansas City, Missouri test site (Attanayake et al., 2014).
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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ARTICLES
References
Alloway, B. 2004. Contamination of soils in domestic gardens and allotments: A brief overview. Land
Contam. Reclam. 12:179-187.
Attanayake, C.P., G.M. Hettiarachchi, A. Harms, D. Presley, S. Martin, and G.M. Pierzynski. 2014. Field
Evaluations on Soil Plant Transfer of Lead from an Urban Garden Soil. J. Environ. Qual. Vol. 43: 475487. doi:10.2134/jeq2013.07.0273
Chaney, R.L., Sterrett, S.B., Mielke, H.W., 1984. he potential for heavy metal expsoure from urban
gardens and soils, In: Proceedings of the Symposium on Heavy Metals in Urban Gardens, Washington,
D.C., Preer, J. R., Ed. University of the District of Columbia Extension Service: Washington, D.C., pp
37-84.
Defoe, P.P, G.M. Hettiarachchi, C. Benedict, and S. Martin. 2014. Safety of Gardening on Lead- and Arsenic-Contaminated Urban Brownields. J. Environ. Qual. 43: 2064-2078. doi:10.2134/jeq2014.03.0099
FAO/WHO-CODEX. 1995. Codex general standard for contaminants and toxins in food and feed: Codex standard. Revised 1995, 2006, 2008, 2009, amended 2010. http://www.fao.org/ileadmin/user_upload/agns/pdf/CXS_193e.pdf (accessed 30 Nov. 2014).
Roussel, H., C. Waterlot, A. Pelfrêne, C. Pruvot, M. Mazzuca and F. Douay. 2010. Cd, Pb and Zn oral
bioaccessibility of urban soils contaminated in the past by atmospheric emissions rom two lead and zinc
smelters. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 58:945-954.
Ruby, M. V., A. Davis, R. Schoof, S. Eberle, and C. M. Sellstone. 1996. Estimation of Bioavailability
using a Physiologically Based Extraction Test. Environ. Sci. Technol. 30:422-430.
Spittler, T.M. and W.A. Feder. 1979. A study of soil contamination and plant lead uptake in Boston urban gardens. Communications in Soil Science & Plant Analysis 10:1195-1210.
Connecting people with soil
Ian Hollingsworth
HORIZON Environmental, Soil Survey & Evaluation, Australia
here may be another world called water, but living on earth we use soil to produce
food to survive. Soil substrates support the ecosystems surrounding us that provide
oxygen and ilter water. Eons of time have generated soil pattern and biodiversity that
imprint resilience to climate change on ecosystems and agriculture. However, reducing biodiversity and harvesting soil and water resources for agriculture to support
growing populations and urbanisation have signiicant regional impacts that may increase food production but make it less sustainable at the same time.
he risk that an agricultural system will fail translates directly to mortality and community annihilation in subsistence economies. Capital investment and the energy intensity in fossil fuels bufer unsustainable agricultural systems against failure to some
extent in an industrial economy. We can run down biodiversity, deplete and contaminate water and soil resources locally until we run out of capital to purchase produce,
or land, from somewhere else.
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ARTICLES
Current needs in developed economies to secure food supply motivates investment
and development around the world. However, securing soil and water resources for
agriculture could be at a tragic cost to cultural and ecological resources - particularly
developing economies in the tropics with large populations to support. Clearing biodiverse forests, diverting rivers, draining wetlands displacing traditional economies and
cultures to develop industrial agriculture in Africa, Asia, Australia and South America
does not appear to be based on evidence that these developments will be sustainable.
A large proportion of the world’s food is produced from smallholdings, urban gardens,
forests, rangelands and aquaculture. Peasants probably have signiicantly more than
half of the world’s cropland and may be responsible for 70% of world food production.
If we further disturb the global food production system with industrial agriculture
we need to be aware of the sustainability implications and mitigate by design against
catastrophic failure. Otherwise clearing native vegetation, supplanting small holder
agriculture with industrial systems and urbanisation will remove the trace of millions
of years of evolution and tens of thousands of years of cultural interaction with the
environment and potentially reduce sustainable food production in a changing climate.
