*Global CA-CoP* *CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE*

*for sustainable production intensification and land management*

Dear Subscribers,

Please see herebelow the latest issue of IUSS Alert 140 (February 2017).

Apologies for cross-posting.

*Amir Kassam *

*Moderator*

e-mail: [log in to unmask]
URL: www.fao.org/ag/ca

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IUSS NewsInternational Decade of Soils (2015-2024)
As one of the outreach activities during the International Decade of Soils
(2015-2024), the book *Soils within cities – Global approaches to their
sustainable management* was published. Edited on behalf of the
International Union of Soil Sciences, this book is the result of a joint
effort of the international SUITMA (Soils of the Urban, Traffic, Mining and
Military Areas) working group of the International Union of Soil Sciences.
IUSS would like to thank all authors and especially SUITMA for their
dedication and work on this book. For further details please check the
section on New Publications.
Another way of reaching out to a broader audience is IUSS’s participation
as supporting partner in an ICSU Grant Project led by IUBS called *“TROP-ICSU:
Trans-disciplinary Research Oriented Pedagogy for Improving Climate Studies
and Understanding”*. The project started in February and will last for
three years. IUSS will contribute its expertise in developing
teaching/learning tools on the impact of climate change on soils and vice
versa as well as its impact on our environment. It will furthermore help
identify ecologically sensitive areas in the context of climate change.
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IUSS Stimulus Fund
IUSS has established an annual Stimulus Fund to support suitable activities
within its Commissions and Working Groups. Where appropriate, the Fund will
also support other activities to assist the development of Soil Science
generally but particularly in regions of the world where lack of resources
limit opportunities. The current submission period will end March 15, 2017.
Details on the IUSS Stimulus Fund can be found here:
http://www.iuss.org/index.php?article_id=594
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Call for nominations for the Dan Yaalon Young Scientist Medal
This medal will be awarded by IUSS Division 1 Soils in Space and Time and
Commission 4.5 History, philosophy and sociology of soil science. The
nominees may be proposed by institutions, societies, commissions and
working groups of the IUSS, and by individuals. The deadline for
nominations ends on Dec. 1, 2017. The Dan Yaalon Young Scientist Medal is
awarded once every four years at the World Soil Congress. The first
presentation will take place at the XXI. World Congress in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil in August 2018.
Read more: http://www.iuss.org/index.php?article_id=26
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Call for Kubiëna medal nominations
The Kubiëna Medal was introduced by Subcommission B – Soil Micromorphology
of the ISSS to commemorate the memory of Walter L Kubiëna for his
distinguished contribution to soil micromorphology. It is given for
outstanding and sustained performance in the discipline of soil
micromorphology and to date there have been eight awards: E. Yarilova, R.
Brewer, H.J Altemüller, G. Stoops, E.A FitzPatrick, L. Wilding , H. Mucher,
N. Fedoroff and R. Miedema. The next medal will be presented at the 2018
IUSS Congress in Rio. Nominations should be sent to [log in to unmask]
by the end of April 2017.
Read more: http://www.iuss.org/index.php?article_id=172
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Call for nominations of IUSS Division and Commission Officers 2018-2022
We have started the election process for the 4 Division chairs and 44
Commission chairs and vice chairs. The First and Second Vice-Chairperson of
each Division shall be appointed by and from the host country where the
next World Congress of Soil Science will take place.
This is your chance to become actively involved in the IUSS and shape its
future in the years 2018 to 2022. We are now seeking nominations for all
positions, and a description of the Divisions is given here:
http://www.iuss.org/index.php?article_id=40. The description of the
specific duties and functions of Divisions and Commission officers is given
here: http://iuss.boku.ac.at/files/duties_and_functions_of_
division_and_commission_chairs_and_vice_chairs.pdf.
IUSS Full Members (national soil science societies who paid the membership
fees) are encouraged to propose candidates to the Divisional Nominating
Committees. Nominees cannot be nominated for more than one position.
Please send in the application before 31st March 2017. The application
should include the position, a 100 words biography and homepage URL, if
available. It should be sent to:
Positions in Division 1: Prof. Erika Micheli at [log in to unmask]
Positions in Division 2: Prof. Kazuyuki Inubushi at
[log in to unmask]
Positions in Division 3: Prof. Bal Ram Singh at [log in to unmask]
Positions in Division 4: Prof. Christian Feller at [log in to unmask]
The timeline is as follows:
31 March 2017 – call for nominations ends
2 May 2017 – list of candidates and their biographies available
1 September 2017 – voting system will open
31 December 2017 – voting system will close
12 February 2018 – announcement of new IUSS officers
We look forward to receiving your application and candidacy.
