Soil Science Society Of America Research Articles

The “Soil Skills” Pedagogical Approach Conjugated With Soil Judging Contests

The inherent complexity of soil and its interactions with Earth’s diverse spheres, including the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere within the ecosphere, and anthroposphere, requires that soil science specialists and students develop not only a profound understanding of soil science, but also the ability to collaborate across various disciplines to address these complex challenges. Equipping students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to tackle the intricate and dynamic issues of the 21st century, spanning soil science, water sciences, hydropedology, geology, agronomy, geotechnical engineering, sedimentation, waste management, recycling, and environmental management, is of paramount importance. In response, innovative pedagogical approaches that integrate classroom learning from diverse soil science courses with practical skills and field-based competencies are needed. This paper suggests merging our own “Soil Skills” (SSK) pedagogical method with the “Soil Judging Contest” (SJC), a teaching approach supported by the American Society of Agronomy and the Soil Science Society of America since 1961. This integration aims to enhance the holistic, harmonized, interdisciplinary, and enthusiastic nature of soil science education. Both the SSK and SJC approaches received positive feedback from students and demonstrated significant improvements in academic performance. Our study begins with an in-depth exploration of the SSK contest, followed by an overview of the pertinent aspects of the SJC. Subsequently, we offer a comparative analysis of the complementarity of these two approaches. Finally, in the concluding remarks, we summarize the strengths of the implemented SSK and outline prospective applications. Our findings underscore the unique advantages of combining SSK and SJC approaches in delivering comprehensive, problem-based, and practical field-learning experiences. This combination approach closely aligns with applied scenarios that demand multidisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity perspectives, preparing students for their future professional careers, and enabling the practical application of their soil science knowledge in real-world contexts.

Editorial: Open Access on the move

Finally, the open access movement has fully reached the United States, with the White House announcing that by 31 Dec. 2025, scientific publications and the supporting data resulting from federally funded research should immediately be made publicly accessible upon publication (The White House, 2022, August 25). The new policy will require publications and the supporting data generated from federally funded research to be freely accessible. This policy will boost the open access model for publications, and brings the United States more in line with Europe, which has adopted a similar policy, the Coalition S program (European Science Foundation, 2022), stating that research funded by national, regional, and international funding bodies must be published open access. While the U.S. policy does not directly demand publication in open access journals, open access journals provide an ideal platform to implement the new policy. Vadose Zone Journal has embraced open access since 2018 and publishes articles under the Gold Open Access model, meaning that the final published version of an article is freely available online for anyone, anywhere to download and read. The drawback of open access for individual authors, however, is that open access journals levy an article processing charge (APC), which must be paid prior to publication and by the authors or their institutions. As Editors, we have heard many times that authors are hesitant to publish in an open access journal because of the APC, given that authors have the alternative to publish for free in subscription-based, non-open-access journals. This is a valid argument, as research funding is limited and authors may not have the funds available to pay for publications costs. Nonetheless, for the “free” subscription-based journals, the cost for the publication is ultimately paid by the libraries, which pay for the subscriptions of scientific journals. Coalition S, as well as the new U.S. policy, while requiring immediate open or public access, will also help authors cover the APC by providing additional funding for the added publication costs and by providing incentives to research and funding agencies to make transformational deals with publishers to waive the APC for authors. Such transformational deals between universities/research agencies and publishers are already common in Europe and will allow researchers to publish their research in open access journals without having to pay the APC themselves. Currently, such transformational deals are rare in the United States, but the new policy will likely change that. Some transformational deals, particularly in the United States, allow authors to publish for free in hybrid journals, but not in Gold Open Access journals. This puts Gold Open Access journals like the Vadose Zone Journal at a disadvantage, and such unilateral transformational deals should be discouraged. Also, open access publication in hybrid journals offering open access without transformational deals would ultimately lead to increased costs if authors pay open access fees and libraries still need to subscribe to the journals. Publishing Gold Open Access is a step to ensuring equitable access to research for all and as such should be embraced, valued, and cherished. However, the open access model needs to be further developed and improved. Existing programs that help authors to cover the APC should be expanded, and new initiatives need to be developed, to ensure equal access for authors to publish in open access journals. The open access model is susceptible to misuse, as shown by the existence of a plethora of predatory journals, which aggressively solicit authors to submit articles and then make profit from APCs without regard to scientific quality. Such misuse needs to be prevented, for instance through legal interventions like in a recent ruling by the United States District Court District of Nevada (a ruling affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit) against an open access publisher (Federal Trade Commission v. OMICS Group Inc., 2019). Authors need to be aware of predatory journals and should only submit to trusted open access publishers. Vadose Zone Journal is committed to publishing high-quality research and its supporting data freely and with immediate accessibility for all. In addition, as a society-owned journal, Vadose Zone Journal directly supports the Soil Science Society of America, a member-owned international scientific society that provides quality research-based publications, educational programs, certifications, science policy initiatives, meeting forums, and a professional home for scientists. The Soil Science Society of America publications, including Vadose Zone Journal, have recently partnered with the commercial publisher John Wiley & Sons, who has taken over the marketing and production aspects of journals (management of the journal's website, advertising, marketing, typesetting), while the editorial process (review, manuscript approval, editorial policy) remains the society's responsibility. In turn, Wiley receives some of the revenue of the journals for its services, but another portion of the journals’ revenue directly flows into society activities. Thus, publishing in Vadose Zone Journal is also a commitment and testimony to support society-owned journals as opposed to those owned by commercial for-profit publishers.