Moving communities from subsistence and small holder production to industrial,
urbanised economies has pervaded development since the European industrial revolution. However, the impacts of these changes on securing soil to produce food and
support sustainable landscapes may be reduced if communities can maintain connections to land. Perhaps urban planning to maintain the capacity to produce food,
energy and ibre is as critical as transport and water supply services? Perhaps designing industrial agricultural developments to the scale and pattern of landscape ecology is worth exploring? Diversifying food production and soil management in the
development process is likely to be a more reliable strategy over the long term than
expanding agricultural monocultures that industrial agriculture currently relies on.
For instance there is interest in agricultural development across Northern Australia that politics and capital are keen to support. Concerns about the risks
from extensive agricultural development to indigenous culture and ecological systems hasn’t so far translated into investment in agricultural innovations that use endemic plants and recognise cultural connection to land.
External interests are focussed on crops and plantations that are
exotic, acquiring land and water resources and developing infrastructure.
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ARTICLES
here is far less interest in numerous “bush” foods, ibres and medicines
that supported a subsistence economy and were integral to the most biodiverse woodland and wetland environments in Australia. Agricultural innovation based on the endemic species and cultural knowledge may add more value.
Compaction causes photos provided by Jay Jabro.
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ARTICLES
Soil compaction: causes, concerns, prevention
and alleviation
Jay Jabro
Northern Plain Agricultural Research Laboratory, Montana, USA
Intensive farming, inappropriate soil management and heavier machinery have led
to an increase in soil compaction in this decade prompting increased global concern regarding the impact of soil compaction on crop production and soil quality
in mechanized agriculture. Soil compaction afects crop yields through alteration of
soil physical, chemical and biological properties and processes. Worldwide, problems from compacted soil afect an estimated 68 million hectares from farm machinery traic alone. Research showed that approximately 80% of soil compaction
from wheel traic occurs on the irst pass of a tire.
Soil compaction due to ield operations is an acknowledged problem worldwide. Soil
compaction may occur during tillage, planting, spraying, and harvesting. We generally think of compaction being caused by wheel traic, but it can also be caused
by opener disks on planter units and some tillage tools will cause a “hard pan” just
below the tilled depth.
Soil moisture content has a great impact on soil compaction. Dry soils would not
compact nearly as much as a moist soil under the same applied load. Heavy axle
loads of large equipment tend to drive compaction deeper than light loads.
Soil compaction is a factor in reducing crop yield. Roots cannot easily penetrate
compacted soil and therefore even though there are nutrients and moisture in the
soil, the plant cannot extract them. Compacted soils do not readily absorb water
so they contribute to increased runof on slopes and ponding in low areas. Runof
increases erosion and may carry fertilizers and pesticides into streams and rivers.
Soil compaction can reduce crop yield up to 50% in some areas depending upon the
depth of compaction and its severity.
Soil compaction can reduce crop yield up to 50% in some areas depending upon the
depth of compaction and its severity.
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ARTICLES
Deep rooted cover crops (e.g., rye grass, oilseed radish, salower, turnip) that can
penetrate hard soils may be used to create root channels that later decay and loosen the soil. Deep tillage is commonly used to alleviate soil compaction. Increasing
soil organic matter and encouraging earthworm activities can also soten compacted
soil.
Freeze-thaw cycles alleviate soil compaction and improve soil structure. Soil scientists at the Northern Plains Agricultural Research Lab (NPARL) in Sidney, MT, USA
established a study in 2009 to evaluate the dynamic of freeze-thaw cycles on soil
compaction in a clay loam soil.
he freezing and thawing cycle (FTC) signiicantly decreased the penetration resistance in compacted soils. he 0-10 cm depth showed the most change with a
73% reduction in penetration resistance. he 10-20 cm depth showed a reduction
of 66%. he deepest depth (20-30 cm) showed the smallest reduction in penetration
resistance but it was still reduced by 49% ater the irst winter. he soils in the plots
that were not subjected to the FTCs did not show as large a reduction in penetration
resistance. However, even in these plots we saw a reduction of 50% in the top layer,
most likely from shrink-swell cycles caused by wetting and drying and from soil
biological processes.
Our study did not directly measure diferences in crop production between treatments. It is generally accepted that soils with a penetration resistance greater than
1.5 MPa (218 psi) are compacted, resulting in restricted root growth, limited water
absorption and reduced nutrient uptake. he soils in our compacted treatment were
close to 2.2 MPa (319 psi) at the start of the experiment and the FTCs reduced that
to well under the threshold for compacted soils so we could reasonably expect yields
to be better ater the FTCs. An experienced farmer who normally expects favorable
crop yields could surmise the futility of planting into obviously compacted soil. Yet
ater the FTCs, the planting bed was quite mellow with good seed-to-soil contact
where roots could be expected to lourish.
