Countdown to the Africa in Profile exhibition!

We are shifting to high gear with the exhibition ‘Africa in Profile’ opening next week! After endless hours of writing, editing, spending time with the graphic designers, selecting pieces and ordering equipment we are almost ready!

Join in for a sneak-preview!

The stars of the show -30 impregnated soil cores (monoliths) from all over Africa – arrive from ISRIC

Seppe and Florias Mees in the vast archives of Afrikamuseum, selecting geological samples

Some beautiful termite mounts form the collections at Afrikamuseum will be on display as well – this one looks a bit like a Star Wars character…

The monoliths need a safe home here in Belgium, so Christophe designed a display case fit for a star! This is the prototype

Monolith-case mass-production at the main laboratory at the Geo-Institute… not a sight you see every day!

Panels, labels, displays and posters are ready! Now all that remains is spreading the word – ISRIC’s Soil Museum is taking the lead! 

Soil of the month September: Phaeozems by Stefaan Dondeyne

During the year of soils, each month we ask a soil researcher to select his or her favorite soil. Next up is Dr. Stefaan Dondeyne:

Currently a research fellow at the University of Leuven in Belgium, Stefaan has been involved in converting the legend of the soil map of Belgium to WRB. Over the last 20 years he has mainly worked on natural resources management projects in tropical Africa.

SSSB: If you have to choose a favourite soil, what would it be?

Stefaan: That’s a hard choice. On a worldwide scale, I would have Andosols as number one. Just because a great part of my childhood was on Andosols and I am fascinated by volcanoes. But, here I want to focus on Belgium, and I will say Phaeozems and Umbrisols.

SSSB: What are the main properties of these soil types?

Stefaan: First, in this context we should not use the word “soil types” but really refer to (reference) soil groups. Both groups have in common their thick, dark surface horizons with high content of organic matter. Having a Mollic horizon, the Phaeozems will have relative high base cations saturation (BS ≥ 50%); the Umbrisols are their acidic brothers, so with a BS < 50%.

Fig. 1 – A Rendzic Phaeozem in the valley of the Hoyoux, near Huy, developed on travertine limestone (from the SSSB excursion of 2010) and showing the thick dark surface horizon with high organic matter content

SSSB: Why do you find this soil type particularly interesting?

Stefaan: As a student, when we learned about Phaeozems, we were taught that these are the typical soils of the slightly more humid areas of the steppes, be it in Ukraine or the central parts of the USA. Of course Phaeozems are surely the dominant soil group in these areas, but as the key property is to have a thick dark surface horizon, we find such soils in very varied environments including tropical environments. So they can be found wherever climate or drainage favours the accumulation of organic matter (Fig. 2). The same goes for the Umbrisols, but note that in the FAO legend these were not yet considered as a separate reference soil group but mostly out as Humic Cambisols.

Fig. 2. – Phaeozems occur worldwide: (a) Luvic Phaeozem in Nebraska, USA at 375 m altitude and used for wheat cultivation; (b) Cambic Phaeozem (Andic) in southern Ecuador at an altitude of 3250 m under pine plantation; (c) Luvic Phaeozem (Chromic) in south-eastern Tanzania at an altitude of 300 m and under miombo woodland

In Belgium both Phaeozems and Umbrisols occur mostly in valleys, where they are found in association with Histosols and Gleysols. In the legend of the soil map of Belgium, however, no particular symbol was foreseen for these soil groups. Hence when correlating the Belgian legend to the World Reference Base for soil resources (WRB) for the Flemish region, we inferred their occurrence based on reports on colour in the booklets and statistics on OC content. The wetland areas where these soils occur are considered of importance for nature conservation. In the Walloon region both Phaeozems (Fig. 1) and Umbrisols (Fig. 3c) also occur. Once the conversion of the Belgian soil legend to WRB will also be completed for Wallonia we will get a better overview on their spread and occurrence in Belgium.

