Quality Of Freshwater Resources Research Articles

Analyzing Water Conservation Techniques and Sustainable Irrigation Practices to Ensure the Availability of Clean Water for Future Generations

To keep ecosystems functioning, keep people alive, and propel social and economic progress, there must be access to clean water. The quantity and quality of freshwater resources are under jeopardy due to growing water scarcity, pollution, and climate change. In light of these issues, one of the most important things we can do to protect the supply of potable water for generations to come is to implement sustainable irrigation practices and water conservation measures. In light of the impending water crisis, this introduction lays the groundwork for an in-depth examination of sustainable irrigation practices and water conservation methods, discussing their significance, obstacles, and consequences. In light of increasing environmental challenges and water demands, it is critical to take immediate and decisive action to safeguard and responsibly manage water supplies. In light of changing environmental, social, and economic dynamics, this analysis aims to shed light on how to achieve water security and resilience by examining the concepts, innovations, and practical implementations of sustainable irrigation and water conservation. The main aim of this study is to analyze water conservation techniques & strategies of sustainable irrigation practices to provide insight for ensuring availability of clean water for future generations.

Contemporary methods for soil and water protection from the impact of railway traffic

One of the basic assignments of modern society is preserving the quality of freshwater resources, especially drinking water. Line facilities potentially pose a higher risk to the environment due to the large length of the extension and the diversity of the environment they may affect. Storm water drained from railway could pollute the surrounding land besides railway track. Based on the data from available research, it has been determined that heavy metals (iron, copper, zinc, manganese and chromium), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and herbicides stand out in significant quantities from substances hazardous to the environment. This paper proposes the solutions using some self-sustainable techniques, based on the analysis railway drainage needs. The proposals that have been made refer to the open-air railway and railway station.

Climate change impact on the quality of freshwater resources and waste management in the context of 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development

Abstract The importance of the effects of climate change has been emphasized on a variety of levels and from a number of different perspectives: on a country, regional or international level; affecting agriculture, energy, tourism, shipping, economic activities, various ecosystems as well as human health. It has been repeatedly recognized that climate change has a significant impact on freshwaters, including on their quality, availability and sustainability. From a different perspective, that of the circular economy, management strategies applied in respect to freshwaters have a direct impact on the climate. At the same time, improper waste management has a very high negative contribution to the latest climate changes, on one hand, and on the quality and availability of freshwater resources, on the other hand. Nevertheless, how all the three different above-mentioned elements – climate change, freshwater resources and waste management – are linked in the context of 2030 Agenda on sustainable development is yet to be thoroughly discussed in the scientific literature in the field of environmental law. Thus, by analysing a sample of the legal doctrine contributions published starting from 2016, as well as several official documents issued by the United Nations, we aimed to establish if all the three above-mentioned elements are interlinked and how they impact each other. As a result, we determined that there is a clear necessity for states to take unified measures to address climate change, protection and management of the freshwater resources and consistent waste management in the context of the Sustainable development goals (SDGs) introduced by the 2030 Agenda.

Accessibility to Fresh Water Resources for Domestic Uses in the Era of Climate Change and Variability in Pangani District, Tanzania

Access to clean and safe fresh water remain a challenge to many developing countries. Provision of fresh water both in terms of quantity and quality is a source of, and the condition for, a socio-economic development. Local communities in the coastal areas of Pangani district, Tanzania have already felt and are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and variability. This paper assesses the effects of climate change and variability on access to fresh water resources for domestic uses. Drawing from a sample of 109 respondents, 11 key informant interviews, three focus group discussions and observations from Bweni, Msaraza and Pangani Mashariki villages in Pangani district the fi ndings revealed that climate change and variability has negative impacts on the quantity and quality of fresh water resources in the area. Among the impact of climate change and variability on fresh water resources include rainfall decrease and variability, prolonged drought, an increase of salinity in Pangani River and natural wells. Th ese impacts have led to scarcity of fresh water in the district resulting into the increase of walking distances to the fresh water sources, increase of water prices, and opting for unsafe sources. To adapt to the impacts of climate change and variability people in Pangani district have opted to rainwater harvesting, construction of boreholes and dams and planting mangroves to reduce salinity intrusion. Participation of different stakeholders (governments, NGOs, communities) in the design and implementation of adaptation strategies to reduce impacts of climate change and variability and improve fresh water sources is recommended.