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General NewsSeeking Input on Fundamental Changes to Soil Taxonomy
Soil Taxonomy is the dominant soil classification system in the United
States and many other nations. Development of the system began in the early
1950’s and by 1965 was adopted for USDA soil surveys. Over the next five
decades a tremendous number of taxa were added to the classification
system. For example, between 1983 and 2010 over 160 new subgroups were
added just to the Inceptisols. While the number of taxa in Soil Taxonomy
has grown rapidly, there have been relatively few conceptual changes to
maintain the original goal of the document to be a basic system of soil
classification. Thus, the system has become quite complex with each new
added taxon and definition resulting in an increasingly cumbersome document
that is even difficult for trained soil scientists to effectively apply.
Thus, few other disciplines use the syst em to co mmunicate soils
information. Because of the growing number of issues with Soil Taxonomy the
Soil Science Society of America established the Fundamental Changes to Soil
Taxonomy Task Force.
The objective of the task force is to facilitate an open and transparent
process to develop a suite of fundamental changes to Soil Taxonomy leading
to a soil classification system that can and will be used by more than just
experienced pedologists in the United States. The changes will reflect
concepts used in other soil taxonomic systems (specifically the WRB) and
thus will require broad input from soil scientists in both the United
States and international community. Changes will be developed to simplify
format and taxa without losing the knowledge-base in the current system.
The task force expects the proposed changes to have minimal negative
effects on existing National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) mapping
products. Thus, the proposed changes would ensure that Soil Taxonomy serves
the dual purposes of an applied system to assess the potential and
limitations of the soil resource and as a classification system for th e
discip line of soil science. The final product would be vetted through the
National Cooperative Soil Survey, potentially leading toward the
publication of a 3rd edition of Soil Taxonomy.
At this time the Fundamental Changes to Soil Taxonomy Task Force is ready
to solicit input from the larger community on drafts of several proposed
fundamental changes to Soil Taxonomy. If you would be interested in
commenting on these draft proposals please send an email to
[log in to unmask]
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Call for Nominations: SSSA Awards, Scholarships
Nominate deserving colleagues for Soil Science Society of America Awards
and Fellow in soil science research, education, industry, consulting, and
extension. Initiate nominations by March 29 with reference letters and
final submission by April 5. Students are encouraged to apply for SSSA
scholarships, including Golden Opportunity Scholars, by April 5 with
reference letters and final submission by April 12, 2017.
Read more: http://www.soils.org/awards
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Dr K.L.Sharawat (1941 – 2016)
Dr Kanwar Lal Sahrawat was born on 7 November 1941 and died on 3 February,
2016. He initially served ICRISAT as a Soil Chemist from February 1978 to
December 1991 in the Resource Management Programme. Later on, he moved to
West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA) where he worked as
Principal Soil Scientist from April 1991 to June 2001. Later, he joined
ICRISAT-India as a Consultant/Visiting Scientist and worked there from May
2002 till February 2016. He played a major role in preparing soil fertility
atlas to help showcase various types of soils and their deficiencies. Dr
Sahrawat received several awards and honorary positions. Being a keen
writer, Dr Sahrawat contributed to 186 refereed journal articles and
authored more than 100 publications, book chapters, research bulletins and
workshop proceedings. Dr Sahra wat was a warm, gentle, honest, and
hardworking human being who was a friend to many and a mentor to all who
had the good fortune of knowing him.
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Soil air permeability facilitates its hydraulic permeability prediction
Reliable prediction of soil hydraulic characteristics is often required to
assess soil and ground water contamination risk or soil remediation
activities. Soil permeability to water either in saturated or unsaturated
zones is one of the most important hydraulic characteristics. Direct
measurement of soil permeability to water or hydraulic conductivity is the
most reliable approach to characterize it. However, its direct measurement,
either in the laboratory or the field, is time consuming and requires
significant human intervention. Therefore, soil scientists have attempted
to develop several indirect approaches to predict soil permeability to
water using its readily available properties. Soil air permeability is one
of its most appropriate readily available properties in this regard. In the
November–December 2016 issue of the Soil Science Society of Amer ica Jour
nal, researchers introduce a semi-theoretical equation to predict soil
water permeability to water in unsaturated zone using its air permeability
as a predictor.
