Soil Science Research Articles

Application of Artificial Neural Networks in Soil Science Research

Artificial Neural Networks utilize high-performance computation and large data technology, allowing research to generate new prospects in agriculture. ANN is currently a preferred technique for crop yield prediction, forecasting, and classification in biological science domains. Among different agriculture fields, soil science research plays a vital role in understanding and managing the complex processes occurring within the soil environment as oil is a complex system with dynamic surface layers that differ from the other parts of the matrix. Due to the increasing accessibility of innovative computing techniques, Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have developed into useful tools for modeling and forecasting soil-related activities. The numerous applications of ANNs in soil science research, with a focus on how well they can classify soils, assess soil fertility, forecast soil erosion, and estimate soil moisture. They are vital tools for identifying soil types, evaluating fertility levels, predicting erosion, and soil moisture estimation. ANN models were effective at predicting soil characteristics like pH, organic carbon concentration, and clay content. By training on vast datasets that contain the chemical, biological, and physical properties of soil, ANNs are able to accurately predict different soil types and enable land-use planning, precision farming, and environmental management. This mini-review focuses on ANN approaches that possess the potential to increase our understanding of soil science and encourage informed decisions for soil management and conservation.

Perspective: The soil-sphere, save it or lose it

Being first and foremost a plant geneticist specializing in maize, I must admit that when it came to the soil, my most immediate responsibility was to make sure pre-planting amendments were incorporated as recommended. Once those seedlings were up, my focus was almost exclusively on the green plants. But more recently, I taught The Living Soil, a course held at The Woodend Sanctuary and Mansion, owned and operated by the Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States. It was while teaching that I came to see soil more distinctly, as a natural resource with its own taxonomy and individual qualities. It brought back days spent studying soil science and revisiting the relationships among the twelve soil orders as pictured in Dr. Nyle Brady’s textbook [1]. As I considered the time needed to renew these soils and the paucity of highly arable soils globally, I began to see this resource quite differently.

Ground Infiltration in Various Land Uses in Kawatuna Sub- Watershed

The research was conducted in the Kawatuna Sub-watershed with the aim of studying the physical properties of the soil and knowing the infiltration rate of several land uses in the Kawatuna Sub-watershed. This study used the Horton equation formula and took soil samples for analysis at the Laboratory of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Palu. The results showed that the physical properties of the soil greatly influenced the infiltration process, the highest organic matter was secondary soil 6.10%, dry land agriculture 4.50% and the lowest was shrubs 3.04%. Secondary forest soil textures are loam and dusty loam, dry land agriculture has sandy loam textures, and shrubs have loamy, sandy loam and dusty loam textures. In terms of physical properties of water content, dry land agriculture had the highest water content 21.48%, secondary forest 19.19% and shrubs the lowest 15.54%. The highest infiltration rate was secondary forest land (12.74 cm/hour) with fast criteria, dry land agriculture (7.80 cm/hour) medium fast category and shrub land (6.19 cm/hour) medium category.

Reconciling the soil stewardship paradox: Knowledge without care, care without knowledge

Soil stewardship has emerged as a guiding principle shaping the conservation practices adopted by agricultural stakeholders on their lands. Some scholars have advocated a holistic perspective on stewardship, contending that it relies on both “care” and “knowledge”. Our study sought to investigate the degree to which agricultural stakeholders' knowledge of soil science shapes their sense of responsibility and care toward the soil. There is limited prior research that empirically explores the correlation between individuals' soil science knowledge and their degree of soil care. This underscores the originality and innovation of our research. We designed scales to measure individuals' soil knowledge and their sense of soil care. Our sample comprised 150 agricultural stakeholders from geographically distinct regions of Chile (the south, center, and north), enhancing the generalizability of our findings. Our analysis revealed a direct relationship (r = 0.78, p < 0.001) between the theoretical and practical dimensions of soil science knowledge. However, we also observed an intriguing inverse relationship between theoretical soil science knowledge and the degree of soil care (−0.16, p < 0.05), as well as between practical soil science knowledge and the level of soil care (−0.24, p < 0.01). In essence, greater knowledge of soil science did not correlate with a greater sense of soil care, contrary to the expectations set by existing literature. In our study, agronomists, who mostly come from urban areas and currently residing in such environments, showed extensive soil science knowledge but relatively lower levels of soil care. In contrast, participants without professional degrees or with non-agricultural degrees, who predominantly hailed from rural backgrounds and currently reside in rural areas, exhibited greater levels of soil care despite having lower levels of soil science knowledge. These observations shed light on the soil stewardship paradox observed in our study, showing a disparity between knowledge without a corresponding sense of care and care without a corresponding level of knowledge. This study emphasizes the importance of adopting a more holistic and nuanced perspective in soil conservation research, acknowledging the intricate relationship between knowledge and care, as we seek to promote sustainable land management practices.

