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Dear Subscribers,


Please see herebelow the IUSS Alert 131 (May 2016).


Apologies for cross-posting.


*Amir Kassam*

*Moderator*

e-mail: [log in to unmask]

URL: www.fao.org/ag/ca
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From: The International Union of Soil Sciences - IUSS <
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Date: Tue, May 24, 2016 at 3:09 PM
Subject: IUSS Alert 131 (May 2016)
To: [log in to unmask]



If you have problems reading this content - please follow this link to the
IUSS page <http://iuss.boku.ac.at/index.php?article_id=592>IUSS Alert 131
(May 2016)

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IUSS booth at EGU General Assembly in Vienna

For the second time, the IUSS successfully presented itself at the European
Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2016, Vienna, Austria, April
18-22, 2016. This time the IUSS booth was on the main exhibition floor,
shared by the IUSS, ESSC, BSSS, JSSSPN, JSP, and TMO. EGU 2016 attracted
13,650 participants bringing together geoscientists from all over the
world, covering all disciplines of the Earth, planetary and space sciences.
The IUSS took this opportunity to present a new flyer and posters of the 4
IUSS Divisions, which were well received. An inflatable globe showing the
world ’s soils attracted particular attention. Another highlight was the
announcement of the International Decade of the Soil with a view to recent
achievements and planned future activities. Related information material
and copies of the Vienna Soil Declaration were made available. In addition,
a questionnaire was distributed among the people visiting the IUSS booth to
get information on what participants thought about the success of IYS
events and potential IUSS outreach activities. Ideas were sought on how to
further promote soil issues.
Read more <http://www.iuss.org/index.php?article_id=26>

________________________________________________________________________________

IUSS Presidential elections 2016 – Last Reminder

The election of the next President of the IUSS is due this year. The
appointment of the President represents a total of six years commitment to
the Union by serving two years each as President-Elect (2017/18), President
(2019/20) and Past-President (2021/22). The call for nominations was
published in a separate Alert on 16 March 2016. Full documentation is
available on the IUSS website. Full Nomination documentation should be
submitted electronically to Roger Swift (Email: [log in to unmask]) by 31st
May, 2016. A copy should also be sent to [log in to unmask]
Read more <http://www.iuss.org/index.php?article_id=582>

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IUSS Profile published in Adjacent Government

As one of the outreach activities during the International Decade of Soils
(2015-2024), a two-page profile on the IUSS was published in the May 2016
edition of Adjacent Government, pages 250-251.
Read more
<http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?EID=e8f6dc5e-d43f-45e6-90b2-7e3a198ad050>

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Newsletter of IUSS Commission 1.1: Soil Morphology and Micromorphology
published

The spring newsletter of IUSS Commission 1.1 Soil Morphology and
Micromorphology was published. It contains a call for nominations for the
2016 Young Micromorphologist Publication Award, an overview of forthcoming
meetings, research notes and publications, to name just a few items.
Download <http://www.iuss.org/index.php?article_id=419>

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Top Honour for Work Down Under: Professor Alex McBratney Inducted as a
Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science

Former IUSS Deputy Secretary General, Professor Alex McBratney, Dean of the
Faculty of Agriculture and Environment of the University of Sydney has
received one of Australia’s highest scientific honours, being inducted as a
Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science on Monday 23 May 2016.
*An accolade such as this brings soil science into the forefront of
community thinking. It gives myself, and other scientists in this field
recognition of the innovative, advanced and novel research being conducted.
We are working to improve our understanding of the fundamental properties
of this remarkable ‘skin’ of the Earth and determining how crucial soil is
in contributing to growing food today and into the future,* said newly
admitted Fellow, Professor Alex McBratney.