Fostering Innovation and Global Competitiveness in the 2023 Farm Bill

AbstractWith the 2018 farm bill set to expire next year, stakeholder groups—like CCAs and members of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)—are working to develop their recommendations to put forward to Congress. During this time, it is critical that our Societies engage in the discussion and make sure that Congress is aware of the effects that farm bill programs have on the scientific community. To do this, a Farm Bill Task Force, made up of CCAs and members from all three Societies, has been established to assist the Science Policy Office staff in developing our policy and research recommendations.

Update on Soil Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of China Working Group

Update on Soil Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of China Working Group

Review of Rain or Shine: An Introduction to Soil Physical Properties and Processes. Tyson Ochsner. Published by Oklahoma State University Libraries under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Version 6. Last updated 19 Jan. 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/Z4RBT

Rain or Shine is an open textbook that consists of 242 pages and 13 chapters that cover fundamental concepts in soil physics and vadose zone hydrology. The textbook is aimed at upper-level undergraduate students and graduate students at the master's level pursuing a degree in soil science, crop science, agronomy, environmental science, or hydrology. The book covers most of the soil physics topics included in the Soil Science Performance Objectives defined by the Soil Science Society of America's Council of Soil Science Examiners. Thus, this book can be helpful for students and practitioners preparing to become certified professional soil scientists. The latest version of the book is available for free through the Open Science Framework repository (https://osf.io/z4rbt/) and the author's institutional website (http://soilphysics.okstate.edu/) in the Portable Document Format (PDF, file size of 10 MB), which allows for easy electronic distribution in websites, email, and learning management systems. The book has clear prose, a logical organization of the content, and well-articulated examples that allow readers to relate soil physical properties and processes to aspects of everyday life. All formal definitions in terms of mathematical equations are presented at the algebraic level. Readers that complete this book will be equipped with the necessary foundation to take more advanced soil physics courses with a greater focus on differential equations. Each chapter clearly states the learning objectives and engages the reader through multiple media components including images, tables, videos, and hyperlinks to additional informative content. Several videos were recorded by the author himself and provide worked examples that complement the book material and provide a more immersive learning experience than traditional books. All images and tables have descriptive captions and appropriately indicate the source and corresponding license of the reference material. Most chapters also include a problem set that consists of study questions and practical problems. A problem set key is available from the author of the book upon request (and thus is not accessible by students). Chapter 1 contains the author's motivation for the book, a practical introduction to the International System of Units, and a list of additional resources to review basic concepts in physics, mathematics, and soil science. Chapter 2 covers the hierarchical spatial organization of soils from global patterns to the primary soil particles. In this chapter, the author introduces key concepts such as soil structure, aggregate stability, soil texture, and particle size distribution. This chapter also introduces the Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure method, which can be easily adapted into a complementary field or laboratory exercise. Practical real-world examples are provided related to climate change, agricultural management, and pesticide transport in the soil. Chapter 3 introduces the concepts of soil water content, soil water potential, and soil water retention curves. This section has particular emphasis on mass–volume relationships like gravimetric water content, volumetric water content, and soil water storage. This chapter also includes detailed description of methods and instruments used to measure soil water content and soil water potential. Chapter 4 covers saturated and unsaturated soil water flow in soils. This chapter covers the concept of hydraulic gradient, hydraulic equilibrium, and soil hydraulic conductivity. Chapters 5–11 cover the dominant soil physical processes by following the fate of a raindrop through Earth's soil water balance. Chapter 5 starts with a description of soil water inputs like precipitation and irrigation. Special attention is given to global precipitation spatial patterns, precipitation amount, and precipitation intensity. This chapter also emphasizes canopy and litter interception, raindrop impact, and crust formation due to physical dispersion. Chapter 6 describes the infiltration process, infiltration models, and infiltration measurements in field conditions. Chapter 7 covers runoff and the stages of soil erosion by water. Chapter 8 presents the process of soil water redistribution and drainage. This chapter includes the definition of practical concepts like field capacity and an interesting discussion on the potential environmental impacts of drainage. Chapter 9 is closely related to the previous chapter and covers solute transport and groundwater pollution in agricultural soils. This chapter introduces the concepts of advection, diffusion, hydrodynamic dispersion, and sorption of solutes. The chapter also includes a comprehensive presentation of preferential flow in soils. Chapter 10 covers the evaporation process, salinization, and soil erosion by wind. This chapter represents the bridge between the soil water balance and the surface energy balance. The chapter includes excellent content on the impact of drought and poor management practices on the Dust Bowl in the U.S. Great Plains. Chapter 11 presents plant transpiration and root water uptake with emphasis on the continuous pathways along the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum. The chapter describes plant transpiration responses to soil moisture conditions characterized by the energy-state of water in the soil. Chapters 12 and 13 cover the nature and fate of solar radiation received at the land surface. Chapter 12 describes in detail the modes of heat transfer in the soil, the components of the surface energy balance, and the impact of land management and soil physical properties on the phenomenon of climate change. Chapter 13 covers heat transfer, surface and subsurface soil temperature, and soil thermal properties (heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and thermal diffusivity). The book could benefit from additional chapters on gas transport, and soil mechanics and engineering properties, which are the only sections of the soil physics portion of the Soil Science Fundamentals Exam Performance Objectives not currently present in the book. Since the book is available under the Creative Commons License, anyone can contribute with additional chapters. However, the textbook is currently only available in PDF format, which limits the ability of others to edit or comment on the book. Perhaps the adoption of a different platform more amenable to collaborative writing like Wikibooks (https://en.wikibooks.org), GitBook (https://www.gitbook.com/), or the implementation of annotation tools (e.g., hypothesis: https://web.hypothes.is/) could benefit the participation of other authors. A distinct advantage of this open textbook is that the author has been consistently updating the book every year to keep information relevant and incorporating feedback from students and teachers alike. This book is insightful, easy to read, and presents a refreshing and integrated view of modern soil physics. We highly recommend this book to students, teachers, and practitioners in the fields of agronomy, soil science, environmental science, and hydrology. The authors of this review have been using the Rain or Shine textbook for the past three years as the reference textbook for a dual-level (i.e., undergraduate and graduate-level) course in Environmental Soil Physics at Kansas State University (Patrignani), Texas A&M University (Wyatt), Auburn University (Knappenberger), Humboldt State University (Marshall), and Oklahoma State University (Wyatt); it has had a great reception from students: “I really enjoy the textbook; it is very easy to understand and explains materials perfectly for someone new to soils. The videos included in the online textbook are usually very helpful on the homework. I also find that having a deeper understanding of the physical context of what the equations we learn to measure.” Spring 2020, Oklahoma State University. The development of this textbook was supported in part by the Wise Oklahoma State University Library Open Textbook Initiative. This review was supported by the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station (Contribution 22-217-J).