Freshwater system of coral inhabited island: Availability and vulnerability (Magoodhoo Island of Faafu Atoll – Maldives)

Freshwaters constitute a fundamental and extremely limited resource for atoll islands' population. The interplay of climatic and human-driven processes, which affect both the quantity and the quality of freshwater resources, may exacerbate the problem of water security and availability. This work evaluated the effects of good spectrum of anthropic impacts on groundwater quality in a typical and representative native inhabited island (c.a. 850 people) of Maldives, analyzing and interpreting hydrological and hydrochemical data, collected during a specific field survey on 51 sampling points after a rainy season. The island groundwater is constituted by a thin asymmetric lens, periodically recharged by rain. The lifestyle of people and water exploitation seem to be sustainable, even if groundwater resources are already experiencing moderate contamination and, limited to some areas, heavy pollution. The sources of impacts have been identified in diffuse organic matter contamination due to a poor domestic wastewater treatment, farming (poultry) and gardening activities. To face these impacts, it is essential to build a sewer system paired with a possibility to recycle wastewater reducing water over-exploitation. The collaborative and educational initiatives organization, at different levels, can increase the capacity for planning a sustainable development.Our results provide useful information for sustainable management plans to preserve freshwater resources of the island, which conservation is especially important considering the context of the future lifestyle changes and climatic scenarios for the Maldives. These findings can be extended by analogy to others atoll islands.

Assessment of Groundwater Resources in Coastal Areas of Pakistan for Sustainable Water Quality Management Using Joint Geophysical and Geochemical Approach: A Case Study

Delineation of fresh/saline groundwater is essential for sustainable water quality management, especially in the coastal areas all around the globe. Seawater intrusion causes substantial degradation in quality of freshwater resources in the coastal areas. The main reason for saltwater intrusion is the changing environment in terms of sea-level rise, climate change, and over-extraction of freshwater resources to meet the growing demands. In this study, an integrated approach of geophysical and geochemical methods was used to assess saltwater intrusion in the coastal areas of Bela Plain, Pakistan. The inverted electrical resistivity computed from 50 vertical electrical sounding (VES) constrained the subsurface into five layers and two aquifers through 3D imaging, such as silty clay and sandy clay containing saline water, and sand, sandy gravel, and gravel containing freshwater. However, the narrow range of resistivity values shows an overlap of saline/fresh groundwater. Such ambiguity in the resistivity interpretation was removed by Dar-Zarrouk (D-Z) parameters. D-Z parameters, namely transverse unit resistance (Tr), longitudinal unit conductance (Sc), and longitudinal resistivity (ρL) estimated from VES, marked a clear distinction between saline and fresh aquifers with a wide range of values. The geochemical method was performed using 20 water samples for the main cations (K+, Ca2+ Na+, and Mg2+), anions (SO42−, HCO3−, Cl−, and NO3−), and other parameters (TDS, EC, and pH). Fresh/saline aquifers revealed by D-Z parameters are in good agreement with those delineated by physicochemical parameters and local hydrogeological conditions. This study delineates seawater intrusion of about 13–42 km from Sonmiani Bay in the Arabian Sea towards the inlands of Bela Plain. Therefore, it is expected that this investigation will be helpful in future planning for the management and exploitation of freshwater resources in the study area. Our study suggests that D-Z parameters can be used as the most inexpensive alternative to the traditional geotechnical and environmental tests for the demarcation of fresh/saline groundwater with a large coverage in any coastal or contaminated area under a homogeneous or heterogeneous setting.

A Prediction Model Based on Deep Belief Network and Least Squares SVR Applied to Cross-Section Water Quality

Recently, the quality of fresh water resources is threatened by numerous pollutants. Prediction of water quality is an important tool for controlling and reducing water pollution. By employing superior big data processing ability of deep learning it is possible to improve the accuracy of prediction. This paper proposes a method for predicting water quality based on the deep belief network (DBN) model. First, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is used to optimize the network parameters of the deep belief network, which is to extract feature vectors of water quality time series data at multiple scales. Then, combined with the least squares support vector regression (LSSVR) machine which is taken as the top prediction layer of the model, a new water quality prediction model referred to as PSO-DBN-LSSVR is put forward. The developed model is valued in terms of the mean absolute error (MAE), the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), the root mean square error (RMSE), and the coefficient of determination ( R 2 ). Results illustrate that the model proposed in this paper can accurately predict water quality parameters and better robustness of water quality parameters compared with the traditional back propagation (BP) neural network, LSSVR, the DBN neural network, and the DBN-LSSVR combined model.