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World Reference Base translated into several languages

The Polish translation was the first. The book can be ordered from the
Polish Soil Science Society. The Spanish translation is ready and will be
available soon. The French translation is advanced. If you are planning a
translation of WRB into another language, please inform Peter Schad, Chair
of IUSS Working Group WRB.
Contact: [log in to unmask]

________________________________________________________________________________

Keys (2.0) of Soil Taxonomy available in Spanish

The 12th edition of the Keys of Soil Taxonomy were recently translated into
Spanish, the 11th edition was the first. After decades of working with soil
scientists from around the world, NRCS decided it was important to increase
awareness and expand knowledge of the value of soil and its impact on all
aspects of life. Many soil scientists and other professionals from Latin
America, the United States, and other countries will benefit from this
translation effort for years to come. According to NRCS leadership, the
translation will expand the horizons of U.S. Soil Taxonomy by allowing
professionals in all parts of the world to apply and interpret the system
in a more uniform and consistent way. While soils differ globally, the
ability to apply a system that is universally understood and accepted is a
goal shared by many soil scientists. * Read more
<http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_051546.pdf>*

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ICSU meeting in Paris

The annual general assembly of ICSU (International Council for Sciences)
took place in Paris 11-13 April 2016. It was attended by more than 40
unions and further representatives of national foundations and
organisations. Prior to the ICSU meeting, the GeoUnions (GUs) Steering
Committee met on 11 April 2016 in order to inform about the ongoing
activities of the GU members. GU is a network of representatives of nine
international scientific unions (IUPS; URSI; IUSS; IUGG; ISPRS; ICA; IUGS;
IGU; IAU) of ICSU dealing with Earth and space sciences, and to discuss
several topics for the following ICSU meeting including challenges and
opportunities for ICSU and scientific Unions within a shifting global
scientific landscape.
IUSS has decided to keep updated on the international links of ICSU, IRDR
Future Earth, and interdisciplinary programmes. IUSS needs to guarantee
continuity and active involvement to achieve a beneficial involvement in
the system in the long run. The unions can only deliver information if they
know each other. Within the new strategic plan of ICSU the board promised
to include all concerns and will improve their activities and their ways of
communicating.
Read more <http://www.icsu-geounions.org>

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The direct and indirect impacts of EU policies on land

The 2011 Roadmap to a resource efficient Europe states, in its milestone of
actions, to address land as a resource, that ‘By 2020, EU policies take
into account their direct and indirect impact on land use in the EU and
globally. This report presents a methodology for the assessment of European
Union (EU) policies in terms of their land-related implications in Europe
and provides an initial testing of the methodology across key EU policies
and two in-depth case studies, which focus on Cohesion Policy spending on
transport in Poland and Spain.
Read more
<http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/impacts-of-eu-policies-on-land>

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Probing impacts of fertilization on soil organic matter with light

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a primary determinant of soil quality,
regulating many important characteristics and processes. It is exceedingly
diverse and inextricably related to the myriad life forms in healthy soil.
Studies of SOM typically employ a series of chemical extractions to remove
operationally defined categories of SOM and then determine their properties
by various means. A study in the latest issue of Vadose Zone Journal
examined the potential for a sophisticated optical technique to
characterize SOM in bulk mineral soil and extracts to probe long-term
changes related to different fertilization practices. Specifically, Fourier
transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to assess long-term changes
in SOM in soils that had been systematically subjected to different
fertilization schemes.
Read more
<https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/vzj/abstracts/15/4/vzj2015.05.0074>

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'Climate-smart soils' may help balance the carbon budget

Here’s the scientific dirt: Soil can help reduce global warming. While farm
soil grows the world’s food and fiber, scientists are examining ways to use
it to sequester carbon and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Decreasing
greenhouse gas emissions, sequestering carbon and using prudent
agricultural management practices that tighten the soil-nitrogen cycle can
yield enhanced soil fertility, bolster crop productivity, improve soil
biodiversity, and reduce erosion, runoff and water pollution. These
practices also buffer crop and pasture systems against the impacts of
climate change.
Read more
<http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2016/04/climate-smart-soils-may-help-balance-carbon-budget>

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Dirt First

The NRCS (today’s iteration of the Dust Bowl–era Soil Conservation Service)
convenes training sessions around the US as part of a soil health campaign
launched in 2012.
Read more <https://orionmagazine.org/article/dirt-first/>