APPLICATION OF USING SLAUGHTERHOUSE WASTE FOR BOOSTING THE GROWTH OF SPINACH

Slaughterhouse waste is capable of causing serious bacterial, viral and pathogenic diseases both in humans and animals. Slaughterhouse wastewater contains fat, proteins, suspended solids and diluted blood. Due to this, organic as well as nutrient profusion in wastewater is very high. These partially solubilized residues pose a real threat to human health if left out in riverbeds and other water bodies untreated. Processing of blood requires a high capital investment on heavy instruments for slaughtering and collection of blood. The hazard could be minimized by environmentally friendly and cost-effective disposal methods. This waste could be used for land application via composting, as it is a rich source of primary plant nutrients i.e. N, P and K as well as growth promoting microbes and organic substances. Keeping in view the above-mentioned facts, a pot trial was conducted in the wire house of the Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences. We mixed the soil with slaughterhouse waste before sowing. Three seedlings of spinach were maintained after germination. Water was applied as needed by the plants. Recommended doses of N, P, and K fertilizers were applied. Data regarding physiological parameters, growth and yield was collected and analyzed at appropriate growth stages. After harvesting, plant tissues (root and leave) and soil samples was subjected to analysis for plant nutrients provision. Analysis of data was done following standard statistical procedure. Slaughterhouse waste improves the plant growth. Results showed that blood, intestine and dry matter significantly affect the plant growth parameter of spinach in natural soil. Plant height was increased up to 92 %, root length 194 %, shoot dry weight 60 % and root dry weight 169 % with blood at (120 ml), intestine (100 g) and dry matter (20 g) as compared to control. All the treatments significantly improved these parameters but blood, intestine and dry matter increased chlorophyll contents 84%, relative water contents 21 %, photosynthetic rate 91%, transpiration rate 95%, and stomatal conductance 58 %, and decreased electrolyte leakage up to 54% in spinach.

Assessing the incorporation of the soil health concept in postsecondary education in Canada

Incorporation of soil health concept into professional practice, supported by integration into postsecondary programs, may lead to the successful maintenance and improvement of Canadian soils. The Canadian Society of Soil Science (CSSS) has identified the need to promote the teaching of the soil health concept to instructors of soil science and related courses across Canada. In summer 2023, a 37-question survey was emailed to CSSS members with the objectives of (1) gauging the understanding and interest among instructors of soil science (and related) courses across Canada in soil health, (2) describing the current status of the soil health concept in Canadian postsecondary soil science (and related) courses, and (3) assessing the need for an open access repository of educational resources focused on soil health. Survey results of 46 respondents suggest that inclusion of the concept in courses has been increasing steadily for the last 20 years, with estimated 1400 students being exposed to the concept annually in 30 courses in 6 majors, where 60% had soil in the course title. The main reasons for not including soil health in courses included lack of time and experience. Creation of a Canadian soil health repository of teaching materials would provide resources to 28% respondents (13/46) who do not include the soil health concept into their courses. Respondents indicated that the soil health concept is useful in teaching because it requires integration of a range of basic soil disciplinary concepts, a process that might be best implemented through active learning strategies.