Towards diverse representation and inclusion in soil science in the United States

AbstractSoil science is one of the least diverse subdisciplines within the agricultural, earth, and natural sciences. Representation within soil science does not currently reflect demographic trends in the United States. We synthesize available data on the representation of historically marginalized groups in soil science in the United States and identify historical mechanisms contributing to these trends. We review education and employment information within academia and the federal government, land‐grant university participation, and available Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) membership data to gain insight into the current state of representation within soil sciences and implications for the future of this discipline. Across all domains of diversity, historically marginalized groups are under‐represented in soil science. We provide recommendations toward recognizing diversity within the field and improving and encouraging diversity within the SSSA, and suggested responses for both individuals and institutions toward improving diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Pivoting to online laboratories due to COVID‐19 using the Science of Agriculture digital tools: A case study

On 12 Mar. 2020 Dickinson State University moved all classes to distance delivery (DD) in response to COVID‐19. Faculty had only a brief opportunity to plan, as the turn‐around to DD was very rapid. Meaningful laboratory exercises were needed for SOIL 210–Introduction to Soil Science. The senior author learned about the Science of Agriculture (SoA) website on a discussion board created by the Soil Science Society of America, which provided links to distance education resources. Most of the resources from SoA addressed topics still to be covered in SOIL 210, and four of the semester's final six labs were developed using SoA: Understanding Data and Chemistry, Soil Chemistry, Dryland Soils, and Microbiology and Nitrogen. Materials available on the SoA website include video clips, interactive exercises, and virtual labs. Although the virtual labs, with the exception of Sorption!, are not soil science focused, they cover basic skills that soil scientists use. Each of the four labs utilized four to eight of the activities (video clips, interactive activities, and/or virtual labs) available on SoA, depending on the length of time each activity was expected to take and the number of activities available for the given topic. Students were asked to answer specific questions related to their lab experience with the digital activities. The SoA website provided useful tools to develop meaningful experiences for the SOIL 210 students in lieu of their traditional laboratory exercises.