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Mars soil Experiment

In the film The Martian, Mark Watney uses soil on Mars to grow potatoes –
and this kind of space gardening might not be as far away from reality as
it seems. Researchers in Peru are attempting to mimic the conditions found
on the red planet to grow potatoes on a plot in Lima. Nasa is conducting
the pioneering experiment together with Lima’s International Potato Center (
CIP).
Read more
<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3541489/Mark-Watney-proud-Nasa-attempting-grow-potatoes-Peruvian-soil-mimics-conditions-Mars.html>

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Film: Sustainable Land Management in Africa

Did You Know 20-25% of all land on Earth is degraded? Sustainable Land
Management practices help to ensure Soil fertility and lasting ecosystem
services (food production, water filtration, etc). Solutions to SLM,
especially in many countries in the Global South, need to be found through
participatory dialogue with land users in varying contexts.
Read more
<https://www.facebook.com/329677227185341/videos/612167398936321/?fref=nf>

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Conferences, Meetings and Workshops
Course on Soil Mineralogy and Micromorphology

16th Edition, August 1-12, 2016, Buenos Aires, Brazil. The course will be
given in Spanish. The first week is devoted to the study of inorganic
fractions of soils, focused on clay mineralogy and concepts on processes of
mineral weathering, soil formation and soil organization, including an
introduction to analytical techniques particularly X-ray diffractometry.
The second week is centered on soil micromorphology including the
descriptive system and the principles and techniques of optical and
electronic microscopy. During the course numerous examples of application
of mineralogy and micromorphology to different fields of research,
specially to soil genesis, soil physics and soil management are exposed and
discussed.
Read more <http://www.epg.agro.uba.ar>
Contact: [log in to unmask]
International Conference on Agricultural Sciences and Food Technology for
Sustainable Productivity and Nutritional Security

August 25-27, 2016, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore,
Karnataka, India. Registration and abstract submission is now open.
Agricultural productivity, nutritional security and environmental
sustainability require urgent and utmost scientific intervention at
regional, national and international levels. This conference aims to
provide a forum for scientific deliberations and research collaborations on
agricultural sciences and food technologies in order to achieve the most
alarming millennium goals of increasing agricultural productivity, while
ensuring nutritional security and environmental sustainability.
Read more <http://www.sabt.org.in/asft-india/>
International Scientific Conference “Conserving Soils and Water 2016”

August 31 – September 3, 2016, Atlantis hotel, Sarafovo district, Burgas,
Bulgaria. The protection of natural resources is the most important issue
for mankind. Scientists from all over the world are called upon to give
their contribution for the protection of the riches of Nature and the
welfare of mankind. The soil and water protection through the development
of science and technologies is becoming a priority and a motivating factor
in the life of many people and whole societies. Abstract submission
deadline: May 31, 2016.
Read more <http://www.conserving-soils.eu/>
DBG/IUSS Joint Commission Meeting

September 1-2, 2016, Braunschweig, Germany. The DBG (Deutsche
Bodenkundliche Gesellschaft) Commission I „Soil Physics and Soil Hydrology“
of the German Soil Science Society and the Commission 2.1 „Soil Physics“ of
IUSS organize a joint commission meeting. The meeting will have a specific
session dealing with the change of mechanical and hydraulic properties of
soil by biological, chemical and physical factors. Prof. Paul Hallet,
University of Aberdeen, will give a keynote on “Biological Control on Soil
Mechanical and Hydraulic Properties”. Furthermore, the meeting offers room
for exchange on free topics of current soil physical research, according to
the motto “My current interest”. In addition to the dissemination of the
latest findings also „unfinished“ work and questions are welcome that
stimulate the scientific discussions between members of IUSS and DBG. This
helps to identify current research trends in soil physics on an
international level as represented by DBG and IUSS members. All members of
DBG and IUSS are invited to present their current work. Interested members
of other commissions are also welcome.
Read more
<https://www.dbges.de/wb/pages/commissions/soil-physics-and-soil-hydrology/activities.php>
26th International Symposium on Soil Forming Factors and Processes from the
Temperate Zone