Fig. 3. – Phaeozems and Umbrisols in Belgium (a) Gleyic Phaeozem in Meerbeek on alluvial silt deposits (Vl. Brabant) (b) Gleyic Umbrisol on eolian fine sand deposits (Bree, Limburg); (c) Cambic Umbrisol in Gesves on Psammite (Namur)

SSSB: Do the properties of these soil groups have consequences for its management, e.g. in terms of land use, soil quality, …?

Stefaan: Given their high organic matter content, and in the case of the Phaeozems their favourable pH, these soils are highly valued for their fertility and if not too wet, for their good physical properties. Phaeozems in the Flemish region will be about the most productive soils for poplar for example. These soils are also important for their soil organic carbon stocks and their role in carbon sequestration. Therefore, next to the usual suspects as the Histosols and Gleysols, these soil groups deserve special attention when estimating soil organic carbon stocks. As the spread and occurrence of these soils has been underreported in Belgium this calls for particular attention, and highlight the importance of having the soil map of Belgium correlated to WRB.

For more information on the Reference Soil Groups of the Flemish region and the conversion of the soil map of Belgium to WRB:

• The soil map of the Flemish region converted to the 3rd edition of the World Reference Base for soil resources – available at http://tinyurl.com/nlovejm
• De grote bodemgroepen van Vlaanderen: kenmerken van de “Reference Soil Groups” volgens het internationale classificatiesysteem World Reference Base – available at http://tinyurl.com/nfonsys

Thematic Day: International Congress and Exhibition ‘Africa in Profile’!

The International Year of Soils 2015 is drawing to a close. The SSSB, together with KU Leuven, EU-JRC, ISRIC, Africamuseum and the African Soil Science Society, have prepared a series of activities to end the year on a bombshell!

The ‘Africa in Profile / Afrika DoorGrond’ exhibition shows the beauty and variability of Africa’s soils, and their importance for both nature conservation as human land-use. The exhibition will be open to the public from December 5th to January 31th, in the Arenberglibrary in Leuven. Entry is free.

On December 4th, an International Conference will be staged, discussing the importance of Soil Information Systems for Africa. The French edition of the Soil Atlas of Africa will be officially launched during this event, and the exhibition will be festively opened by a.o. Herman Van Rompuy, Alexander de Croo and Rik Torfs. For the full program and registration, please visit our website. Contributions in the form of posters are welcomed.

On December 5th – World Soil Day – free guided tours are organised for all those interested. Both people completely new to soil science as soil professionals are most welcome.

On January 15th, a Strategic forum will discuss opportunities and pitfalls for inter-university collaboration and NGO’s regarding sustainable development in Africa. More information can be found here.

Spread the word!

Soil of the Month April: Podzol – By Bas Van Der Veken and Jan Bastiaens

During the year of soils, each month we ask a soil researcher to select his or her favorite soil. Fourth in line are Dr. Ir. Bas Van der Veken of Regionaal Landschap Kleine en Grote Nete and Jan Bastiaens of Flanders Heritage. Both are pioneers in including soil heritage, soil preservation and soil education in the management of conservation areas in Flanders.

Bas Van der Veken is director of Regionaal Landschap Kleine en Grote Nete, an NGO promoting landscape quality in the Campine region of Belgium. He also is one of the managers of the nature reserve Landschap De Liereman in the same area. Jan is scientist at Flanders Heritage, an agency of the Flemisch Government dealing with scientific research, management and policy of landscapes, archaeological sites and monuments. Together they share a broad interest in landscape history (especially from the Campine region), biodiversity… and soils.

SSSB: If you have to choose a favorite soil, what would it be?
Bas and Jan: a Podzol.

Jan: … since the Anthrosols have already been taken, as the February soil of the month. No seriously, the Podzol is really one of my favorites.

SSSB: What are the main properties of this soil type?
Bas Van der Veken: Podzols – or Spodosols according to the US Soil Taxonomy – occur on sandy soils and have a typical ash-grey or even white bleached-out layer where all organic substances, Al, Fe, Mn, Na, Ca, K, Mg etc. have been leached. The organic substances and sesquioxides accumulate again in the so-called spodic horizon below, a blackish to reddish brown layer. The other elements disappear in the groundwater.