In addition to the methods mentioned above, limiting wheel traic to a single path
will subject a lesser portion of the ield to compaction as will avoiding ield operations on too wet soil.
he development of proper farming practices (e.g., no-till, reduced tillage, crop rotations) that minimize soil compaction is essential for maintaining good soil structure and eliminating the need for multiple ield operations.
For more information, please go to;
https://www.certiiedcropadviser.org/publications/sssaj/articles/78/3/737
https://www.soils.org/discover-soils/story/soil-compaction-and-freeze-thaw-cycles
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Recent Publications
Books
Summary
he largest part of the world’s food comes from its soils,
either directly from plants, or via animals fed on pastures and crops. hus, it is necessary to maintain, and if
possible, improve the quality—and hence good health—
of soils, while enabling them to support the growing
world population. he Soil Underfoot: Ininite Possibilities for a Finite Resource arms readers with historical
wisdom from various populations around the globe,
along with current ideas and approaches for the wise
management of soils. It covers the value of soils and
their myriad uses viewed within human and societal
contexts in the past, present, and supposed futures.
Publ: April 2014, CRC Press
Eds. J. Churchman & E. R. Landa
Details found at:
http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466571563
Summary
Few topics cut across the soil science discipline wider
than research on soil carbon. his book contains 48
chapters that focus on novel and exciting aspects of soil
carbon research from all over the world. It includes review papers by global leaders in soil carbon research,
and the book ends with a list and discussion of global
soil carbon research priorities.
A wide variety of topics is included: soil carbon modelling, measurement, monitoring, microbial dynamics,
soil carbon management, and 12 chapters focus on national or regional soil carbon stock assessments. he
book provides up-to-date information for researchers
interested in soil carbon in relation to climate change,
and to researchers that are interested in soil carbon for
the maintenance of soil quality and fertility.
Publ: 2014, Springer
Eds. A. Hertemink &
K. McSweeney
Details found at:
http://www.springer.com/environment/soil+science/
book/978-3-319-04083-7
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Summary
Despite the connections between soils and human
health, there has not been a great amount of attention
focused on this area when compared to many other
ields of scientiic and medical study. Soils and Human
Health brings together authors from diverse ields with
an interest in soils and human health, including soil
science, geology, geography, biology, and anthropology to investigate this issue from a number of perspectives. he book includes a soil science primer chapter
for readers from other ields, and discusses the ways the
soil science community can contribute to improving
our understanding of soils and human health.
Publ: 2013, CRC Press
Eds. E. Brevik & L. Burgess
Details found at:
http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439844540
Books (Popular)
Summary
housands of years of poor farming and ranching practices—and, especially, modern industrial agriculture—
have led to the loss of up to 80 percent of carbon from
the world’s soils. hat carbon is now loating in the atmosphere, and even if we stopped using fossil fuels today, it would continue warming the planet. In he Soil
Will Save Us, journalist and bestselling author Kristin
Ohlson makes an elegantly argued, passionate case for
“our great green hope”—a way in which we can not only
heal the land but also turn atmospheric carbon into
beneicial soil carbon—and potentially reverse global
warming.
Publ: 2014, Rodale
Auth. K. Ohlsen
Ohlson’s fascinating journey to understand the hidden
dynamics of the natural world—brought to life through
vivid storytelling and crisp, engaging analysis will inspire everyone to rethink the potential of the ground
beneath their feet, as well as the landscapes around
them, and to igure out how they can make a diference.
Details found at:
http://www.kristinohlson.com/books/soil-will-save-us
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Books
he Soils of Poland: World Soils Book Series Bednarek, Renata Maria,
Jankowski, Michał, Świtoniak, Marcin 2015 .
he Soils of Slovenia: World Soils Book Series Repe, Blaž 2015
he Soils of Germany: World Soils Book Series Scholten, homas, Fleck, Wolfgang, Fleige, Heiner 2015
he Soils of Antarctica: World Soils Book Series Bockheim, James (Ed.) 2014
he Soils of Iceland: World Soils Book Series Arnalds, Olafur 2015
he Soils of Bulgaria: World Soils Book Series Shishkov, Toma, Kolev, N. 2014
Journals
Bockheim, J.G., Gennadiyev, A.N.,
Hartemink, A.E., & Brevik, E.C.
