Soil science: raising the profile

Abstract

The low public profile of soil science and its practitioners nationally and internationally is noted against a widespread general concern about food supplies and our collective ability to sustain soil resources for agriculture. The historical development of soil science as a recognised discipline is traced from the early Russian pedological work to the current proliferation of taxonomic approaches for codifying soil information; from the application of the basic sciences to measuring soil properties and understanding soil processes; and from traditional soil survey to modern `information technology" approaches to extending soil information in an easily accessible form to a variety of end-users. The provision of soil information systems and management models at appropriate scales, and the development of site-specific farming systems, are some of the key areas for contributions from soil scientists in the future. This opportunity exists in urban and rural areas. To grasp these opportunities, soil scientists will need to be more proactive in the scientific community, seeking to interact where possible with ecologists, engineers, economists, and social scientists to enhance the visibility and perceived importance of soil science across traditional boundaries. To raise further their public pro¯le, they will also need to make a success of their professional accreditation scheme.