Organic Matter Preservation in Ancient Soils of Earth and Mars.

The emerging field of astropedology is the study of ancient soils on Earth and other planetary bodies. Examination of the complex factors that control the preservation of organic matter and other biosignatures in ancient soils is a high priority for current and future missions to Mars. Though previously defined by biological activity, an updated definition of soil as planetary surfaces altered in place by biological, chemical or physical processes was adopted in 2017 by the Soil Science Society of America in response to mounting evidence of pedogenic-like features on Mars. Ancient (4.1–3.7 billion year old [Byr]) phyllosilicate-rich surface environments on Mars show evidence of sustained subaerial weathering of sediments with liquid water at circumneutral pH, which is a soil-forming process. The accumulation of buried, fossilized soils, or paleosols, has been widely observed on Earth, and recent investigations suggest paleosol-like features may be widespread across the surface of Mars. However, the complex array of preservation and degradation factors controlling the fate of biosignatures in paleosols remains unexplored. This paper identifies the dominant factors contributing to the preservation and degradation of organic carbon in paleosols through the geological record on Earth, and offers suggestions for prioritizing locations for in situ biosignature detection and Mars Sample Return across a diverse array of potential paleosols and paleoenvironments of early Mars. A compilation of previously published data and original research spanning a diverse suite of paleosols from the Pleistocene (1 Myr) to the Archean (3.7 Byr) show that redox state is the predominant control for the organic matter content of paleosols. Most notably, the chemically reduced surface horizons (layers) of Archean (2.3 Byr) paleosols have organic matter concentrations ranging from 0.014–0.25%. However, clay mineralogy, amorphous phase abundance, diagenetic alteration and sulfur content are all significant factors that influence the preservation of organic carbon. The surface layers of paleosols that formed under chemically reducing conditions with high amounts of iron/magnesium smectites and amorphous colloids should be considered high priority locations for biosignature investigation within subaerial paleoenvironments on Mars.

