Introduction to soils

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Introduction to soil and soil science

Soil science is the study of soil as a natural resource, focusing on its formation, classification, and mapping, as well as its physical, chemical, and biological properties. Understanding soil is crucial for managing land resources, agriculture, and environmental conservation. Soil is a fundamental and dynamic component of the Earth's ecosystem, serving as the foundation for plant life, influencing water and atmospheric cycles, and supporting a vast array of organisms.

The pioneers of soil science

Soil science has a rich history with contributions from various pioneers who shaped the field. These pioneers, among others, have laid the groundwork for modern soil science, influencing how soils are studied, classified, and managed today. Their collective efforts have helped to advance our understanding of soil as a complex and vital natural resource. Here are some of the key figures:

Vladimir Dokuchaev (1846–1903)

Often considered the father of modern soil science, Dokuchaev was a Russian geologist and soil scientist whose work laid the foundation for soil classification and understanding of soil formation. His seminal work, "Russian Chernozem" (1883), introduced the concept of soil as a natural body formed through processes involving climate, vegetation, and topography.

Hans Jenny (1899–1992)

A Swiss soil scientist, Jenny built upon the foundational work of Dokuchaev and became renowned for his development of the soil formation model known as the "Soil Formation Factors" equation, which emphasises the role of climate, organisms, parent material, topography, time and man in soil development. His influential book, "Factors of Soil Formation" (1941), remains a cornerstone in soil science.

Eugene W. Hilgard (1833–1916)

An American soil scientist and geologist, Hilgard is known for his contributions to soil classification and the study of soil fertility. His work, including the comprehensive "Soils of the United States" (1892), helped to establish soil science as a distinct discipline in the U.S.

F. H. King (1848–1911)

King was an American agricultural scientist who made significant contributions to soil science and agricultural practices. His work "Farmers of Forty Centuries" (1911) detailed traditional agricultural practices in Asia and their implications for soil management and conservation.

R.A. Fisher (1890–1962)

Although primarily known for his work in statistics, Fisher's contributions to soil science were also significant. His application of statistical methods to soil research helped in understanding soil variability and precision agriculture.

Edgar E. "Ted" Lamb (1909–1995)

An American soil scientist, Lamb made important contributions to soil classification and the development of soil surveys in the U.S. His work helped in the creation of the Soil Taxonomy system used for classifying and interpreting soils.

Soil Knowledges

The pioneering soil scientists highlighted here significantly advanced modern Western soil science, especially in an academic context. However, their legacies are interwoven with global knowledge systems reflecting a multitude of practices and insights outside of soil science. Contributions from people of various identities throughout history and across various academic disciplines have significantly advanced our understanding of soil science, and it is vital to acknowledge these influences. This rich tapestry of approaches deserves recognition, alongside the contributions of pioneering soil scientist working within the academic institution like Dokuchaev and Jenny.

For example, for over half a million years, humans have used fire to transform landscapes for agriculture, a practice that dates to Homo erectus (Ellis et al., 2013; William, 2008; Thompson et al., 2021), possibly originating in the late Pleistocene (Pyne, 2020; Scherjon et al., 2015). The historic region of Mesopotamia, covering parts of modern Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria, and Kuwait, was pivotal during the Neolithic Revolution with innovations in crop breeding and irrigation. Around 9,000 years ago, the people of what is now Mexico domesticated maize. The indigenous Three Sisters planting technique, first recognized in Western reports over 3,500 years ago, illustrates essential soil-plant-plant symbiosis. Achieving these advances required keen observation and experimentation—cornerstones of the scientific method, and highlights that scientific advances were achieved across timescales, diverse cultures, ethnicities and geographic regions.

Historically, academic science often overlooked traditional knowledge, particularly from Indigenous communities, and systematically excluded women from its ranks. This gender disparity persists today, with women comprising only 32% of members in global soil science societies (Dawson et al., 2021), and few hold senior positions. Celebrating the achievements of female leaders in soil science can help bridge this gap, alongside global initiatives promoting inclusivity.

Additionally, various modern disciplines, such as ethnopedology, explore soil knowledge beyond traditional soil science academic practice. This inter-disciplinary field encompasses the soil and land knowledge systems of both ancient and contemporary rural populations (Barrera-Bassols and Zinck, 2003). Fields like humanities, sociology, human geography, and science and technology studies offer diverse methodologies that enhance our understanding of soils and can enrich the soil science scholar.

