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Academic Papers & Books

Identity can affect how likely farmers are to adopt soil conservation practices, argues a new study of Australian farmers. They identify three main identities: Productivist, Conservationist and Socially-conscious.

 

Using Ladismith in Western Cape, South Africa, as its case study, this interdisciplinary paper argues that droughts are co-produced by political processes as well as biophysical transformations of soil, vegetation, hydrology and microclimate.

 

Call for papers: Promoting the reclamation and integrated utilization of salt-affected soils. Submit your research to Vadose Zone Journal by October 31.

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The Soil Science Society of America seeks nominations for the incoming Editor of Soil Science Society of America Journal. This is a three‐year term of service beginning on 1 January 2026.

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Please consider submitting an abstract proposal to our upcoming Issue 73 of PUBLIC: Art / Culture / Ideas on “(Re)mediating Soils”. The deadline for abstracts has been extended to June 10, 2025, and full papers are not due until September 20, 2025.

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Soil Policy

The International Union of Soil Sciences has just published their Memorandum on the Decade of Soil Science for Sustainable Development 2025-2034. This important document sets the tone for IUSS engagement in this period; importantly, it stresses a much stronger integration of different soil research disciplines, and work at the science-policy-society interface.

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How many cities have soils contaminated by ash of old garbage incinerators? It is time to streamline safe and effective city-soil remediation, especially for small areas such as small city parks. 

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​Soil Events
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Call for abstracts for British Society of Soil Science Conference 2025. Accepting oral and poster abstracts for both our Annual Conference and Early Careers Conference in December. The abstract review panel is accepting abstracts in one of five topics linked to the conference theme, Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future. Strand 5 may be of particular interest: Soils for Life Soil, social sciences and culture, Interdisciplinary work, Stakeholder engagement, Participatory research and citizen science, and Art and culture.

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Call for abstracts for CANVAS Annual Meeting hosted by American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America. Conference will take place Nov 9-12 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Are you an undergraduate or graduate student interested in furthering your career in the agronomic, crop, soil, and environmental sciences? Consider applying for the ASA, CSSA, SSSA Bridge Scholars Program. Scholars receive financial aid for travel to the CANVAS Annual Meeting, consisting of paid lodging and a $600 travel scholarship.
 

The 2025 "Plant Humanities Conversations" series. Organised by the Institute of Humanities at NYBG in collaboration with Dumbarton Oaks. The talks are free and open to a worldwide audience. Register here below. (NB the start is 5pm UK time). This event is devoted to "soil imaginaries" and the speakers include Yota Batsaki, Executive Director of Dumbarton Oaks and coordinator of their Plant Humanities initiative, and Brad Oberle, Associate Curator in the Center for Conservation and Restoration Ecology at NYBG.

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Soil Arts

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In a recent article, researchers explore how agriculture students enhance their science communication skills through writing art museum labels.

 

This year at CANVAS Annual Meeting hosted by ASA, CSSA, SSSA, there will be an Art Lounge featuring a DIY Zine area for attendees to decompress from scientific presentations and create mini magazines, view live soil painting by Dr. Kirsten Kurtz, and much more.

 

In We Are Carbon’s latest podcast episode, Jamie Nix, poet, agroforester, and co-founder of Plants & Poetry, shares how storytelling, science, and community can spark regeneration and deepen our connection to place. Poetry and writing prompts, open calls for poetry and art submissions, and other Nature & Lit News available in the free monthly newsletter.

 

Drawing, writing, and painting with soils. How creative practices and communication tools can help bridge the gaps among soil scientists, students, and the public.

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Oldies but Goodies

Constantin Nikiforoff's "History of A, B, C", from 1931, in which the author discusses soil horizons. This piece was later cited by Simonson (1986) in Historical aspects of soil survey and soil classification. Part III. 1921-1930 

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