Jan Bastiaens: Podzols occur on a wide range of sandy soils across the globe, occupying about 4 percent of the global surface. They dominate in the boreal zone, especially in northern America and Europe, with coniferous trees omnipresent. But they also occur in the tropics. In the Campine area, the pre-eminently sandy region of Belgium, it is the most common soil type. But many of these soils have been impacted by human activities during the last centuries. They are still out there, a lot, but well-preserved Podzols are becoming increasingly rare.

Left: Podzol under forest in Kampenhout  – Right: Podzol profile in a boreal dune in Herentals (top disturbed), the site were Guy Smith developed the concept of Podzols for Soil Taxonomy 

SSSB: Why do you find this soil type particularly interesting?
Bas Van der Veken: The process of podzolisation, leading to this colorful soil type, is really interesting. In order to leach organic material and soluble minerals from the E to the B horizon, both humic acids (e.g. from acidic coniferous or heather litter) and a lot of precipitation are needed. They dissolve elements like Al , Fe, … and transport them downwards, leaving almost only pure quartz grains in the E horizon, hence the whitish colour. Together with the dark colours of the B horizon this is a real natural work of art. That is why we want to place lacquer profiles of this soil in a framework, hanging them in public places in the Campine area.

Bas and Jan: Indeed, these soils are so beautiful and so connected with the landscape and the history of the Campine region. Therefor we would like to suggest that if an Independent Campine Republic happens to be declared, once, the flag will be based on the colors of the Podzol soil profile!

Jan Bastiaens: The process of podzolisation is a natural process, but it got a real boost when the early farmers in Neolithic times started to open up the landscape, for arable land and grazing of their cattle. The consequent exhaustion of the soils, the start of heathlands (with its acidic litter) and the surplus of rain passing through the soil (before, a lot of rain was intercepted by the trees) have led to the development of Podzols spreading ‘all over the place’. This going is also illustrated by Bronze Age burial mounds: the older ones sometimes still have a Cambisol-like soil underneath, while the younger ones are characterized by Podzols.

Regarding that heathland, so typical for the historical landscape of the Campine region, I would like to add that Podzols and heathland are mutually dependent, so to say. There is heath because of the presence of the nutrient poor and acidic Podzols, and on the other hand the acidic litter of heath favours the development of Podzols. People see heathland as plants and animals, but they should realize that half the story is under the ground.

There is a delicate balance between biodiversity and well-developed, undisturbed podzol profiles in the Campine area 

SSSB: Do the properties of this soil type have consequences for it’s management, e.g. in terms of land use, soil quality, conservation..?
Bas Van der Veken: Because of the lack of nutrients in the upper layer, acidity and sometimes cemented spodic horizon, Podzols are not very interesting for agriculture. That is why generations of farmers in our region have fought the Podzols by adding organic materials in all possible ways (see Karen’s article on Anthrosols in February) or breaking up the cemented spodic horizon. On the other hand, because they were often neglected for cultivation, Podzols are now associated with high biodiversity (because most species prefer nutrient-poor situations), beautiful heathlands, intact geomorphology and archeology, etc. Therefore we try to protect intact profiles of different Podzols – e.g. they differ in dry or wet conditions –, and in the management plan of Landschap De Liereman protection of soil heritage is at the same level of protection of biodiversity.

Jan Bastiaens: Yes, indeed. We see the Podzols (or soils in general) as part of our heritage, telling about landscape and man. Don’t forget that Podzols need centuries to develop. Most often they are some thousands of years old. That’s also the reason why ‘Mesolithic’ archaeologists are very keen on Podzols. These soils are indicative for landscape stability and no or few disruptions. Admittedly, the Podzols post-date the Mesolithic artefacts, but the best-preserved Mesolithic sites are found where Podzols are intact.

