We know a soil when we see one, or do we? Most definitions describe soil in its mature, developed state - an essentially Aristotelian view that defines something by what it ultimately becomes. This leaves a fundamental question unanswered: how “soily” must geological material become before it is soil? Soil does not suddenly appear at a fixed boundary. It emerges through the interacting effects of weathering, water, carbon, nutrients, roots and microorganisms across a connected, evolving system, yet soil science continues to concentrate disproportionately on the uppermost layers. In this webinar, we will explore how soils emerge. Which molecular, biological, chemical, hydrological and structural signals reveal that transformation? Is soil best understood through observable properties or the deeper functions those properties collectively express?
Dr Dan Evans (Cranfield University, UK) and Dr Kimber Moreland (Stanford University, USA) will present highlights from their recent paper 'Toward a Unified Soil–Bedrock Continuum: Building a Systems Understanding' which was published in the 75th Anniversary Special Issue of the European Journal of Soil Science. They will also announce the founding of a new Soil2Bedrock network - an international community dedicated to advancing the understanding of the soil-bedrock continuum. It will bring together researchers, practitioners, and organisations across disciplines to develop a whole-profile perspective of Earth's near-surface environment, foster collaboration, and accelerate discoveries that improve our understanding of soil systems from surface to bedrock.
To register, visit: Zoom into Soil: How does a Soil Emerge - and Can We Create One?