Guilette Receives Inaugural CCA Conservationist of the Year Award

The importance of conservation-minded agricultural practices has brought together the USDA-NRCS, Agriculture Retailers Association, American Society of Agronomy, CropLife America, Crop Science Society of America, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, Soil Science Society of America, Syngenta, and The Fertilizer Institute in support of a new award celebrating CCAs who work to advance environmental stewardship within agriculture. Nick Guilette (center) is the inaugural recipient of the CCA Conservationist of the Year Award. Source: USDA-NRCS Wisconsin. The CCA Conservationist of the Year Award recognizes a CCA who is an innovative leader in conservation, delivers exceptional conservation advice and results, and contributes substantially to the exchange of conservation ideas and knowledge within the agriculture industry. Agriculture and environmental stewardship must proceed hand in hand believes the inaugural award recipient, Nick Guilette. Quick to give credit to his grandfather, Guilette's love and respect for the land took root on the family farm in Casco, WI. Graduating with a general resource management degree and minor in soil science from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point furthered Guilette's passion for agriculture and commitment to conservation. He now works as a nutrient manager for Ebert Enterprises where he enjoys extensive time in the field and working side by side with producers. Guilette previously worked as a nutrient plan writer and GPS soil sampler at AgSource Laboratories in Bonduel, WI for nine years, advising local dairy farmers on proper manure application on nearly 30,000 acres. Chis Clark, fellow CCA at AgScource who nominated Guilette for the award, says, “Nick has always looked to the future for innovations that will further conservation efforts within agriculture.” Guilette's area of northeastern Wisconsin is an environmentally sensitive area with extensive agricultural production. This area has particular water quality challenges due to considerable quantities of manure, shallow soil depths, fractured bedrock that makes groundwater susceptible to contamination, and proximity to the bay of Green Bay and Lake Michigan, Clark explains. However, CCAs in the area are providing advice to maximize nutrient availability and minimize nutrient loss with best management practices. Guilette's commitment to environmental stewardship and proactive conservation solutions are evident in his community involvement. He serves as co-crop adviser for two farmer-led groups concentrating on water quality solutions, Peninsula Pride Farms (PPF) and the Door-Kewaunee Demonstration Farm Network (DK Demo Farms). “PPF's vision is to demonstrate that clean water and a prosperous dairy community can co-exist,” says Dr. Don Niles, DVM and PPF President. Created in 2016, PPF now consists of 50 farmers, representing half the cows and tillable acres within two counties and 10 business members. As a farmer-led nonprofit, PPF focuses on improving surface water quality and protecting groundwater by improving soil health, reducing pathogens, and decreasing phosphorus and nitrogen loss. “Nick is often the public face of PPF, whether it involves speaking to reporters or with our newly elected governor, in a farm field, where each were [recently] holding clumps of soil and root mass, discussing soil health,” Niles says. “There is no doubt in my mind that Nick's ideas and leadership have led to a healthier and more balanced agricultural community in northeast Wisconsin.” The Door-Kewaunee Demo Farm Network consists of four farms committed to the testing and sharing of the best conservation practices for protecting water quality in the Great Lakes Basin. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection, the USDA-NRCS, and PPF are working in unison through the DK Demo Farm Network to find innovative solutions, sharing not only their successes but also their failures with other farmers through field days and conferences. NRCS representative and CCA Barry Bubolz, working alongside the farmers, Guilette, and others at the Demo Farms states, “We are utilizing soil health principles and sustainable agriculture practices to improve water quality.” Proof that the innovative efforts of this team are working came with the deluge of rain that hung over Wisconsin this past year. The Demo Farms led the way for low-disturbance manure applicators to be used in the area. “This type of applicator allows manure to be applied in tiny slits into winter rye, other cover crops, and alfalfa, reducing runoff and potential contamination,” Bubolz explains. “The success of these types of applicators has led to more producers utilizing the management and local manure applicators, adding these types of applicators to their lineup of available equipment.” Beginning in fall of 2018 and continuing through 2019, the area received 10 to 18 inches above the normal precipitation. The saturated ground presents multiple problems, but a new management style of “planting green,” demonstrated at the DK Farms, is showing promise. “Planting green, planting into a growing cover crop, enabled planting to continue this year despite excessive moisture,” Bubolz says. “The green cover crop taking up water and the root systems holding soils helped reduce soil erosion, reduce nutrient runoff, and dramatically improved harvesting conditions in a very wet and difficult fall.” USDA-NRCS Chief Matthew Lohr (left) presents the CCA Conservationist of the Year award to Nick Guilette, with Bill Northey (right), Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. Source: USDA-NRCS Wisconsin. “Three years ago, we began participating in the DK Demo Farm Network, exploring better conservation practices,” says Aaron Augustian of Augustian Farms LLC, owned and operated by Todd and Aaron Augustian. “I wanted to try some out-of-the-box thinking.” The farm is home to 1,250 milking and dry cows housed in freestall barns and milked three times a day. Corn, wheat, and alfalfa are grown on 1,300 acres. The Augustian farm is 1.5 miles off the shores of Lake Michigan, which underscores the importance of keeping nutrients in the fields. “With Nick's assistance, we are using more cover crops to prevent soil and nutrient loss.” Planting corn into growing rye, applying manure to a growing crop to reduce nutrient runoff, seeding a cover crop with manure application, reshaping grass waterways, and planting native grasses for wildlife and bee habitat represent some of the innovations being tested at the Augustian Farm. “Under Nick's guidance, the DK Demo Farms have been testing how specific conservation practice systems reduce erosion and sedimentation, control phosphorus runoff, and increase organic matter and improve soil health. The scientific data collected is then used to explain the results of experiments taking place and shared through a wide range of educational opportunities for the public and all those involved in agriculture,” Clark states. “Nick is a strong promoter of the 4R practices of nutrient application; right source, right rate, right time, and right place. He conveys and presents his recommendations for conservation practices with a personal approach that garners trust,” notes Vice President of Laboratory Services at AgSource Laboratories, Steve Peterson. “He pushes his clients to be better and has a great ability to describe agricultural principles to people with little prior knowledge of farming,” Niles says. Guilette is an educator at heart, sharing his wealth of knowledge and the lessons learned through PPF and the DK Demo Farms with all those involved in agriculture and those outside of agriculture. His commitment to environmental stewardship and belief that the path to the future necessitates that agriculture and conservation proceed hand in hand confirms the CCA Conservationist of the Year Award couldn't be in more capable hands.

Presidents of the Soil Science Society of America

Soil Science Society of America JournalVolume 83, Issue 3 p. 856-860 Reports 2018 Presidents of the Soil Science Society of America First published: 01 May 2019 https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2018.0107pres_and_yearly_reportsaRead the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume83, Issue3May-June 2019Pages 856-860 RelatedInformation

A “Soil Lorax” Perspective on Corn Stover for Advanced Biofuels

Core Ideas Corn stover is a potentail feedstock for advanced biofuels. Benefits and risks assoicated with harvesting residues reviewed. Strategies to protect soil if residues harvested summarized. Crop residues like corn (Zea mays L) stover are potential feedstock for production of advanced biofuels (e.g., cellulosic ethanol). Utilization of residue like stover for biofuel feedstock may provide economic and greenhouse gas mitigation benefits; however, harvesting these materials must be done in a manner that protects the soil. This paper summarizes an introductory overview presented at the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) workshop in Sacramento, CA, on crop residue removal for advanced biofuel production. Corn stover has been identified as an advanced biofuel feedstock, which could provide agronomic, economic and greenhouse gas mitigation benefits. However, stover harvest may result in soil exposed to erosive forces, and inadequate residue input for sustaining soil organic matter, resulting in soil degradation and other negative environmental consequences. Thus, strategies to protect the soil resource to balance current and future societal needs are required. Returning adequate residue and/or adding cover crops can mitigate or reduce risks to soil properties, which may be adversely impacted by harvesting crop residue. It is paramount to safeguard the soil so this indispensable resource continues providing a wide range of services including feeding and clothing a growing population.