Detailing the historic and current contributions to soil science of different cultures, identities and disciplines is beyond the scope of this online resource but we urge those working in soils to familiarise themselves with the large body of literature available on this subject and incorporating this knowledge into their discipline and practice. Diversity is recognised as supporting a community that can appropriately tackle grand and complex challenges, and we advocate for the appreciation of the diverse contributions historically to our discipline but also to nurture a future community that is representative, accessible and inclusive.

Soil formation and classification

Soil formation, or pedogenesis, pedology being the branch of soil science focused on soil formation, is a process influenced by the five factors of soil formation: parent material, climate, topography, biology, and time (Jenny, 1954). These factors interact to produce a diverse range of soil types with distinct properties and functions. They are represented by the Twelve Soil Orders of the World. The classification of soils is often based on these properties and the soil horizons (layers) that develop over time, with each having similar characteristics and potentially similar behaviour.

There are several varying soil classification systems:

Soil classification resources

  • Soil Observatory (UKSO) is an online archive of UK soils data from nine research bodies. It provides easy access to fully described datasets, allowing everyone to work with the latest UK soil research outputs. This site hosts the UK Soil Observatory (UKSO) map viewer, a free tool that provides some of the most accurate soil data for the UK.
  • LandIS provides maps that communicate how soil types vary and how they affect the environment.

Physical and chemical properties

Soil physical properties include texture, structure, and density, which affect water infiltration, root growth, and soil stability. The soil texture triangle, as detailed in "The Nature and Properties of Soils" (Brady and Weil, 2016), helps in understanding the relative proportions of size particles (sand, silt, and clay), which in turn can affect the pore spaces in soil, the flow of air and water and ultimately biogeochemical characteristics. Chemical properties include pH, cation exchange capacity, nutrient and mineral content. These determine soil fertility and its ability to support plant growth. "Soil Chemistry" by Daniel G. Strawn, et al. (2022), offers an in-depth look at these chemical interactions and their implications for soil management.

Biological properties

Soil is also a living entity, teeming with microorganisms, fungi, and macrofauna that play critical roles in nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and soil health. "Biological Diversity and Function in Soils" by Richard Bardget et al., (2005), is a seminal collection in soil biology.

Introductions to soil science

Introduction to soil classification

Filmed at Myerscough College, Lancashire, England, we introduce Soil Science to undergraduates at Lancaster.

Soil orders in the Canary Islands

This video introduces the world soil orders in the Canary Islands, as well as the process of their formation.

Further reading:

Mineral weathering

Introducing mineral weathering, our scientists discuss the significance of basaltic columns in revealing the history of soil.

The soil lifespan

STARS PhD student Dan Evans discusses his research into the lifespan of soil from formation processes through to erosion.

Five factors of soil formation

The STARS team introduces the five factors of soil formation: parent material, climate, topography, biology, and time.

Soil quality, functions and services

The study of soil science has practical applications in agriculture, forestry, land use planning, and environmental management. Sustainable soil management practices are essential for ensuring soil health and productivity over time. "Principles of Soil Management and Soil Conservation" by Anil K. Gupta and Eric G. L. Turco (2019) provides valuable insights into techniques for maintaining soil integrity and productivity while minimizing environmental impact.

Understanding soil and its science is crucial for addressing challenges related to food security, environmental sustainability, and land management. The interdisciplinary nature of soil science combines elements of geology, biology, chemistry, and environmental science to support a comprehensive view of this vital resource.

Introductions to soil quality

Soil quality

In this video, Professors Phil Haygarth and Davey Jones discuss the key indicators of soil quality.

Soil decomposition

Professor Dave Chadwick and PhD student Leigh-Ann Kemp discuss the decomposition rates and how climate impacts upon key soil processes

In the Laurel Forest

The STARS team visit the Laurel Forest in Maderia, a classical Andisol site and subtropical rainforest.

STARS and the Soil Security Programme

The Soil Security Programme is designed to fill knowledge gaps within soil science linked to soil functioning, climate change and land use change, by adopting multi-disciplinary, multi-scale approaches. Here, Professor Chris Collins the Soil Security Programme Co-ordinator talks about the synergy between the SSP and STARS and how this strengthens STARS aims to produce the next generation of soil scientists.

The 2018 Russell Lecture by Professor Cheryl Palm

"Soils & Food Security: A Management Conundrum"

The 2018 Russell Lecture was delivered by Professor Cheryl Palm at the British Society of Soil Science Annual Conference at Lancaster University as part of the "Soils and Sustainability Development Goals".

Soil knowledge