Pedology

 On June 11, 2010 Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen signed into law the "Soil Scientists Licensing Act of 2009."  Specifically, the bill creates licensure for the practice of soil science which is defined (in the bill) as, "[the] investigation, inspection, collection, or evaluation of soil as a means to classify soil pursuant to the use and application of the USDA soil taxonomy standard, as revised, or the interpretation,inventory, planning, or mapping resulting from classifying soils."   The passage of this legislation is monumental for the profession of soil science in Tennessee.  

Version 2 of STATSGO (General Soils Map of the USA) is available for viewing in Google Earth.  Download the kml file from:

http://www.gelib.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/us-soils_nl.kml

With appropriate additional resources this might be used as an educational tool.

 Changes between Field Indicators 7.0 and 6.0  with reference to USACOE Regional Supplements.

Version 7.0 of the Field Indicators of Hydric Soils is now available online.

Issue 50 of the National Cooperative Soil Survey Newsletter (February, 2010) is now available online.

Living organisms are an important requirement for soil formation. Soil formation on Mars anyone?

USGS will likely hire 12 individuals to do this work. Most of them will be summer employees, but for those who graduated in December 09, they could start sooner. This summer position would be a great fit for those who have soil morphology and classification and/or have soil judging experience. Via Tom Hallmark, TX

The 11th edition of Keys to Soil Taxonomy, as well as a summary of all changes for this new version of the Keys is available at: http://soils.usda.gov/technical/classification/tax_keys/

The summer soil institute provides a unique opportunity to gain a fundamental and applied understanding of soil biology, chemistry, and physics with world-renowned faculty. Students will gain hands-on experience with lab and field techniques and will gain an enhanced appreciation for the importance of managing our soil resources sustainably. The course will be limited to a maximum of 25 students. Applications will be reviewed starting March 12.

Pennsylvania soil scientists working in the private sector are being called upon more frequently to solve complex environmental problems. This is often in response to the emergence of new technologies, such as new approaches to on-site wastewater treatment, the recognition of new problems, such as soil and groundwater contamination related to land waste disposal, the increasing recognition of the sensitivity of certain landscapes, such as wetlands, or the enactment of new laws and regulations.

Issue 48 of the National Cooperative Soil Survey Newsletter (August, 2009) is now available online.

Raymond B. Daniels, 84, retired USDA-NRCS and NCSU soil scientist died June 21, 2009 in Richmond, VA. Ray was born and raised on an Iowa farm and educated at Iowa State University, receiving his Ph.D. in 1957. He initiated his career with NRCS in Iowa and moved to NC in 1960. It was on the Atlantic Coastal Plain where Ray distinguished himself as an outstanding soil geomorphologist.

...on the web. (32 pages)

In December 1999, the Southeast Archeological Center (SEAC) of the National Park Service and the Agricultural Department of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee entered into an agreement to develop a workshop to train archeologists in soil classification. The goal was to acquaint the archeologists with soils typically found at archeological sites in the region.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is seeking proposals to provide technical assistance pertaining to soil science, hydrology, engineering, fluvial and hillslope geomorphology, wetland science, and botany. Those selected would be contracted through a 2 year master services agreement, from which task orders would be issued on an as needed basis.