SUGARCANE PRODUCTION AMONG A2 FARMERS IN THE HIPPO VALLEY ESTATES AND THE QUEST FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, ZIMBABWE

Sugarcane production requires equipment, significant amounts of agro-chemicals including fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides irrigation and heavy machinery that can lead to environmental degradation (Soil Science Society of America, 1997). The expansion of plantation sugarcane farming among A2 farmers in the Hippo Valley estates without proper institutional mechanisms presents a myriad of problems ecologically, socially and economically. Being a semi-arid area, any extensive extractive ventures would exacerbate competition for already scarce land and water resources. Most of the small scale and some of the commercial farmers are not adequately equipped with sustainable ways of sugarcane farming hence, threatening the country’s sugar industry’s competitiveness in relation to other world class producers and industries. Expansion of sugarcane plantations means that natural resources such as forests, grassland and shrubs, most of which double up as pastureland risk being encroached into. That none of these natural resources is under legal protection increases the risk of them being mismanaged contributing further to environmental degradation through soil erosion, loss of species, exhaustion of nutrients and interfering with other ecosystem services. Researches which have been conducted show that the principle of sustainable agriculture is broadly accepted but the systematic consideration in practical farm management is still very limited in most tropical sugarcane plantations. This study seeks to bring light on the sustainable ways of sugarcane production among A2 farmers in the Hippo Valley estates and to assess the knowledge of farmers on sustainable sugarcane farming and challenges faced by farmers in trying to implement sustainable sugarcane production. The study was conducted between January and May, 2018 and it shows the challenges confronting Hippo Valley Estates in its quest for sustainable development. Article visualizations:

Crop Science Society of America Celebrates First Annual Crop Wild Relative Week, September 22–29, 2018

Crop wild relatives are all plant species that are related to the crops farmers grow to feed the world. These include the wild ancestral plants that our own ancestors domesticated by selecting and planting seeds of the individual plants that had the most desirable traits and that, over the past 10,000 years, became the crops we recognize and depend on today. Crop wild relatives also include any of the plant species that are closely related to our crops and can form fertile hybrids with them. These wild and weedy species contain important genes that can be crossed into our domesticated crops. Plant breeders depend on these crop wild relatives to provide new genes that do not occur in our crop plants, as a way of introducing natural and useful diversity for the creation of new crop cultivars. In the laboratory, even more distantly related plants can be crossed and infertile offspring can be rescued and grown into plants that can be used to bridge gene transfer from distant relatives into domesticated species. Many of the wild and weedy species have been collected from their native environments and are kept alive in genebanks. The very term genebank points to the value of these resources. They are sources of new genes that humanity will need to confront future food supply problems. Seeds or cuttings of these wild plants are freely available to plant breeders and geneticists around the world, who use them to create new, strong varieties. Farmers will grow them to feed a growing public, and will do so under increasingly difficult growing environments and in the face of increasing shortages of water, fertilizers, and farm land. The wild plants now kept in the US National Plant Germplasm System, and in international gene banks in many countries of the world, are sometimes the last of their kind; some have gone extinct in the wild, as human development has, in many cases, destroyed their original habitats. These collections must be conserved for the very long term, but as living organisms, this requires a constant input of funding. This funding is needed to pay the salaries of the scientists who conserve and investigate the plants, the electricity and infrastructure of the genebank buildings and growing fields, and the labor of growing new generations when seeds or cuttings begin to lose viability as well as distribution to interested researchers around the world. Work on characterizing the plants for what useful traits they contain and making that data freely available is also necessary to bring a return on the investment of conserving these important collections. The more we know about what traits each plant possesses, the more these traits can be capitalized upon in the development of new and useful crop varieties. The Crop Science Society of America is proud to host Crop Wild Relative Week on September 22 – 29, 2018, to celebrate the contribution that these humble and hearty plants have made to increasing food security around the world. The collections of plants; the work being done to collect, conserve, characterize, and use them; and the importance of continuing to do so will be highlighted in blogs, web stories, and infographics. Online resources for anyone interested in learning more crop wild relatives can be found (https://www.crops.org/crop-wild-relative). In addition, new stories and resources will be added to the site on an ongoing basis, including educational materials for educators and parents of K-12 kids, our future scientists. Here at Crop Science, the flagship journal of the Crop Science Society of America, we are proud to publish original work from crop scientists around the world. Many of the plant breeders, geneticists, biotechnologists, and conservation biologists publish articles about crop wild relatives. These articles include work on how these plants are related to our important crop species, and to each other. They publish about what important useful traits crop relatives contain, especially traits that will address problems of new diseases, insects, and weed problems that will arise to threaten our crops in the future. Also of interest are publications about traits to solve problems faced by farmers due to drought, heat, soil salinity, and unexpected floods or frosts, the incidence of which are all increasing in number and unpredictability due to global climate change. Researchers also publish on traits to fulfill the desire of US consumers for safer, more nutritious, and more delicious food, which can be grown at an economical price year round. These articles are published, along with all the data from the studies, so that other scientists can use the conclusions to advance their own research. This dissemination of information, data, and knowledge, is the main purpose of Crop Science and the other journals published by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America. Many of the articles published over the years on crop wild relatives can be found at https://www.crops.org/crop-wild-relative/featured-research. Much of the work done to increase food security in the US and around the world, and especially the breakthroughs created using crop wild relatives, have been done without great fanfare. As long as rows of beautiful fruits and vegetables, breads and pastas, and even meats, eggs, and milk, line our grocery shelves, the urgency and importance of the work of plant breeders is often taken completely for granted. The success of past research must not lead to complacency in future funding and prioritization of agricultural science in general, and especially the continued conservation and use of plant germplasm and crop wild relatives. Crop Wild Relative Week will shine a spotlight on the very engine that can drive future success in plant breeding and the creation of new grain, fruit and vegetable, forage, biofuel, and fiber crop varieties. We also hope that September 22 – 29th will kick off longer-term possibilities for raising scientific literacy on this subject. From grade school students learning to love science and understanding where their food comes from, to high school and college students deciding what to major in, to the general public who vote for continued public funding to continue the important work being done with these crop wild relatives, the resources, stories, and fun facts that can be found on our websites are for everyone. Please come and enjoy them yourselves!