2014. Soil Forming factors and Soil
Taxonomy. Geoderma, (in-press).
Brevik, E.C., & Burgess, L.C. 2014.
he inluence of Soils on Human
Health. Nature Education, (in-press).
Brevik, E.C., Sauer, T.J. 2014. he
Past, Present and Future of Soils
and Human Health Studies. SOIL,
(in-press)
Brevik, E.C., Hartemink, A. E.
2013. Soil Maps of the United States
of America. Soil Science Society of
America Journal
Dominati, E., Mackay, A., Green, S.,
Patterson, M. 2014. A soil changebased methodology for the quantiication and valuation of ecosystem
services from agro-ecosystems: A
case study of pastoral agriculture in
New Zealand. Ecological Economics.
100, 119-129.
Hartemink, A.E., Balks, M.R.,
Chen, Z., Drohan, P., Field, D.J.,
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
Krasilnikov, P., Lowe, D. J., Rabenhorst, M., van Rees, K., Schad, P.,
Schipper, L.A., Sonneveld, M., Walter, C. 2014. he joy of teaching soil
science. Geoderma. 217-218, 1-9.
Jabro, J.D., Stevens, W.B., Iversen,
W.M., Evans, R.G., Allen R.G. 2014.
Crop water productivity of sugarbeet as afected by tillage. Agronomy
Journal. 106: 2280–2286.
Koch, A., McBratney, A., Adams,
M., Field, D.J., Hill, R., Crawford,
J., Minasny, B., Lal, R., Abbott, L.,
O’Donnell, A., Angers, D., Baldock,
J., Barbier, E., Binkley, D., Parton,
W., Wall, D.H., Bird, M., Bouma, J.,
Chenu, C., Flora, C.B., Goulding,
K., Grunwald, S., Hempel, J., Jastrow, J., Lehmann, J., Lorenz, K.,
Morgan, C.L., Rice, C.W., Whitehead, D., Young, I., Zimmermann
M. 2013. Soil Security. Solving the
Global Soil Crisis. Global Policy. 4,
434-441.
McBratney, A.B., Field, D.J., Koch,
A. 2014. he Dimensions of soil
security. Geoderma, 213, 203 - 213.
page 20 of 26
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Robinson, D.A., Jackson, B.M.,
Clothier, B.E., Dominati, E., Marchant, S.C., Copper, D.M., Bristow,
K.L. 2014. Advances in soil ecosystem services: Concepts, models,
and applications for earth system
life support. Vadose Zone Journal,
12,
Stockmann, U., Adams, M.A.,
Crawford, J.W., Field, D.J., Henakaarchchi, N., Jenkins, M., Minasny, B., McBratney, A.B., Remy
de Courcelles, V., Singh, K., Wheeler, I., Abbott, L., Angers, D.A., Baldock, J., Bird, M., Brookes, P.C.,
Chenu, C., Jastrow, J.D., Lal, R. Lehmann, J., O’Donnell, A. G., Parton,
W., Whitehead, D., Zimmermann
M., 2013. he known, known unknowns and unknowns of sequestration of soil organic carbon. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment.
164, 80-89.
Stockmann, U., Malone, B.P.,
McBratney, A.B., Minasny, B. 2015
Landscape-scale exploratory radiometric mapping using proximal
soil sensing. Geoderma, 239, 115129.
Wamelink, G.W., Frissel, J.Y.,
Krijnen, W.H., Verwoert, M.R.,
Goedhart, P.W. 2014. Can Plants
Grow on Mars and the Moon: A
Growth Experiment on Mars and
Moon Soil Simulants. PloS one, 9,
Photo: Cristine Morgan, Texas A&M, Texas, USA.