Assessing uncertainties and discrepancies in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions estimation in China: A comprehensive review

Due to diverse methodologies and data sources, China's agricultural greenhouse gas (AGHG) emissions estimates demonstrate significant variability. A quantitative review was conducted on the prevalence and application of various accounting methods to clarify and reduce discrepancies in AGHG emissions estimation techniques and data application. Using a systematic PRISMA framework, 4257 global studies were analyzed, yielding 681 AGHG emission records from 57 papers and four databases explicitly focusing on China. The analysis reveals similarities between Chinese and global research trends, concentrating on environmental science, soil science, and ecology. Furthermore, the spatial scale and methodologies for China's AGHG emissions estimation are relatively centralized, with 53.21% of the research targeting site-specific scales and 74.12% employing inventory methods and statistical analysis. Regarding the variability in China's AGHG emission estimates between 1996 and 2020, estimates ranged from 100 to 800 Mt. C-eq, with the highest estimate being approximately 25 times the minimum within the same period. Notably, compared to the average AGHG emissions calculated for 1996–2020 (284.7 to 548.7 Mt. C-eq), estimates from the FAO and Our World in Data were higher by an average of 114.7% and 81.9%, respectively. These findings underscore the need to enhance remote sensing and survey data application and standardize AGHG emissions estimation methodologies and boundaries to ensure comparability across various accounting methods and datasets. This study conducts a quantitative analysis to identify and bridge the gaps in AGHG emission evaluation techniques, laying the groundwork for establishing a more comprehensive and resilient framework for AGHG emissions assessments.

Use of microorganisms, insects, plants and soil in criminological research

The expectation of effective detection of perpetrators of crimes is fundamental for every person, given their deep-seated need to feel safe. In the context of modern realities, it is difficult to imagine effective activities of the police, prosecutor’s office or judiciary without the use of advanced, reliable forensic techniques. The aim of this publication was to collect and present highlights of the evolution in forensic research based on a variety of scientific specializations, including forensic microbiology, forensic entomology, forensic botany, and soil science.

The role of intrinsic soil properties in the compressive strength and volume change behavior of unstabilized earth mortars

Despite the growing interest in earthen construction, there is critical lack of reliable experimental data on the soil properties which mostly affect the engineering characteristics of the dried building material. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to explore the influence of some of these properties, namely clay fraction content, Specific Surface Area (SSA), Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), chemical and mineralogical composition and various forms of iron and calcium carbonate on earth mortars. The initial trigger for this research was the extraordinary compressive strength of four earth mortars prepared with different soils. So, these four soils, along with seven others from previous research, were thoroughly examined using soil science techniques to investigate the link between soil properties and compressive strength and linear shrinkage of earth mortars. A relationship between the compressive strength to CEC ratio and dry density was found, highlighting the decisive role of clay activity as expressed by CEC, in earthen materials properties. According to linear regression and dominance analysis, the strongest correlation was exhibited by SSA followed by CEC, demonstrating that compressive strength is largely dependent on these two properties. Less strong correlation was found for clay fraction content, while poorly ordered/amorphous iron oxides were found to correlate with strength and shrinkage, but their contribution requires further research. Regarding the mineralogical properties, it was found that the mortars that achieved the highest strengths contained poorly crystalline smectite clays. Finally, even significant differences in soil chemical composition did not necessarily lead to different mortar properties.

The physical and chemical properties of the technosols in the pot experiment with waste and groundwater irrigation

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Mediterranean areas are characterized by a strong spatial variability that makes the soil hydrogeological logical response highly complicated. Some seasons provoke dramatic changes in soil properties determining the runoff rates, such as soil water content or soil water repellency. In recent years, important progress has been made in adapting water needs to local conditions through the use of various parameters to assess soil water status. Estimation of the water status of the soil has been widely used in soil science as a tool for quantitative analysis. The main objective of this case study was to analyze technosol and irrigation water physical and chemical properties in the pot experiment with lysimeters. A pot experiment with Avocado rootstocks was equipped with lysimeters in the facilites of the «La Mayora Experimental Field site» of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (Spain). The scheme of the pot experiment included three sources of irrigation: a) groundwater; b) regenerated municipal wastewater (100%); c) a mix of ground and regenerated municipal wastewater (50 / 50%). Chemical analysis data indicate that the reclaimed wastewater does not meet irrigation requirements in terms of pH, EC and due to the significant content of sodium and chlorine. Even groundwater satisfies irrigation water qualitative requirements partially. The suitability of irrigation water on pH level can be characterized mainly as unsuitable and doubtful. Diluting regenerated wastewater with groundwater following the 50% principle led to a decrease in the potential risks for salinization of groundwater connected with leaching of the leachate. The dynamics of the change in the volume of leachate are related to precipitation, the frequency of irrigation, and different manifestations of the physical, mineralogical, and chemical properties of technosols.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Spatializing soil elemental concentration as measured by X-ray fluorescence analysis using remote sensing data