SSSB: Can you tell us your most memorable story concerning this soil type?
Bas Van der Veken: In the nature reserve Landschap De Liereman we have a profile pit of a beautiful, deep, well-developed Podzol. It has been used to show the process of podzolisation to many grades of students (soil scientists, archaeologists, historians, biologists, …), to make lacquer profiles or peels for different reasons, to study soil chemistry, archeological artifacts etc. If soils would be celebrities, this could be the Lady Gaga or Tom Cruise of soil science. So every time I pass this profile pit during my walks in Landschap De Liereman, I check if our ‘celeb’ is still okay.

Jan Bastiaens: And that’s also why we decided to bring this Podzol and its pedological and archaeological history to a broader public. In a joint effort from Flanders Heritage, Landschap De Liereman and Appeltien Engineering we’ve developed an innovative device for that, getting people to realize what they are literally standing on. Our celeb gets its own ‘show’, quite spectacular, but very well suited for a nature area. The inauguration is planned for the end of summer. So then everybody will be able to enjoy the beauty of the Podzol. You will be hearing from us, no doubt!

Left: Archaeological site “De Korhaan” in Landschap De Liereman, with a ploughed podzol and a Late Glacial soil underneath – Right: the ‘celeb’-Podzol of Landschap De Liereman, used as a scientific and educational site for many students and projects

Soil of the Month – March: Regosols

During the year of soils, each month we ask a soil researcher to select his or her favorite soil. Next up is Prof. Peter Finke of the University of Gent:

Peter Finke is professor at UGent and teaches courses in pedology, soil prospection and classification and soil genesis. His main research interests include the modelling of pedogenesis from the perspective of “natural” genesis as well as prolonged genesis under human influence. Furthermore he is interested in soil mapping, both the development of statistical mapping methods and their application for the construction and updating of spatial soil databases.

SSSB: If you have to choose a favorite soil, what would it be?

Peter Finke: a Regosol

SSSB: What are the main properties of this soil type?

Peter Finke: Regosols have few diagnostics besides the accumulation of (some) organic matter in the topsoil. This means that they often still strongly bear the signature of the parent material. Geologists should love Regosols for this reason: they can easily understand it. Regosols are defined by a soil scientist because of a lot of things they are NOT, as they did not yet have to sufficient time to develop distinct soil formation features. In this sense they are the wastebin of soil classification: They do NOT have well-developed topsoil horizons (mollic, chernic, umbric), illuviation horizons (argic, natric , spodic), or weathered horizons (cambic, ferralic), etcetera. If one does a soil classification, one has to check every possible type of soil before the conclusion “Regosols” can be drawn. It must therefore be a highly appreciated soil by soil classifiers: it is worth a big effort!

Regosol in sandy loam with some mottling. It may become a Podzol one day. 

SSSB: Why do you find this soil type particularly interesting?

Peter Finke: Regosols are young, wild and full of potential! They are just starting to become a soil because strong erosion, in some cases deposition (eolian, or of volcanic ash) has prevented or undone soil formation so far. Given time, they may develop in many possible directions. A better name for them would be “sabbatical soils” as they are at a turning point in their career. As a modeller of pedogenesis I often start my simulation with a Regosol, preferably not even having an A-horizon, and am always curious what will happen to it given the type of parent material and the external influences (climate, vegetation, human influences, mass wasting processes). In the initial phase of soil formation, the interaction between biota and the mineral phase is very fragile. For instance, strong soil settling after deposition will cause pores to be small and prevent roots to grow deeply, which will slow down the formation of an A-horizon. This incipient behaviour is still poorly understood and predictable, but highly relevant, for instance in the context of C-sequestration in circumstances of erosion and deposition.

Regosol in silt loam, in an erosion landscape. If man allows, it may become a Luvisol (again) one day. 

SSSB: Do the properties of this soil type have consequences for its management, e.g. in terms of land use, soil quality, conservation..?