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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EVENTS
he International year of soil (IYS)
aims to be a platform for raising
awareness of the importance of
soils for food security and essential
eco-system functions.
he objectives of the IYS are:
1) to create full awareness of civil society and decision makers about the fundamental roles of soils for human’s life;
2) to achieve full recognition of the prominent contributions of soils to food security, climate change adaptation and mitigation, essential ecosystem services,
poverty alleviation and sustainable development;
3) to promote efective policies and actions for the sustainable management and
protection of soil resources;
4)to sensitize decision-makers about the need for robust investment in sustainable soil management activities aiming at healthy soils for diferent land users
and population groups;
5)to catalyze initiatives in connection with the SDG process and Post-2015
agenda;
6) to advocate rapid enhancement of capacities and systems for soil information
collection and monitoring at all levels (global, regional and national).
To keep up-to-date with what is happening globally visit:
http://www.fao.org/soils-2015/en/
he Global Soil Week aims at (i) establishing a transdisciplinary process for exchanging knowledge and
experiences on land and soil issues,
and (ii) raising public awareness on
the importance of soils globally to inluence land and soil policies for sustainable development.
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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EVENTS
Achieving soil security will need the
invovlment of scientists, economists and
social scientists, joing with politicians
and the community to develop the right
frameworks and responses to secure soil.
We are convening experts and innovative
thinkers from a range of disciplines inclduing agricultural and resource economists, (rural) sociology, information
technology, soil science, and agronomy
to furhter develop the concept of soil
security, and to work toward assessment
and implementation strategies. he three
day discuassion wi address the ive dimensions of soil security.
Please visit https://globalsoilsecurity.tamu.edu/ for more detials.
he European Geosciences Union
(EGU) has established the Soil System
Sciences (SSS) program group which
will be formed again at the next general
assembly to be held in Vienna, Austria
from the 12th to the 17th April, 2015.
See: http://www.egu2015.eu/home.html
he irst workshop of the Digital Soil
Morphometrics working group will
be held from the 1st to 2nd June 2015,
in University of Wisconsin,-Madison,
USA.
Details at:
http://digitalsoilmorphometrics.org/inaugural-global-workshop-2015/
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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EVENTS
Please visit http://www.governancadosolo.gov.br/ for more detials
he 70th Annual Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) Conference will
provide a forum to celebrate past conservation accomplishments as well as share
and promote science-based knowledge
on critical, current issues facing soil, water, and environmental sustainability.
One way we are moving forward on current environmental challenges is by incorporating the former NIFA National
Water Conference into the SWCS Annual Conference, which will increase collaborative opportunities for Land-Grant
based scientists and educators engaged
in water issues. SWCS welcomes this addition to our already diverse audience
and the enhancement it will provide to
all conference participants.
Please visit http://www.swcs.org/en/conferences/2015_annual_conference/for
more detials.
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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EVENTS
Together, the Soil and Water Conservation Society, Conservation Districts of
Iowa, and the Midwest Cover Crops Council are hosting the Iowa Cover Crops
Conference on February 17-18, 2015, in West Des Moines, IA. You will ind the
complete conference agenda, hotel reservation link, and additional information
at www.swcs.org/15IACC.
Photo: Damien Field, he University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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CONTACTS
DIVISION CHAIR
Christian Feller,
France
cristian.feller@ird.fr
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Damien Field,
Australia
damien.ield@sydney.edu.au
1st VICE CHAIRPERSON
Cristine Muggler,
Brazil
cmuggler@ufv.br
2nd VICE CHAIRPERSON
Nilvania Aparecida de Mello,
Brazil
nilvania@utfpr.edu.br
COMMISSION 3
Chair
Ryusuke Hatano,
Japan
hatano@chem.agr.hokudai.ac.jp
Vice-Chair
Jay Jabro,
USA
jay.jabro@ars.usda.gov
COMMISSION 1
Chair
Masamichi Takahashi,
Japan
masamiti@afrc.go.jp
Vice-Chair
Ian Hollingsworth,
Australia
ian.hollingsworth@horizonsse,com
COMMISSION 4
Chair
Damien Field,
Australia
damien.ield@sydney.edu.au
Vice-Chair
Cristine Muggler,
Brazil
cmuggler@ufv.br
COMMISSION 2
Chair
Ganga Hettiarachchi,
USA
ganga@ksu.edu
Vice-Chair
Adelheid (Heide) Spiegel,
Austria
sophie.zechmeister@boku.ac.at
COMMISSION 5
Chair
homas J. Sauer,
USA
tom.sauer@ars.usda.gov
Vice-Chair
Richard Doyle
Australia
Richard.Doyle@utas.edu.au
SOIL CONNECTS - Division 4 - Issue 1
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