Read more: https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/story/2017/jan/thu/soil-
air-permeability-facilitates-its-hydraulic-permeability-prediction
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Governing tenure rights to commons responsibly: 12 strategies and
illustrative cases from practice
Commons are natural resources such as land, fisheries and forests that
people use collectively for things such as livestock grazing, fodder,
firewood, fish and non-timber forest products. They are a source of food
and income and an important safety net in times of hardship, especially for
marginalized and vulnerable people. Commons are also essential to people’s
culture and identity. The problem is that legitimate tenure rights to
commons are often not recognized and protected by national law. New Guide
and Animation Film offers strategic guidance and inspiration on how to
secure tenure rights to commons based on the Voluntary Guidelines on the
Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests.
Read more: http://globalsoilweek.org/news-and-opinion/governing-
tenure-rights-to-commons-responsibly-12-strategies-and-
illustrative-cases-from-practice
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2017’s Vermont Regenerative Soils Program
An Act relating to establishing a regenerative soils program has been
enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont. The Secretary
shall establish a program called the Vermont Regenerative Soils Program
within the Agency to certify land in the State as regenerative and to
encourage the use of regenerative soil practices within the State. The
certification shall include a seal indicating that the Secretary certified
land or a farm as a whole as a member of the Vermont Regenerative Soils
Program.
Read more: http://studiohill.farm/2017s-vermont-regenerative-soils-program/
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Why is it good to have the ground covered by snow?
By trapping heat energy, snow restricts the depth of the frost layer, or
area of soil containing ice. In other words, soils with deep snow cover
often have thinner frost layers than those without snow. The area below the
frost layer serves as a refuge for animal and plant life that call it home.
In turn, thinner frost layers provide more room for organisms to live
during the winter months. Bare soils are defenceless, as they have no
protection from wind, rain, and runoff. Snow acts as an armour to protect
soil from wind and water erosion.
Read more: https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2017/02/15/why-is-it-good-
to-have-the-ground-covered-by-snow/
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Seasonal fate of phosphorus in vineyard soils
Growing premium wine grapes requires the right soil and climate. An ideal
combination occurs in parts of California where the majority of the wine
grapes in the United States are produced. As an agricultural system, wine
grapes are a specialty crop, and there is limited research on the soils and
nutrient dynamics that occur in vineyards. “There’s a huge need for a
better understanding of nutrient cycling and soil fertility in vineyards,”
says Stewart Wilson, lead author of a recent Soil Science Society of
America Journal article titled, “Seasonal Phosphorus Dynamics in a Volcanic
Soil of Northern California.” According to Wilson, a Ph.D. candidate at the
University of California–Davis (UC-Davis), research presented in the
article was initiated when growers in Lake County, CA, approached
scientists at UC-Davis about fertilizer use in vineyards.
Read more: https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/story/2017/jan/thu/
seasonal-fate-of-phosphorus-in-vineyard-soils
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Conferences, Meetings and Workshops
3rd International Scientific Conference on “Sustainability challenges in
agroecosystems”
Osijek, Croatia, 19-21 June, 2017. Primary objective of the International
Soil Tillage Research Organization (ISTRO) initiative is promotion,
development and growth of interest and knowledge about soil tillage
science, relationship of soil tillage and environment, exchange of ideas
and experiences and spreading of modern approach of technology application
in agroecosystems. This conference, being created as well for scientific
community as for experts and practitioners, will cope with main goals of
ISTRO respective research in soil tillage and field traffic and their
relationship with the soil environment, land use and crop production.
Submission of abstracts until 1 April, 2017.
Read more: http://www.hdpot.hr
Download 2nd Circular: http://iuss.boku.ac.at/files/crostro_2017_second_
announcement.pdf
ESSC International Workshop “Soil Classification: a powerful tool for
planning Soil Conservation”
Riga, Latvia, July 21, 2017, organised by the European Society for Soil
Conservation (ESSS) and the Soil Science Society of Latvia (SSSL).
Rationale: Soil classification has been largely used as a proxy for soil
qualities which are functional in planning soil conservation measures. This
activity has been traditionally carried out by National and Regional Soil
Services, at the detailed and semi-detailed scales, but also by
International bodies, especially at the broad scales. However, the use of
soil classification for the specific implementation of soil conservation
measures at the local scale is still a challenge. The development of the WRB
soil classification system has progressively improved the characterization
of the functioning of the soil system, giving better insights not only on
soil processes, but also on soil functional qualities for agriculture and
environment. The workshop is address ed to co llect expertise and examples
on the use of soil classification for the implementation of soil
conservation/soil degradation measures and plans of intervention at
different scales and for different purposes. Interactions between soil
classification, soil conservation planning, and soil mapping are also
welcome.