Peter Finke: Regosols are of relevance to many soil users. As Regosols are produced continuously, for instance because of severe erosion (loess region), people have to deal with the consequences. Modifying the properties of a Regosol to improve its performance for any ecosystem service is therefore a precise and site-specific task, because the parent material properties can vary widely within Regosols, and also spatially without soil maps indicating all of this variation. Thus, a Regosol user cannot simply use a textbook or soil map to be advised on what to do or not, but instead the user has to become truly involved with this soil to get the best out of it in terms of biomass production and other soil functions.

Given a bit of climate change, this Regosol may be a Chernozem one day

SSSB: Can you tell us your most memorable story concerning this soil type?

Peter Finke: Being brought up in the peat area north of Amsterdam, it took a while before I experienced mineral soils (and the first one was probably an Arenosol when going to the sea and dunes). The zones behind the dunes grading into the clayey and peat polders was and is famous for its bulb and flower production. The reason for this was that the water table and thus the plant available water could very precisely be managed, and the soil contains few nutrients so they could easily be manipulated with fertilization (and biocides). These are very useful Regosols!

 Photo-credits: Archives from Roger Langohr and ISRIC

Obituary for Otto Spaargaren by Seppe Deckers

Otto Spaargaren passed away at Bennekom on March 13^th 2015 at the age of 71.

Everybody will remember Otto as the winner of the third IUSS Guy Smith Award with which the IUSS community recognized him for his major contributions to international soil classification and correlation with special reference to the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB).

Otto started his professional career as Educational Officer at the International Soil Museum (now ISRIC – World Soil Information), Wageningen from where he undertook numerous soils projects all over the world: soil survey for rice production in the Niger Delta in Nigeria; soil survey for the Mahaweli Development Project in Eastern Sri Lanka; feasibility for irrigation in Western Nepal. Otto also spent numerous years overseas in various projects such as the Soil Survey of Zambia and Coordinating the African Acid Soils Network of the International Board for Soil Research and Management (IBSRAM). Otto spearheaded under FAO the first classification system for top soils in the world and was involved in the work on Land Quality Indicators (LQI) under the authority from the World Bank.

From 2006 to 2010 he was the Chair of the IUSS Working Group WRB and from its foundation till 2006 he served as Vice-Chair and Secretary of the Working Group.

Otto was a soil classifier in heart and soul. His contribution to international soil classification may be defined as designing and checking its architecture (and controlling its rules). The other dimension in Otto’s approach was harmony both within one system and among systems. In Otto’s world of soil classification, WRB has its unique place which he iconized as “umbrella between equally worthy national soil classification systems”. With his concern to come to harmonization with Soil Taxonomy, Otto made numerous moves with the definitions of the diagnostics in WRB, so as to bring WRB and Soil Taxonomy closer to each other.

Otto’s enthusiasm for soilscapes has inspired many young soil scientists. He really was a master in animating the discussions in the profile pits and then bringing the floating ideas towards a consensus by projecting them on his vast field experience. Not only that, during numerous field excursions in the margin of international soil congresses, Otto would sneak out to collect numerous soil monoliths which are now on display in the soil museum at ISRIC and at the places of origin. In the quietness of the magnificently refurbished International Soil Museum at ISRIC, Wageningen, The Netherlands, Otto Spaargaren will always remain present through the numerous soil monoliths which will continue inspiring people from around the world in eternity.

Jozef (Seppe) Deckers, KU Leuven

Belgium

 

 

In Memoriam: Otto Spaargaren

It is with great sadness that we learned that Otto Spaargaren passed away last Friday at the age of 70. Otto was a leading scientist in the development of the WRB system, for which he received the Guy Smith Award last year. He also was a brilliant field pedologist and most of all a great person with a good sense of humor. Thank you Otto for the nice times we shared in the field, always keen to share your experience with others.

Two WRB-ledgends : Rudi Dudal and Otto

Otto recieves the Guy Smith Award for his achievements is Soil Classification at ISRIC in Wageningen last year

Otto always took the time to go to the field and share his experience with young scientists, here when I was still a PhD student

A field course in soil monoliths: the pictures are taken at the crucial moment when the monolith core is carefully extracted in the field.