IUSS Alert 99 (September 2013)
Election IUSS Division and Commission chairs & vice chairs 2014-2018
You are kindly invited to vote for the IUSS Division and Commission chairs and vice chairs for the period 2014-2018. These are key position and determine largely the scientific activities of the IUSS. We have provided short bios of all the candidates. The voting is electronic, and here is the URL: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TXQX2KY Voting is only open for members of a national soil science society that is a paying member of the IUSS. The system will ask for your name, email address and national society and please be aware that you can only vote once. Voting closes 15th October 2013. We shall check the eligibility of each vote with the national societies, and will have the results available before the end of the year. Thank you and happy voting!
20th World Congress of Soil Science – Korea
We are pleased to announce that the 20th World Congress of Soil Science will be held at the International Convention Center Jeju (ICC Jeju) on Jeju Island, Korea, from June 8th to 13th, 2014. The theme of the conference is Soils Embrace Life and Universe, and the congress is also a celebration of 90 years IUSS. Jeju is an oval-shaped volcanic island with 1,950 meter Halla Mountain in the middle. Jeju is known for its unique volcanic features making the entire island a volcanic museum. Numerous species of plants from polar to subtropical abound, which make it a treasure trove of nearly 1,800 varieties. The website of the 20th World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) is www.20wcss.org and you will find valuable information and announcement by the Organizing Committee. We cordially invite you to join us and be part of the 20th World Congress of Soil Science. We hope that you will take this chance to explore one of the most exciting and wonderful countries in the world. We are looking forward to seeing you on Jeju Island. For further information see www.20wcss.org or e-mail Deadline for Abstract Submission: October 31, 2013
On-line consultation Eurasian Soil Partnership
The Eurasian Center for Food Security (ECFS) of Lomonosov Moscow State University together with FAO’s Global Forum for Food Security and Nutrition and the World Bank initiated an on-line consultation Towards the Eurasian Soil Partnership for food security and sustainable development. This activity is a part of the development of Global Soil Partnership, that is based on regional cooperation programs. The outcomes of the consultation will serve as the basis for the discussion at an International Conference to be organized by the ECFS in October 2013.You are invited to join the discussion at www.fao.org/fsnforum/ecfs/en
Conferences
International Conference of the European Society for Soil Conservation. Imola, Italy, June, 23-26, 2014. The general subject of the conference will be: “Biogeochemical Processes at Air- Soil-Water Interfaces and Environmental Protection”. The objective is to promote exchange and discussion on the complex processes occurring at the Air-Soil-Water interfaces in a perspective of environmental protection. The Conference, consisting of invited lectures, scientific session with oral and poster presentations and a field excursion, will be hosted by the University of Bologna. Selected papers will be published on an international journal. Expression of Interest in Participation can be mailed to: . Website: http://aswep-essc.unibo.it
New Publications
Salinity and Drainage in San Joaquin Valley, California. Science, Technology, and Policy. Series: Global Issues in Water Policy, Vol. 5. Chang, Andrew C.; Brawer Silva, Deborah (Eds.). Springer, 2013. ISBN 978-94-007-6850-5. Hardcover, 394 pages. Price $229.00. This book documents the history of irrigated agriculture and drainage in the San Joaquin Valley, and describes the hydrology and biogeochemical processes of salts and selenium, remediation technologies for salts and trace elements and policy and management options. The contents are comprised of fourteen chapter-length independent treatises, each depicting with fresh perspective a distinctive salinity drainage topic. The opening chapters detail the evolution of irrigated agriculture, and depict the geochemical and hydrological processes that define the San Joaquin Valley, including the physics, chemistry, and biology attributes that impact water management policies and strategies. Next, the contributors address the biogeochemistry of selenium, the role of plants in absorbing it from soils, and the processes involved in retaining and concentrating dissolved salts in drainage water. Further chapters describe on-farm and plot-level irrigation provisions to reduce agricultural drainage outputs and examine their effects on plant performance. This volume offers realistic policy analysis of water management options for irrigated agriculture in the Valley and assesses their respective outcomes, if implemented. Also included is an international perspective on the sustainability of irrigated agriculture there.
The Soils of Bangladesh. Series: World Soils Book Series. By Huq, S.M. Imamul, Shoaib, Jalal Uddin Md. 2013, Springer. ISBN 978-94-007-1127-3. Hardcover, 169 pages. Price $129.00. This book presents a comprehensive overview of the soils of Bangladesh. It is compiled by authors with vast experience in soil related problems and potential mitigation approaches. It discusses the development of Soil Science as an individual discipline in a country with limited resources and where soil plays a pivotal role for the economy; the formation of different agro-climatic regions; and the effects of human-induced soil degradation and climatic change on its soils, geology and geomorphology and major soil types. It examines 'problem soils' and how they are managed, the scenario of soil fertility status, and land and crop management, as well as focusing on the future soils.Topics covered include: the history of soil research in Bangladesh; agro-climatic regions of Bangladesh; soil and climatic change, major soil types; soil maps; soil properties; soil classification; soil fertility; land use and vegetation; land use changes; human-induced soil degradation; soil contaminants; and future soil issues. This book will be a valuable resource for researchers and soil science professionals.
Soil Security for Ecosystem Management: Mediterranean Soil Ecosystems 1. Series: Springer Briefs in Environment, Security, Development and Peace, Vol. 8. Subseries: Mediterranean Studies. Kapur, Selim; Erşahin, Sabit (Eds.). 2013, Springer. ISBN 978-3-319-00698-7. Softcover, 143 pages. Price $49.99. The term "Soil Security" is used in the context of maintaining the quality and quantity of soil needed in order to ensure continuous supplies of food and fresh water for our society. Topics in this unique book on the management of soil sustainability in the Mediterranean region include: soil information, land degradation, land desertification, pedoenvironments, and the carbon cycle and sequestration. One main focus of the book is the description of new approaches that have been adapted with regards to interdisciplinary soil ecosystem management to combat and mitigate desertification. The contributing authors are renowned experts in their fields which cover the subjects on traditional as well as innovative land use and management.
Restoration and Development of the Degraded Loess Plateau, China. Series: Ecological Research Monographs. Tsunekawa, A.; Liu, G.; Yamanaka, N.; Du, S. (Eds.). 2013, Springer. XVI. ISBN 978-4-431-54480-7. Hardcover, 344 pages. Price $129.00. This book presents state-of-the-art scientific evidence and technological innovations to restore lands on the Loess Plateau of China, known worldwide for its serious land degradation and desertification problems. Supported by a rapidly developing Chinese economy and the dissemination of effective technology, the Grain-for-Green Project and Western Development Action launched by the Chinese government have resulted in successful ecological restoration and protection over the past 30 years. These programs have contributed not only to conservation of soil and water, but also to economic development. At the same time, however, these developmental interventions have brought new challenges that have not yet been fully addressed. The book describes (1) case studies of success and failure in practice, including rare success stories of combating desertification; (2) technical issues such as erosion control and breeding of stress-tolerant plant species, and socioeconomic measures taken by the Chinese government and lending policies with support from the World Bank; and (3) comprehensive measures against desertification, such as water and wind erosion, salinization, and deforestation. This volume is recommended for researchers and students above the undergraduate level in diverse fields including soil science, rural engineering, social technology and civil engineering, biology, ecology, climatology, physical and human geography, and developmental economics, among others. It also serves as a valuable resource for engineers, government officials, and NPOs and NGOs involved in afforestation, ecological restoration, combating desertification, disaster prevention, and sustainable rural development.