September 16 – 18, 2016, Iași, Romania. Theme: Soil science and
archaeology: research methods and perspectives; The main goal of the
Symposium is to discuss the overall aspects regarding the integration of
soil science with different disciplines from humanities and social sciences
in order to assess long-term patterns of human-soil interactions over
Holocene/Anthropocene timescales. This symposium will be relevant to
researchers working in soil science, archaeology, geoarchaeology,
bioarchaeology or cultural resources management.
First circular <http://www.iuss.org/files/anunt_fp_2016_en__2_.pdf>
ICILUPSA-2016 International Conference on “Integrated Land Use Planning for
Smart Agriculture”

November 10-13, 2016, Nagpur, India. Organized by the Indian Society of
Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (ISSLUP); the participants will
deliberate on various emerging issues and the agenda for sustainable land
management.
Download First Circular
<http://iuss.boku.ac.at/files/first_announcement-icilupsa2016.pdf>
Read more <http://www.icilupsa2016.org/>
5th International Soil Classification Congress 2016

December 1-7, 2016, South Africa. Registration and abstract submission for
the Field Workshop and the Conference of the IUSS Commission Soil
Classification is now open. Deadline for abstract submission is 17 June
2016.
Read more <http://scc16.co.za/>
1st World Conference on Soil and Water Conservation under Global Change (
CONSOWA) 2017

June 12-16, 2017, Lleida (Spain). A joint Conference of the “International
Soil Conservation Organization” (19th ISCO Conference), the “World
Association for Soil and Water Conservation” (Conference on Soil and Water
Conservation of WASWAC), the “European Society for Soil Conservation” (8th
ESSC Congress), the “International Union of Soil Science (IUSS-Commissions
3.2, 3.6), the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS), the
“International Erosion Control Association” (IECA) and the “World
Association for Sedimentation and Erosion Research” (WASER), in parallel
with the VIII Simposio Nacional sobre Control de la Degradación y
Restauración de Suelos (SECS).
Read more <http://www.consowalleida2017.com/>
IUSS Conferences of Commission 3.2: Soil and Water Conservation and
Commission 3.6: Salt Affected Soils 2017

will be held in the framework of CONSOWA 2017
Read more <http://www.consowalleida2017.com/>
Pedometrics 2017

June 26 to July 2 , 2017, Hof van Wageningen, The Netherlands. Pedometrics
will be celebrating its Silver Jubilee in 2017. The first pedometrics
conference was held in Wageningen in September 1992. This will also be a
joint conference with four of its Working Groups: Digital Soil Mapping,
Proximal Soil Sensing, Soil Monitoring, Modelling of Soil and Landscape
Evolution, and Digital Soil Morphometrics.

________________________________________________________________________________

New publications
The Nature and Properties of Soils

15th edition, by Ray Weil and Nyle Brady (deceased). January 2016 by
Pearson, 1089 pages, ISBN-13: 978-0133254488, price hardcover USD 96.00.
This edition updates a narrative that has been at the forefront of soil
science for more than a century. It has evolved to provide a globally
relevant framework for an integrated understanding of the diversity of
soils, the soil system and its role in the ecology of planet Earth. This is
the first edition to feature full-colour illustrations and photographs
throughout. In addition to hundreds of new illustrations and references,
this edition addresses the many changes in soil science thinking during the
past decade or so.
Book Pasión por la tierra, Crónicas de naturaleza y territorio

By José Luis Rubio. April 2016 by UNED Alzira –Valencia, ISBN:
978-84-92885-23-7, price: EUR 14, available in Spanish only. Based on his
environmental/scientific articles published in the newspaper El Mundo, the
author offers a wide variety of topics related to the curiosities and
secrets of the functioning of the natural world around us, their connection
with society, people and science. In general, the set of articles offers
two approaches to nature. Sensory and aesthetic aspects bring us recreation
and excitement. The other approach is to understand and decipher the
occult. It is fascinating to feel and appreciate what happens in nature but
last but not least we want to know why it happens and how it affects us.
Two visions – each of them more exciting than the other.
Order from: [log in to unmask]
Modeling Methods and Practices in Soil and Water Engineering