Spatial soil information has significantly contributed to public policy and planning. The use of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) in soil science, primarily in laboratory settings or for isolated point analyses, has been well documented. This study broadens the application of XRF data by integrating it with remote sensing data for a comprehensive understanding of soil patterns and processes. Focusing on a 2574 km2 area in Brazil, we utilized a lab-based XRF instrument to measure the total concentrations of key chemical elements in the soil, such as Al, Si, Ti, and Fe. These geochemical data were then spatialized using the digital soil mapping (DSM) framework. We employed a synthetic bare soil image and elevation data as covariates in the analysis. The spatial accuracy assessment yielded R2 values ranging from 0.65 to 0.81 for Fe, 0.62 to 0.78 for Ti, 0.52 to 0.63 for Si, and 0.48 to 0.63 for Al. The digital soil maps of geochemical elements aligned well with existing pedological, and geological maps as evaluated using multiple correspondence analysis. The integration of spatialized XRF data with DSM and remote sensing techniques shows significant promise in assessing soil variations across landscapes based on their chemical composition.

Soil science research in Brazilian terrestrial biomes: A review of evolution, collaboration, current topics, and impact

Soil science research in Brazilian terrestrial biomes: A review of evolution, collaboration, current topics, and impact

Aggregates versus pores – is the soil science community torn apart? A survey

AbstractWhether soil structure should be viewed mostly as a system of pores or a set of aggregates is a question soil scientists keep debating in the literature, but it is unclear whether the wider soil science community is also divided. In a quick survey among mainly German soil scientists of all career levels and sub‐disciplines, most participants agreed that both pores and aggregates are important to describe soil structure. The debate can nevertheless be fruitful if it is led more efficiently, avoiding generalisations, misunderstandings and potential emotional barriers.

Trends in Soil Science over the Past Three Decades (1992–2022) Based on the Scientometric Analysis of 39 Soil Science Journals

As one of the basic disciplines of agricultural, natural resource, and environmental science, soil science has played a critical role in global food security and socio-economic and ecological sustainability. The number of soil science journals and publications has increased remarkably with the development of soil science. However, there is a lack of systematic and comprehensive studies on the developmental trends of soil science based on journals and publications. In this study, 39 journals included under the soil science category in the 2022 Journal Citation Reports, and 112,911 publications in these journals from 1992 to 2022 were subjected to scientometric/bibliometric analysis to determine trends in publication, journal metrics, co-authorship, and research topics, in addition to general journal information. The results show that soil science ushered in a renaissance period with the number of publications, citations, impact factors, and CiteScore demonstrating an increasing trend. America and the Chinese Academy of Sciences had the most publications and citations. The most productive author published more than 400 articles. Soil science research focused mostly on its fundamental impact on the ecological environment based on the strongest citation bursts analysis of keywords. The analysis indicated that open access has increased in popularity. Current soil science journals still face a few common challenges, including an urgent need for a fairer evaluation mechanism on journal quality compared to the traditional use of single metrics as well as equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the whole editorial process. Artificial intelligence may bring new tools and more changes to the development of soil science. This study will help soil science researchers to better understand the development status and future trends of soil science. It will also guide authors in journal selection.

Development and Characterization of Multi-Nutrient Formulations for Organic Farming

The study was to develop multi-nutrient formulations for organic farming containing all the essential macro and micronutrients. The experimental design selected was completely randomized design with 8 treatments and 3 replications. The experiment was conducted in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala between Jan 2021-May 2021. Multi-nutrient formulations were developed using various organic nutrient sources like blood meal, soybean meal, rock phosphate, steamed bone meal, potassium sulfate, langbeinite, epsom salt, and borax permitted by National Programme for Organic Production. Formulations were prepared by mixing nutrient sources considering the nutrient requirement of nendran banana (N:P2O5:K2O @ 300:115:450 g plant-1) and the soil fertility status. The formulations were characterized for their physical, chemical and biochemical properties. On the basis of character analysis and principal component analysis the formulation F1 containing blood meal, rock phosphate, potassium sulfate, epsom salt and borax was found superior to other formulations. This was followed by F3 which contains blood meal, steamed bone meal, potassium sulfate, epsom salt and borax. Formulation F1 had 3.73 g cm-3 bulk density, 2.67% moisture content, 6.5 pH, 3.23 dSm-1 EC, 29.43% OC, 7.21% N, 2.71% P, 10.78% K, 5.98% Ca, 0.35% Mg, 4.45% S, 1174.11 mg kg-1 Fe, 4.53 mg kg-1 Mn, 13.55 mg kg-1 Zn, 8.65 mg kg-1 Cu and 93.67 mg kg-1 B. It also contained 45.04% crude protein, 2.95% humic acid and 3.55% fulvic acid. The formulation F3 had 7.47 pH, 3.37 dSm-1 EC, 28.34% OC, 7.11% N, 2.68% P, 10.68% K, 2.05% Ca, 0.32% Mg, 4.37% S, 1163.41 mg kg-1 Fe, 4.87 mg kg-1 Mn, 14.52 mg kg-1 Zn, 9.05 mg kg-1 Cu and 96.33 mg kg-1 B. Hence multi-nutrient formulation F1 based on its nutrient supplying capacity can be recommended as a nutrient source for organic farming.