Download 1st Circular: http://iuss.boku.ac.at/files/
essc_int._workshop_on_soil_classification_1st_circular.pdf
Read more: http://www.azb.lu.lv/eng/
International WRB Soil Classification Field Workshop in Latvia and Estonia
It starts July 22 in the morning in Riga and ends July 27 in the evening in
Tallinn.
This workshop will look at differently formed automorphous,
semihydromorphous and hydromorphous soils (approximately 24 soil profiles)
in intensively and extensively used agricultural lands and in deciduous and
coniferous forest lands of the boreo-nemoral region. Soils are developed
mainly on Late Weichselian glacial deposits (formed by loamy sand, sandy
clay, loam, clay, gravel, sand) and altered to some extent by postglacial
aeolian, marine, lacustrine, alluvial and mire sediments, as well as formed
on pre-Quaternary sedimentary rocks. The soils show different organic
surface layers: mull, moder, mor, amphi etc.
Organizers: Raimonds Kasparinskis and Endla Reintam and their teams, the
Latvian and Estonian Soil Science Societies as well as the University of
Latvia and the Estonian University of Life Sciences.
Registration and payment closes 30th of June.
Read more: http://www.azb.lu.lv/eng/
7th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture (WCCA)
Rosario, Argentina, August 1-4, 2017; The 7th WCCA provides the opportunity
to learn from No-Till farmers associations and network with an
international gathering of agricultural experts. Argentina, Brazil,
Paraguay and Uruguay want to show the modern agriculture, based on the
principles of Conservation Agriculture (CA), our known No-Till System, and
with farmers, the crucial actors of this revolution. Agricultural
production systems are not sustainable unless they are profitable, and CA
holds the key to building and maintaining healthy soils and profitable
farming systems. Food security, climate change, smallholder and family
agriculture, gender equality, biotech, machinery innovations, bioenergy,
water, soils, crops, agribusiness, legislation and more are going to be
part of the 7WCCA proposal.
Read more: http://congresoaapresid.org.ar/
OrgaTrop 2017 – International Conference on Organic Agriculture in the
Tropics: State-of-the-Art, Challenges and Opportunities
Gajah Mada University, Yogayakarta, Indonesia, August 20-24, 2017. There is
an urgent need for more research, both fundamental and applied, on organic
farming practices in the tropics, and for a better dissemination of
existing knowledge towards the practitioners in the field. Organic farming
in the tropics presents a number of specific challenges that justify a
dedicated conference. The aim of this conference is therefore to bring
together scientists, policy makers and practitioners active in organic
farming to present the latest research developments, and discuss how new
and existing knowledge can be implemented in an efficient manner in order
to foster further development of organic farming especially in the tropics.
Download Conference Flyer: http://iuss.boku.ac.at/files/
orgatrop2017_flier.pdf
Read more: http://web.faperta.ugm.ac.id/orgatrop2017/
7th International Conference on Cryopedology “Cryosols in Perspective: A
View from the Permafrost Heartland”
Yakutsk, Russia, August 21–25, 2017. The conference is organized by the
Cryosols Working Group of the IUSS and is hosted by the Institute of
Biological Problems of the Cryolithozone of the Russian Academy of Sciences
in the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic. Tentative session program includes a wide
range of problems related to Cryosols and soils of cold regions: genesis,
geography, classification, and mapping of Cryosols; ecosystem functions of
Cryosols; Cryosol dynamics and regimes under changing climate; pedobiology
of the cryosphere; paleopedology and pedoarchaeology in permafrost areas;
carbon cycle in permafrost areas; new methods in Cryosol research; and
Cryosol management. A workshop for young researchers—Pedology–Geocryology
Interaction—and field seminars devoted to morphogenetic analysis of soil
profiles in the permafrost zone are planned. The program includes a one-day
mid-conference field tour to acquaint participants with specific feat ures
of coarse- and fine-textured Cryosols in the ultracontinental climate of
Central Yakutia and post-conference field tours to examine pedogenesis in
thermokarst depressions (alases) and to enjoy spectacular Lena Pillars
included in UNESCO World Heritage List. Deadline for registration and
abstract submission: May 15, 2017.