Predicting Streamflow and Nutrient Loadings in a Semi-Arid Mediterranean Watershed with Ephemeral Streams Using the SWAT Model

Predicting the availability and quality of freshwater resources is a pressing concern in the Mediterranean area, where a number of agricultural systems depend solely on precipitation. This study aims at predicting streamflow and nonpoint pollutant loads in a temporary river system in the Mediterranean basin (Sulcis area, Sardinia, Italy). Monthly discharge, suspended sediment, nitrate nitrogen, total nitrogen, mineral phosphorus, and dissolved oxygen in-stream monitoring data from gauge stations were used to calibrate and validate the Soil and Water Assessment Tool model for the period 1979–2009. A Sequential Uncertainty Fitting procedure was used to auto-calibrate parameter uncertainties and model evaluation. Monthly simulation during the validation period showed a positive model performance for streamflow with Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency and percent bias values of 0.7% and 18.7%, respectively. The simulation results at a watershed level indicate that the sediment load was 1.13 t ha−1 year−1, while for total nitrogen and total phosphorus, the simulated values were 4.8 and 1.18 kg ha−1 year−1, respectively. These results were consistent with the values of soil and nutrient losses observed in the Mediterranean area, although hot-spot areas with high nutrient loadings were identified. The calibrated model could be used to assess long-term impacts on water quality associated with the simulated land use scenarios.

Differences in ammonium oxidizer abundance and N uptake capacity between epilithic and epipsammic biofilms in an urban stream

AbstractThe capacity of stream biofilms to transform and assimilate N in highly N-loaded streams is essential to guarantee the water quality of freshwater resources in urbanized areas. However, the...

Seasonal Variations and Assessment of Water Quality of Nagchoon pond of Khandwa District (M.P.) India

Water is basic unit of life for all living organisms at this planet. Water is essential for drinking, domestic, irrigation and industries purposes. The Khandwa District is including in hot climatic region suffering from water crises whole year especially in summer season. The sources of potable water are limited in comparison to population of Khandwa. The important source of potable water is Nagchoon pond. In recent time a steady deterioration in the quality of fresh water resources is following the wake up of population explosion, consequent urbanization and rapid industrial development, cultural exploitation. Physico-chemical parameters have been studied fromJuly2008 to june2010.the results showed that the chloride, nitrate, phosphate exceeding permissible limit so water body inclined towards eutrophication. Therefore, the Conservation and management of this water body is very much required.

Water-Resource-Management Guide Offers Method for Identifying, Managing Risk

This article, written by Special Publications Editor Adam Wilson, contains highlights of paper SPE 168520, ’One Company's Upstream Water-Resources-Management Guide,’ by Stuart R.D. Lunn, SPE, Imperial Oil, and Mark R. Decatur, Michael L. Allen, and Rick A. Mire, ExxonMobil, prepared for the 2014 SPE International Conference on Health, Safety, and Environment, Long Beach, California, USA, 17-19 March. The paper has not been peer reviewed. While water issues are often location- and situation-dependent, a standardized guide to water-resource management has been developed for upstream oil- and gas-production projects and operations. The guide provides environmental, regulatory, and socioeconomic practitioners with a consistent and effective method to identify, assess, and manage water-resource-related risks and opportunities. The guide has four steps, each with embedded and scalable tools—data acquisition, data analysis, risk assessment, and risk management. Introduction The availability and quality of freshwater resources, coupled with increasingly stringent regulatory requirements in many locations, continue to challenge the oil and gas industry. Accordingly, the industry recognizes its responsibility to surrounding communities and to the environment regarding its management of fresh water. One company’s water- resource-management program is built upon a framework of principles designed to help manage interactions with water in order to Protect human health and the environment Consider local water needs when addressing operation requirements Continuously improve technologies, practice, and performance Engage stakeholders in development of sustainable water solutions In order to provide environmental, regulatory, and socioeconomic practitioners with the knowledge and methods to implement these principles, an upstream water-resource-management guide was developed. The guide does not contain any new requirements but rather is intended to function as a road map for practitioners to help them manage water resources more effectively within the context of existing internal requirements and external considerations, constraints, and requirements. The objectives of the guide are to Enhance the quality of data gathered regarding the use of water resources Identify and manage water-related risks Assist in the application of appropriate technology and operational practices to improve water-use efficiency and safeguard water quality