40 Two-week agriculture institute prepares Mississippi teachers to improve agricultural literacy in classrooms

Abstract Agriculturally rich communities in Mississippi, particularly those with high minority populations, suffer from significant educational disparities, resulting in a median poverty rate 7.8% higher than the national average. Persistent unequal opportunities within the public school system, and a limitation of youth having access to advanced coursework and technology create challenges in improving the welfare of Mississippi communities. Despite being grossly underpaid, teachers in Mississippi remain passionate about agriculture education, often utilizing their personal finances to provide students with opportunities to succeed. Thus, an immersive learning agriculture science professional development program was created for 5th-12th grade classroom teachers. The objective was to improve the quality of education for students by advancing the ability of teachers to foster understanding and practices in agriculture literacy. Teachers (n = 20; cohort 1, n = 12; cohort 2, n = 8) participated in a 2-wk summer institute. Teachers received continuing education credits for their teaching license, a stipend to alleviate associated costs, and supplies for their classroom. The teachers learned agriculture content (e.g., animal, plant, and soil sciences), engaged in hands-on learning labs (e.g., anatomy and immunology), participated in field excursions (e.g., animal handling), received literary instruction, and discussed teacher leadership. To determine if program outcomes were achieved, participants completed surveys (n = 3), interviews (n = 3), and submitted lesson plans (n = 2). Post-institute survey results of participating teachers indicated they were eager to implement their new knowledge in their classrooms, including but not limited to fetal pig dissections, reproductive tract anatomy, blue’s the clue, DNA extraction, carousel activity, mind mapping, and glow germ activity. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA was performed on pre- and post-survey knowledge assessment across both cohorts. Regarding agriculture content, self-assessment knowledge scores of both cohorts increased significantly (P ≤ 0.0001) during the post-survey. Both cohort 1 and 2 teachers responded with a score of 80% or higher to: “On an assessment where I had to, “Explain general livestock reproduction and reproductive management practices”; “Explain how a cow's immune system is similar to humans” and, “Explain why farmers work diligently to prevent disease”. In addition, cohort 2 teachers responded with a score of 80% or higher to: “On an assessment where I had to, “Accurately label the anatomical organs of a fetal pig”; “Correctly explain the basic function of fetal pig organs” and, “Explain pregnancy detection in animal science.” This professional development program successfully reached Mississippi teachers, equipping them with tools to increase agriculture literacy. The potential impact of this program extends to encourage more youth to pursue careers in agriculture, foster a more informed consumer base, and mitigate poverty rates within the state. Funding provided by USDA-NIFA-AFRI Education and Workforce Development proposal number 2021-67037-34210/1025666.

