Download Rock stars of soil science head for Vic

CROPPING SOIL SCIENCE
Rock stars of soil
science head for Vic
Super spoon:
The complexity of soil
structure is defined in this
teaspoon of soil, which
scientists say contains about
one billion living microbes.
The agricultural industry survives on soil – and with demand for more production from less ground increasing
demands on the finite resource, a major world conference on soil change will be held in Victoria in March.
F
our representatives from one of
the most important soil science
think tanks in the world will come
together in Australia in March for an
international policy and technical workshop
on soil change.
Dr Luca Montanarella (Italy), Dr Helaina
Black (UK), Dr Dominique Arrouays (France)
and Dr Neil McKenzie (Australia) – all members
of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations’ Intergovernmental Technical
Panel on Soils – will join Australian and other
international experts at the Soil Change Matters
workshop in Bendigo on March 24-27.
“The workshop will be a gathering of
minds to discuss what is known about soil
change, how critical it is and how to measure
it,” Victorian Department of Environment
and Primary Industries event organiser
Richard MacEwan said.
“It will have a particular focus on
agricultural land use and how the work of
soil scientists around the globe is playing
out in the paddocks. While changes to the
soil asset such as erosion, salinisation and
acidification have occurred as a result of
societal pressures, it is in agriculture that we
are seeing positive changes in soil quality,
achieved by addressing deficiencies through
fertilisers, composts and manures.
“Farmers should be excited about further
possibilities leading from soil research.”
The Soil Change Matters international
workshop is being organised by DEPI in
partnership with the International Union of Soil
Sciences, British Society of Soil Science and
Soil Science Australia.
Policy and technical discussions will
focus on priority action areas as set by the
Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations’ Global Soil Partnership
and there will be a one-day symposium
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Farming Ahead January 2014 No. 264
© Kondinin Group – Reproduction in whole or part is
not permitted without permission. Freecall 1800 677 761
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during which farmers, land managers and
anyone interested in soil science will have an
opportunity to hear world leaders speak on
their research.
FINITE RESOURCE
“Soil is a finite, non-renewable source that
is essential for life and society,” MacEwan
said.
“We rely on it for food production and it is
the key to determining what activities can be
undertaken and supported on different types
of land.
“Australia is a world leader in soil science
research and this workshop will provide the
opportunity to link global outcomes to what
is happening at the local level through some
of the best soil science minds in the world.”
The major March event follows
December’s celebration of World Soil Day.
It may sound a dirty subject but there are
billions of reasons to celebrate and appreciate
soil. Soil is alive and helps keep the world’s
7 billion people and countless plants and
animals alive as well, DEPI productive soil
specialist Declan McDonald says.
“How alive? How about one billion living
microbes per teaspoon of soil,” he said.
“Which is what made World Soil Day on
December 5 such an important day to dig in
and celebrate,” he said.
The day recognised the importance of
soils to global terrestrial ecosystems and to
food and fibre production around the world.
McDonald believed careful management of
soils, backed up by research and development,
was the bedrock of our agricultural production,
profitability and exports.
“DEPI’s soil science research expertise
extends across chemistry, physics and biology
and our skilled extension staff help translate
science into practical on-farm management
recommendations,” McDonald said.
“DEPI remains at the forefront of soil science
and is engaged in a range of cutting-edge
activities including remote sensing and digital
soil mapping, improving nutrient management
and fertiliser efficiencies, maximising
soil water availability, understanding soil
biological functions, and overcoming physical
and chemical constraints to plant growth.”
DIRTY BUSINESS
McDonald spends his life getting the dirt on
many aspects of soil science and sharing his
knowledge with food and fibre producers.
And like many other researchers he digs
his job and agrees “that soil science rocks”.
In March he will join other world-leading
scientists and researchers in Bendigo for the
international Soil Change Matters conference.
He said he expected the conference would
provide some gritty presentations on a range
of issues around soil science.
“But it doesn’t end there, scientists will
also get all the dirt on their favourite subject
during the [International Union of Soil
Sciences] World Soils Conference at Korea
in June and Soil Science Australia’s national
conference in Melbourne in November,”
McDonald added.
“Then in 2015 scientists and producers
will have a whole year to celebrate with the
International Year of Soils – it’s a dirty job
but someone has to do it.
“DEPI celebrated World Soil Day in
December with activities including a display
at 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne, a
DEPI staff event around a soil-themed cake
baking competition and some fascinating
online information.
“But the big events are yet to come, so I
suggest people dig in and get the dirt on soil
– soil science really does rock.”
For further information on the event go to
www.soilmatters.org
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© Kondinin Group – Reproduction in whole or part is
not permitted without permission. Freecall 1800 677 761
No. 264 January 2014 Farming Ahead
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