The definition below is from the N.C.Board of Licensing Soil Scientists
Soil Science deals with soils as an environmental resource. It includes soil characterization, classification, and mapping, and the physical, chemical, hydrologic, mineralogical, biological, and microbiological analysis of soil. The practice of soil science means any service or work, the adequate performance of which requires education in the physical, chemical, and biological sciences, as well as soil science; training and experience in the application of special knowledge of these sciences to the use and management of soil by accepted principles and methods; and investigation, evaluation, and consultation; and in which to performance if related to the public welfare by safeguarding like, health, property and the environment. Practice of soil science includes, but is not limited to investigating and evaluating the interactions between water, soil minerals, plants and other living organisms that are used to prepare soil scientists’ reports for; subsurface ground absorption systems, including infiltration galleries; land application of residuals such as sludge, septage, and other wastes; spray irrigation of wastewater; soil remediation at conventional rates; land application of agricultural products; processing residues, bioremediation, and volatilization; soil erodibility and sedimentation; and identification of hydric soil and redoximorphic features.
We're losing it!
Soil erosion is a worldwide problem. Soil scientists estimate that 12 inches of soil have been lost during the last 300 year period in the southeastern Piedmont region of the U.S. Did you know that through natural soil formation processes it can take one thousand years to form one inch of soil? The gully shown in the photo above formed during high intensity rainstorms.
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Measuring Infiltration Rate
The infiltration rate is the speed of water entry into the soil, measured in mm/hour. Generally, the rate is higher at the onset of a storm, because the soil is drier. The infiltration rate is a key determinant of the volume of surface run-off.
Soil Health
Clicking on this photo will take you to an excellent site with much information on soil biological processess, organic matter, soil organisms, and the soil management practices that affect these.
Developing Technology - Finding Solutions
As scientists we develop alternatives to abate environmental problems. This constructed wetland cell filters nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants from the liquid waste produced in swine production operations. The problem is that there too much waste and not enough land to spread it. As a result, the land is overloaded with these pollutants and they eventually end-up in creeks, rivers and lakes.