A European stakeholder survey on soil science skills for sustainable agriculture

AbstractThe European Union's soil strategy for 2030 has set the objective of achieving ‘healthy soils’ in Europe by 2050. To achieve this ambitious goal, dedicated soil science skills will be needed in the future. This article presents the results of a survey on soil science skills for the future conducted within the framework of the European Joint Program—EJP SOIL. The survey was distributed online in the 24 countries participating in the EJP SOIL. The skills were expressed as having knowledge in particular topics related to soils, practical know‐hows or abilities or outcomes of knowledge and know‐hows put into action. No significant differences in the importance of soil‐science related skills were found between countries or stakeholder categories. The two groups of skills that ranked at the top of stakeholders' concern were ‘Having a scientific basis of knowledge on soils and their functioning’ and ‘Knowing how to mobilise agronomic drivers to manage and protect soils’. This means that there is a need for people with an in‐depth knowledge in soil science, but also soil scientists with integrated knowledge in agronomy and crop production. Three important findings relate to the knowledge of soil science itself: (i) there is a clear need to develop the knowledge of the biological and ecological functioning of soil; (ii) this should not happen at the expense of a strong general knowledge of the fundamentals of soil science; (iii) future soil scientists should be trained to have a more holistic appreciation of soil rather than be trained as a specialist of a specific aspect of soil science only. Being able to exchange knowledge with farmers, knowing how to assess soil fertility, quality or health and how to improve them are viewed as essential skills for the future. These findings offer a clear path for the evolution of soil science education curricula across Europe.

Towards enhanced adoption of soil‐improving management practices in Europe

AbstractSustainable agricultural soil management practices are key to restore, maintain and improve soil health. The European Joint Programme for SOIL (EJP SOIL) has identified twelve main soil challenges in Europe. To assess the potential and eventually increase the adoption of soil‐improving management practices, it is necessary to know (i) the current levels of adoption of the practices, (ii) socio‐technical barriers influencing their adoption, and (iii) their bio‐physical limits. This study compiled an inventory of soil‐improving management practices relevant to European conditions, and used a survey among soil scientists to assess the levels of adoption of these practices in Europe. In total, 53 soil management practices were identified that address one or several of the soil challenges. The adoption of most practices was low or spatially heterogeneous across Europe, highlighting region‐specific limitations to sustainable soil management. Qualitative interviews were conducted to explore the importance of socio‐technical aspects of adoption. Using conservation agriculture as an example, factors that can hinder adoption included the availability of knowledge and adequate machinery, financial risks, and farming traditions. Through a modelling approach, 54% of arable land in Europe was found to be suitable for cover cropping, indicating that the adoption of soil management practices is frequently limited by climatic constraints. We propose a region‐specific approach that recognizes the importance of identifying and overcoming socio‐technical barriers, and by acknowledging bio‐physical limits that may be expanded by innovation.

The soil zones of Saskatchewan: Creating art to visualize the concept

Ken is a Professor Emeritus of Forest Soils from the Department of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. His research career investigated forestry impacts on soil properties and tree growth as well as quantifying carbon sequestration in forest shelterbelts in the prairies. However, it wasn't until he started incorporating art into his soil field courses in 2004 at the historic Emma Lake Kenderdine Campus, that he began his artistic adventure of creativity and play using paints, soil and charcoal. His artistic journey created a new way for him to connect and understand boreal forest ecosystems.

Identification of soil‐related professional profiles for the future from a survey of European stakeholders

AbstractCurrent and future stakeholders and decision‐makers involved in agricultural soil management need to develop soil‐related skills to meet the challenges of food security and global change in the coming decades. The aim of this study was to identify professional profiles related to the management, conservation and restoration of agricultural soils on the basis of a European stakeholder survey and to relate these profiles to specific and generic skills. Stakeholders from 24 European countries, selected by the national hubs of the European Joint Programme on agricultural soil management, were invited to propose soil‐related professional profiles that they considered important to develop over the next 20 years. They were then asked to identify up to 15 specific or generic skills that they considered necessary for each profile. In total, 299 stakeholders proposed 1–3 professional profiles each, in 20 languages, for a total of 786 profiles ranging from the bachelor to doctoral level. After translation into English and grouping by expertise, 60 profiles were identified and classified as ‘traditional’, ‘specialised’ or ‘innovative’. Innovative profiles were related to the inclusion of soil in fields that do not currently provide soil‐related education (e.g., communication, mediation, economics, law, land‐use planning, architecture, data science). Correspondence analysis based on the number of times a skill was considered necessary for a given profile led to the grouping of the 60 initial profiles into 10 clusters of profiles that required similar skills: these 10 clusters of profiles were described, and their necessary skills were identified. The clusters illustrate the need to broaden the scope of soil science and the variety of professions that can address soil‐related issues and require knowledge about soils. Ultimately, this list of soil‐related professional profiles and their necessary skills could help revise existing higher‐education curricula or create new curricula.