MINE WATER FOOTPRINT IN THE JOHANNESBURG AREA, SOUTH AFRICA: ANALYSIS BASED ON EXISTING AND MEASURED DATA

Groundwater quality in the Johannesburg area has been severely affected by mine water. Surface and ground water quality characteristics have been thoroughly assessed based on water chemistry. The results show that the dilution factor for mine water in the receiving streams ranges from 41% to 90% as a result of interaction with the dolomitic water that has an alkaline nature. The estimated SO 4 /Cl ratio lies between 0 and 306, while the Fe/Ca ratio ranges between 0 and 6. High SO 4 /Cl (>0) and Fe/Ca (>2.5) values potentially indicate the interference of mine water with the groundwater system. The closure of mines in the Johannesburg area has resulted in a long-term rise in the groundwater level, with a rate that varies between 1 m/y and 2 m/y, which can be related to the widespread plume of rising mine water in the aquifers. This severely impacts the quality of fresh water resources.

Spatio-temporal variability of surface water quality of fresh water resources in Ranchi Urban Agglomeration, India using geospatial techniques

Study was conducted in Ranchi Urban Agglomeration (RUA) to assess the surface water quality of major rivers and reservoirs during pre- and post-monsoon periods. Study indicated increase in chemical contaminants and decrease in biological contaminants during monsoon periods and a positive correlation with built-up land within the catchment of surface water sources. The remote sensing-based approach indicated Swarnrekha river and tributaries as more encroached by built-up land (0.73 km2 within 50 m buffer) than Jumar river and its tributaries (0.21 km2). For the proper management of the surface water sources in RUA, government attention and interventions are required to minimize the contamination and safeguard the health of local residents.

Dynamics of zinc sorption from aqueous matrices using plantain (Musa sp.) peel biomass

The influence of climate change on freshwater resources has undoubtedly affected the availability and quality of freshwater resources. However, the demand for water for agricultural, domestic, industrial and recreational purposes increases by the day globally. The need for remediation and reuse of large volumes of industrial wastewaters being generated globally therefore cannot be over-emphasized. The potential ability of plantain peel (Musa sp.) biomass to remove metal ions (Zn 2+ ) from aqueous matrices was studied. Influence of contact time, adsorbent weight, pH, metal concentration, temperature and shaking speed were investigated. Physico-chemical characterization (proximate and infra-red spectroscopic analyses) of the biomass was carried out to elucidate information on adsorption mechanisms. Desorption studies were also performed to determine possible recovery potential of Zn2+ and the re-usability of the biomass. Zn 2+ adsorption increased with increasing metal concentration in solution, adsorbent weight and contact period. Optimal pH value for adsorption was 3 after which Zn 2+ uptake decreased. Corresponding values for contact time, biomass weight and Zn 2+ concentration were 150 min, 24 g/L and 600 mg/L, respectively. Experimental data fitted into Freundlich’s isotherm. Carboxylic and hydroxyl groups were among the prominent functional groups on the surface of the biomass. Desorption of Zn 2+ from the biomass was less than 10%. Alternative compounds may be further investigated to improve on metal desorption from plantain peel biomass. This cannot be over-emphasized if the several advantages of this biomass (lesser cost than for synthetic resins, abundance and biodegradability) will be utilized for industrial applicability especially in emerging economies like Africa. Key words : Adsorption, zinc, isotherms, waste utilization, wastewaters.

Can product water footprints indicate the hydrological impact of primary production? – A case study of New Zealand kiwifruit