By Balram Panigrahi, Megh R. Goyal. May 2, 2016, Apple Academic Press, ISBN
9781771883269, Price £99.00. This book discusses the development of useful
models and their applications in soil and water engineering. It covers
various modeling methods, including groundwater recharge estimation,
rainfall-runoff modeling using artificial neural networks, development and
application of a water balance model and a HYDRUS-2D model for cropped
fields, a multi-model approach for stream flow simulation, multi-criteria
analysis for construction of groundwater structures in hard rock terrains,
hydrologic modeling of watersheds using remote sensing, and GIS and AGNPS.
Soil and Water Engineering – Principles and Applications of Modeling

By Balram Panigrahi, Megh R. Goyal (editors). May 2, 2016, Apple Academic
Press, 550 pages, 18 Color Illus., 136 B/W Illus., ISBN 9781771883924,
Price £121.00. Modeling aspects have added a new dimension in research
innovations in all branches of engineering. In the field of soil and water
engineering, they are increasingly used for planning, development, and
management of land and water resources, including analysis of quantity and
quality parameters of surface and ground water, flood forecasting and
control measures, optimum allocation and utilization of irrigation water.
The application of these models saves considerable time in decision support
systems and helps in conservation and optimum allocations of scarce
precious natural resources.
Rainfall-Induced Soil Slope Failure – Stability Analysis and Probabilistic
Assessment

By Lulu Zhang, Jinhui Li, Xu Li, Jie Zhang, Hong Zhu. May, 25, 2016, CRC
Press, 374 pages, 20 Color Illus., 293 B/W Illus., ISBN: 9781498752794,
Price £140.00. The book integrates probabilistic approaches with the
geotechnical modeling of slope failures under rainfall conditions with
unsaturated soil. It covers theoretical models of rainfall infiltration and
stability analysis, reliability analysis based on coupled hydro-mechanical
modelling, stability of slopes with cracks, gravels and spatial
heterogenous soils, and probabilistic model calibration based on
measurement. It focuses on the uncertainties involved with rainfall-induced
landslides and presents state-of-the art techniques and methods which
characterize the uncertainties and quantify the probabilities and risk of
rainfall-induced landslide hazards.
Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas

By Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative and the European Commission’s Joint
Research Centre, May 25, 2016, 176 pages, ISBN: 978-92-79-48169-7, price EUR
25. The Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas can be ordered from the EU Bookshop
and is the result of three years of dedicated work from 130 experts from
around the world. It is the first global summary of soil biodiversity,
their role in ecosystem services, and threats to soil biodiversity. This
striking publication uses more than 100 informative boxes and 900 images,
figures, and maps to showcase scientifically sound soil biodiversity
knowledge in a clear and simple style.
Download
<http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/global-soil-biodiversity-atlas-pbLBNA27236/?CatalogCategoryID=aLoKABstwUAAAAEjqpEY4e5L>
Satellite Soil Moisture Retrieval

1st Edition by Prashant Srivastava, George Petropoulos and Y.H. Kerr
(editors). May 2016 by Elsevier, 448 pages, ISBN: 9780128033883, price
hardcover: EUR 69.50.Satellite Soil Moisture Retrieval: Techniques and
Applications offers readers a better understanding of the scientific
underpinnings, development, and application of soil moisture retrieval
techniques and their applications for environmental modeling and
management, bringing together a collection of recent developments and
rigorous applications of soil moisture retrieval techniques from optical
and infrared datasets, such as the universal triangle method, vegetation
indices based approaches, empirical models, and microwave techniques,
particularly by utilizing earth observation datasets such as IRS III, MODIS,
Landsat7, Landsat8, SMOS, AMSR-e, AMSR2 and the upcoming SMAP.
Digital Soil Mapping Across Paradigms, Scales and Boundaries

By Zhang, G.-L., Brus, D., Liu, F., Song, X.-D., Lagacherie, P. (editors).
2016 by Springer, 358 pages, 70 illus., 40 illus. in colour, ISBN
978-981-10-0414-8, price hardcover EUR 87.99. This book contains papers
presented at the 6th Global Workshop on Digital Soil Mapping, held 11-14
November 2014 at the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
of Nanjing, China. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the state
of the art in digital soil mapping , enriches understanding of global soil
grids both at national and continental level and explores strategies for
bridging research, production, and environmental applications in DSM.
Read more <http://www.springer.com/de/book/9789811004148>

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