Soil Testing Bray-1 Phosphorus with Non-Reagent Grade Hydrochloric and Sulfuric Acids

ABSTRACTPortable instruments have reduced on-site testing costs for soil pH and potassium in isolated locations. Acids could not be shipped to a remote Africa field laboratory. Bray-1 phosphorus (P) testing is difficult because hydrochloric (HCl) is required in the extraction solution and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is used in color development stock solutions. Muriatic HCl acid and battery H2SO4 were available in a local stores. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the accuracy of P soil testing using diluted, non-reagent HCl for making modified Bray1-P extractant and non-reagent H2SO4 for color development. Experiment 1 was conducted with soil samples from fields using Sunnyside™ and Klean Strip™ HCl muriatic acids. Soil samples extracted with diluted reagent HCl were closely related to P results using diluted Klean Strip (R2 = 0.96) and Sunnyside (R2 = 0.84) HCl. In Experiment 2, two commercial brands of H2SO4 acid used to refill car battery cells were evaluated. Test results suggested that the battery H2SO4 acids are not suitable for making color development solution. In Experiment 3, a small battery powered spectrometer for P testing aquarium water was calibrated for soils. Samples from the Soil Science Society of America –North American Proficiency Testing program (NAPT) were tested with the meter and non-reagent HCl. Fiske-Subbarrow reducing agent and HCl were used in a variation procedure which does not require H2SO4 for color development. Eight of 10 samples tested proficient based on NAPT limits (2.5 x Median Absolute Deviation).

The Determination of Gypsum in Soils

Core Ideas We presented in Methods of Soil Analysis three easy methods for gypsum determination. Two of these methods are gravimetric and only need elementary lab equipment. The other method based on portable spectroscopy works in the lab and in the field. We present the Chapter about the Soil Gypsum Determination that appeared in the Methods of Soil Analysis, published in an electronic format (available as a pdf or html version) by the Soil Science Society of America.

Presidents of the Soil Science Society of America

Presidents of the Soil Science Society of America

Microbial and organic matter patterns in a prescribed burned and thinned managed forest ecosystem