► We modelled the impact of NZ kiwifruit on the scarcity and quality of freshwater. ► We evaluated how this impact can be represented by water footprints. ► We found that kiwifruit production in NZ has little impact on both scarcity and quality of freshwater. ► Only the blue water footprint calculated with our Approach 1 indicated the impact of kiwifruit freshwater scarcity well. ► The grey water footprint addresses water quality and is sensitive to the background and maximum admissible concentration. Water footprints have been discussed as indicators for the influence of primary products on water scarcity and water quality. We assessed the impact of New Zealand kiwifruit on the scarcity and quality of freshwater resources and evaluated how the green-, blue- and grey-water footprints represented this impact. Water scarcity relates to the freshwater stored in soil and groundwater over a yearly timeframe. We found a negligible net change in soil water, as the freshwater in the soil is replenished every year by rain. The dynamics of freshwater in soil is indicated by the green-water footprint. Kiwifruit production has no impact on freshwater scarcity in soils, and we suggest, therefore, discarding the green-water footprint in this and similar studies. The groundwater recharge below kiwifruit orchards showed a large regional variation. A net depletion of groundwater resources occurs only in two kiwifruit growing regions, and only when the orchards are over-irrigated. The blue-water footprint indicates the status of the freshwater resources stored in the groundwater. We compared two different concepts. Our hydrologically based concept (Approach 1) quantifies the net change in the resources, whereas the Water Footprint Network (Approach 2) only accounts for the consumption. The blue-water footprint calculated by Approach 1 could explain 97% and by Approach 2 only 63% of the regional variation of net groundwater recharge below kiwifruit orchards. The values of the blue-water footprints are, on a regional average, about −500 L and 100 L per tray of kiwifruit with Approaches 1 and 2, respectively. According to Approach 1, a tray of kiwifruit delivers a net groundwater recharge of 500 L per tray, whereas according to Approach 2 the production of a tray of kiwifruit consumes 100 L of groundwater. Only Approach 1 contains all the hydrological processes making up the water balance that relates to groundwater. We assessed the impact of regional kiwifruit production on water quality by focusing on nitrate. The grey-water footprint indicates pollutant loading rates. On average, across all regions, the nitrate concentrations in the drainage water were well below the New Zealand drinking water standard of 11.3 mg/L NO 3 –N, but above the median concentration of all New Zealand groundwaters of 1.3 mg/L NO 3 –N. The annual nitrogen loads ranged across the regions from 3 to 15 kg NO 3 –N/ha. We found that the absolute values of the grey-water footprints are very sensitive to the choice of background and maximum admissible concentration value. We recommend that this information must always be given in addition to the grey-water footprint value. Overall, we conclude that the blue-water footprints derived by the hydrologically rational Approach 1, along with the grey-water footprinting metric, are a first step towards the quantification of the impact of agricultural production on the scarcity and quality of freshwater resources. These metrics would enable one to compare, on a product by product basis, the impact of production from different regions or countries. Some additional discussion would still be needed to enable evaluation of the inter-product comparison.

Impacts of Climate Change and Urban Development on Water Resources in the Tualatin River Basin, Oregon

We investigated the relative importance of future climate change and land use change in determining the quantity and quality of freshwater resources in northwestern Oregon's Tualatin River Basin using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS) modeling system. Models were calibrated and validated using historic flow and water quality data between 1990 and 2006. The goodness of fit for the calibrated models was high, with coefficients of determination ranging from 0.72 to 0.93 in the calibration period. The calibrated models were run under a range of eight statistically downscaled climate change, two regional land use change, and four combined scenarios. Results included average increases in winter flows of 10 percent, decreases in summer flows of 37 percent, and increases in fifth-percentile flows of up to 80 percent as a result of climate change in the Tualatin River Basin. For land use change, the results included an increase in annual flows of 21 percent for the development-oriented scenario and a decrease of 16 percent for the conservation-oriented scenario. For combined scenarios of high climate change and high urban development, there is a projected increase in winter flows of up to 71 percent and decrease in summer flows of up to 48 percent. Climate change scenarios were more significant than urban development scenarios in determining basin hydrological response. The results are relevant to regional planners interested in the long-term response of water resources to climate change and land use change at the basin scale.

Diatoms as indicators of long-term nutrient enrichment in metal-contaminated urban lakes from Sudbury, Ontario

The majority of the limnological research in Sudbury, Ontario, has focused on the anthropogenic impacts of industrial emissions (SO2 and metals), with the potential effects of cultural eutrophication largely being overlooked. However, the population of the City of Sudbury has grown with the prosperity of the mining sector, which poses a risk to the quality of freshwater resources. As with many environmental issues, there is often a lack of predisturbance data that can assist in gauging the full extent of environmental change. Therefore, paleolimnological approaches were used to track long-term biological changes in sedimentary diatom assemblages related to cultural eutrophication in 4 lakes from Sudbury. Diatom assemblages were primarily dominated by oligotrophic taxa prior to watershed development; however, with the onset of urban environmental stressors (e.g., septic systems, the application of lawn fertilizers and watershed development), there was a shift toward taxa that thrive in more productive systems. Diatom assemblages also seem to track an increase in lakewater pH through time, which is likely related to increased acid neutralizing capacity as a result of watershed disturbances, algal assimilation and bacterial reduction of NO− 3, and increased base cation export from the watershed due to acidic deposition. Insight into predisturbance conditions of the lakes should help lake managers set realistic biological targets for restoration and may be used to help gauge the response of these systems to future mitigation efforts.