Read more: http://www.cryosols.org
Second Global Soil Biodiversity Conference
Nanjing, China, 15-20 October 2017. The China Soil Microbiome Initiative (
CSMI) and Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) are pleased to
announce the second Global Soil Biodiversity Conference (GSBC2). GSBC2 is
centered on the theme “Integrating Soil Biodiversity with Global
Sustainability”, and offers an exciting program ranging from topics
involving soil biodiversity and global issues on sustainability. The
abstract submission is welcome for oral or poster presentation within one
of the topics. The deadline is February 28, 2017
Read more: http://gsbiconference.csp.escience.cn/dct/page/1
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New publications
Soils within Cities: Global approaches to their sustainable management –
composition, properties, and functions of soils of the urban environment
Levin/Kim/Morel/Burghardt/Charzynski/Shaw (Eds.), February 2017 by
Schweizerbart Science Publishers in the series GeoEcology Essays, 253
pages, 113 figures, 23 tables, ISBN 978-3-510-65411-6. The book can be
ordered from the IUSS Secretariat ([log in to unmask] ) at the price
of €29.90 plus shipping costs; a reduced rate of €25.00 (plus shipping) is
available for IUSS members.
As the proportion of people living in urban areas has been and still is
increasing, Soils within Cities: Global approaches to their sustainable
management undertakes to shed light on the role and importance of soils in
cities, and stresses the need to consider and manage this unique component
of the urban ecosystem on our way to build sustainable cities. Edited on
behalf of the International Union of Soil Sciences, this book is the result
of a joint effort of the international SUITMA (Soils of the Urban, Traffic,
Mining and Military Areas) working group of the International Union of Soil
Sciences. Thirty-four short contributions comprehensively highlight key
aspects and characteristics of soils of the urban ecosystem and the
problems and challenges associated with them. The authors lay out the
fundamentals of soil science applied to anthropized environments
(environments degraded by human activity), including composition,
properties, and functions of soil s of the urban environment, their
pedogenic evolution, classification and mapping. Furthermore, contributions
present examples of actual urban soil surveys conducted in the US, Poland,
Germany and Russia. Approaches to managing soils of the urban environment
with focus on brownfields, soil sealing and urban agriculture, and the
management of soil sealing are described.
A separate chapter is dedicated to the ecosystem services urban soils can
provide, including sustaining and controlling water quality and quantity,
providing C and P storage capacity, supporting biodiversity, pollution
problems, and pointing out ecosystem services that even contaminated
industrial and mine soils are able to provide. “Soils within Cities” is
aimed at expanding our view of soils of our planet, and having them taken
into consideration for human well-being. It provides city planners and
managers with a special reference that can serve to offer citizens a better
life in the long run.
Read more: http://schweizerbart.com/9783510654116
New Pesticides and Soil Sensors
1st Edition. Edited by Alexandru Grumezescu. February 2017 by Academic
Press. 792 pages, ISBN: 9780128042991; eBook ISBN: 9780128043707, price
hardcover: €143.00.
*New Pesticides and Soil Sensors*, a volume in the *Nanotechnology in the
Agri-Food Industry* series, is a practical resource that demonstrates how
nanotechnology is a highly attractive tool that offers new options for the
formulation of ‘nanopesticides’. Recent advances in nanopesticide research
is reviewed and divided into several themes, including improvement of the
water solubility of poorly soluble pesticide active ingredients to improve
bioavailability and the encapsulation of pesticide active ingredients
within permeable nanoparticles with the aim of releasing pesticide active
ingredients in a controlled or targeted manner, while also protecting
active ingredients from premature photo-degradation.
Read more: https://www.elsevier.com/books/new-pesticides-and-soil-
sensors/grumezescu/978-0-12-804299-1
International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy 2016
By Harald Ginzky, Irene L. Heuser, Tianbao Qin, Oliver C. Ruppel, Patrick
Wegerdt (Editors). 2017 by Springer. ISBN: 978-3-319-42507-8 (Print)
978-3-319-42508-5 (Online), price $159.00 / €145.59 / £104.50.
The first volume of the International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy was
prepared in 2016. The second volume (2017) is currently under preparation
and a third volume is planned for 2018.
The intention of the first volume 2016 is to establish a platform for
discussion among legislators, lawyers and policymakers regarding regulatory
concepts and approaches on the international, regional and national level.
The new International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy aims to bring
together the global legal fraternity, academics, judges and local legal
practitioners to continue the discourse on soils in the attempt to improve
the legal promotion and protection of soils by inter alia enhancing
existing governance solutions. This first volume of the International
Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy focuses on contents and implementation of
the objective of a “land degradation neutral world”, which is also
prominently addressed in SDG Target 15.3.
Read more: http://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-42508-5
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New Scientific Journal
Looking to publish your research on soil or plant nutrition? Look no
further!
*Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (SSPN)* welcomes your submissions. Find
out how you can submit by visiting the journal’s homepage here:
http://bit.ly/tandfonline-SSPN
You might also be keen to know that IUSS members are entitled to an
exclusive subscription price, allowing you to stay up to date with all the
latest research. http://bit.ly/subscribe-sspn
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