AbstractPrescribed burning and thinning were implemented in an Alabama forest (Bankhead National Forest) as a management strategy to control pest and disease outbreaks and also to increase forest productivity. However, using fire as a control mechanism in this forest may alter soil nutrient cycling, soil organic matter (SOM), and soil microbial populations. There is the need for continuous research on forest ecosystems to bridge knowledge gaps in our understanding of SOM transformations and microbial processes in a repeatedly burned forest ecosystems. The objectives of this study were to assess and document the impact of prescribed burning and thinning on soil labile organic matter fractions, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), potential carbon mineralized (PCM), enzymatic activity, and energy (ATP) potentials. Labile organic carbon was isolated using the density method, whereas enzyme activities were determined as described in Bottomley et al. (Methods of soil analysis: part 2—Microbiological and biochemical properties, Madison, Wisconsin, USA: Soil Science Society of America, 1994). Microbial biomass C and N (MBC and MBN) were determined using the fumigation‐incubation method. Treatment applications had some effects on MBC and MBN although these effects were not statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05). Light fraction carbon (LFC) and light fraction nitrogen (LFN) were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected by treatments. Irrespective of treatment, xylanase activity was the highest (3244 ± 327–5223 ± 567 μmol/g 24 h−1), whereas amylase activity was the lowest (12.57 ± 8.9–116 ± 42.8 μmol/g 24 h−1). Correlation analysis revealed that amylase, β‐glucosidase, and NAGase correlated with particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic nitrogen (PON), and LFC, whereas cellulase, xylanase, and invertase had no correlation with the labile organic matter fractions. Compared to the referenced treatment plot, burned and thinned plots had reduced MBC, MBN, and increased PCM although this was not statistically significant. Although enzyme activities within plots were significant, no significant enzyme activities between plots were observed except with amylase. The lack of statistical significance on microbial activities, MBC, and MBN support our hypothesis that prescribed burning and thinning temporarily affected microbial indices, and these parameters are expected to return to pretreatment levels after a period of time.

Manipulating rainfall to study symptom expression of <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> infection in wine grapes

Botrytis cinerea infection of wine grapes can result in a variety of symptoms. The most common symptom is botrytis bunch rot (BBR), where infected berries rot and shrivel, and eventually produce fungal sporulation. Another symptom is slip skin, where the skins of infected ripe berries slide easily from the pulp. It is hypothesised that a reduction in osmotic potential in grape berries due to late-season rainfall leads to slip skin symptom development. Hyphal growth of B. cinerea on osmotically adjusted agar was inhibited at osmotic potentials associated with near-ripe berries. Vine sheltering was used in a research vineyard to manipulate rainfall artificially and to alter berry sugar content in Vitis vinifera Sauvignon blanc vines, with the aim of increasing osmotic potential and altering symptom expression. Both BBR and slip skin symptoms were affected by the various sheltering conditions, with sheltered vines having lower BBR and higher slip skin at harvest.
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Preface to the special issue for the 8th International Symposium on Forest Soils: Linking Soil Processes to Forest Productivity and Water Protection under Global Change

The 8th International Symposium on Forest Soils: Linking Soil Processes to Forest Productivity and Water Protection under Global Change was held during 24–28 October 2015 on the campus of Fujian Normal University in Fuzhou, China. The Symposium was organized for two principal reasons: first, to celebrate the 2015 International Year of Soils; and second, to address a crucial gap in the forest soils and forest management literature in a concerted effort. There is a pressing need for a “state-of-the-art” publication on the nature and research needs of integrating soil information and expertise into the management of Chinese forest resources. Especially in South China, most forests are located in the mountains and hills. Soils of the region are perceived to be fragile and easily damaged. Relatively few studies have been published in the international literature on forests and forest soils of southern China. Thus, our intention was to emphasize regionally available datasets, to incorporate the pertinent information from the world literature, and to place the issues facing forest scientists in southern China in an international context. The 8th International Symposium on Forest Soils continues the series of International Symposia sponsored by the International Union of Soil Science (IUSS) (previously International Society of Soil Science or ISSS) and other related agencies. The 3rd Symposium of this series was held in Balikpapan, Indonesia, 29 October–3 November 1995, with the 4th held in Vila Real, Portugal, 18–22 September 2000. The 5th, 6th, and 7th symposia were held in Bordeaux, France, 15–18 September 2004; in Noosa, Queensland, Australia, 19–23 August 2007; and in Shenyang, China, 17–20 September 2013, respectively. Next, the Forest Soils Working Group of IUSS will co-sponsor the joint North American Forest Soils Conference/the 9th International Symposium on Forest Soils, 10–16 June 2018, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Quebec symposium will be co-sponsored by the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), the Canadian Society of Soil Science (CSSS), and the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO). In addition, the Forest Soils Working Group, currently convened by Professor Zhihong Xu of Griffith University, Nathan, Brisbane, Australia, and Professor Chris Johnson of Syracuse University, USA, has also hosted both oral and poster sessions on forest soils during each IUSS (ISSS) World Congress of Soil Science since 2002.

Presidents of the Soil Science Society of America

Soil Science Society of America JournalVolume 81, Issue 3 p. 659-671 Reports 2016 Presidents of the Soil Science Society of America First published: 30 June 2017 https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2016.0107pres_and_yearly_reportsCitations: 1 All rights reserved. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume81, Issue3May-June 2017Pages 659-671 RelatedInformation