Ecohydrological status of Lake Tana — a shallow highland lake in the Blue Nile (Abbay) basin in Ethiopia: review

This paper is based on a country report for Ethiopia prepared as a part of the ecohydrology component of IHP-UNESCO's FRIEND/Nile-phase II Project. It reviews past and current research in the Lake Tana sub-basin around the lake. The objective of the study was to determine the ecohydrological status of the Lake as a tool for integrated water resource management in improving the sustainability of the quantity and quality of freshwater resources in the Nile basin. The preliminary results show that reduced lake water level with its annual fluctuations and seasonal floods associated with high flows are becoming amplified and frequent, and the total average annual sediment load of the four major tributaries shows an increasing trend. Source pollution from urban waste and rural agriculture, and degradation of biota in the catchment are the two main environmental threats for the lake ecosystem. Knowledge gaps were identified and future research needs were recommended along with suggestion of some potential phytotechnologies to be applied in the study area.

Perception of change in freshwater in remote resource-dependent Arctic communities

This paper provides empirical evidence to support existing anecdotal studies regarding the mechanisms by which human communities become vulnerable to rapid changes in freshwater resources on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. We interviewed adults, stratified by age, sex, and extended family, in Inupiat communities on the Seward Peninsula. Using categorical indices as part of a semi-structured interview we elicited a respondent's perception of the availability and quality of freshwater resources in their community as well as their perception of change in the availability and quality of freshwater during the period of their lifetime in that community. Significant relationships were observed between age groups for the perception of change in the availability of the local water source and the perception of change in its quality—older generations perceiving more change than younger age groups. These perceptions of change were examined with respect to recent historic changes in precipitation and temperature on the Seward Peninsula. These findings suggest that individual perceptions are instrumental in determining whether or not change merits response. The findings also provide evidence that oral traditional knowledge systems have shifted from continuous to discontinuous transmission, distancing the users from traditional resources. We discuss the role of collective knowledge, through the transmission of knowledge from elders to subsequent generations, in aiding the development of a community's ability to note and respond to changes in critical natural resources.

Soil Science and the Carbon Civilization

Soil science must play a crucial role in meeting present and emerging societal needs of the 21st century and beyond for a population expected to stabilize around 10 billion and having increased aspirations for a healthy diet and a rise in the standards of living. In addition to advancing food security by eliminating hunger and malnutrition, soil resources must be managed regarding numerous other global needs through interdisciplinary collaborations. Some of which are to mitigate global warming; to improve quantity and quality of freshwater resources; to enhance biodiversity; to minimize desertification; serve as a repository of waste; an archive of human and planetary history; meet growing energy demands; develop strategies of sustainable management of urban ecosystems; alleviate poverty of agricultural communities as an engine of economic development; and fulfill aspirations of rapidly urbanizing and industrializing societies. In addition to food and ecosystem services, bio‐industries (e.g., plastics, solvents, paints, adhesives, pharmaceuticals and chemicals) through plant‐based compounds (carbohydrates, proteins, and oils) and energy plantations (bioethanol and biodiesel) can revolutionize agriculture. These diverse and complex demands on soil resources necessitate a shift in strategic thinking and conceptualizing sustainable management of soil resources in agroecosystems to provide all ecosystem services while also meeting the needs for food, feed, fiber, and fuel by developing multifunctional production systems. There is a strong need to broaden the scope of soil science to effectively address ever changing societal needs. To do this, soil scientists must rally with allied sciences including hydrology, climatology, geology, ecology, biology, physical sciences (chemistry, physics), and engineering. Use of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and information technology can play an important role in addressing emerging global issues. Pursuit of sustainability, being a moral/ethical and political challenge, must be addressed in cooperation with economists and political scientists. Soil scientists must work in cooperation with industrial ecologists and urban planners toward sustainable development and management of soils in urban and industrial ecosystems. More than half of the world's population (3.3 billion) live in towns and cities, and the number of urban dwellers is expected to increase to 5 billion by 2030. Thus, the study of urban soils for industrial use, human habitation, recreation, infrastructure forestry, and urban agriculture is a high priority. Soil scientists must nurture symbiotic/synergistic relations with numerous stake holders including land managers, energy companies and carbon traders, urban planners, waste disposal organizations, and conservators of natural resources. Trading of C credits in a trillion‐dollar market by 2020 must be made accessible to land managers, especially the resource‐poor farmers in developing countries. Soil science curricula, at undergraduate and graduate levels, must be revisited to provide the needed background in all basic and applied sciences with focus on globalization. We must raise the profile of soil science profession and position students in the competitive world of ever flattening Earth.