Soil Science

- Main Reserach Areas of Soil Science

There are two main branches of soil science - sometimes terms referring to branches of soil science, such as pedology (the formation, chemistry, morphology, and classification of soils) and the conceptual perspective of pedology (how soils interact with living things, especially plants), are used as synonyms for soil science. The diversity of names associated with the discipline is related to the various associations associated. 

In fact, engineers, agronomists, chemists, geologists, physical geographers, ecologists, biologists, microbiologists, foresters, hygienists, archaeologists and regional planning specialists all contributed to the further understanding of soils and the advancement of soil science.

Soil science is the study of soil in its natural environment. Soil science is the study of soil in relation to the uses that depend on it. Both branches combine soil physics, soil chemistry and soil biology. A more integrated, less soil-centric concept is also valuable due to the numerous interactions between the biosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere within the pedosphere. Many concepts that are critical to understanding soils come from individuals who cannot strictly be considered soil scientists. This highlights the interdisciplinary nature of soil concepts.

Dependent on and curious about soil, exploring the diversity and dynamics of this resource is constantly yielding new discoveries and insights. The need to understand soils in the context of climate change, greenhouse gases, and carbon sequestration necessitates the opening of new avenues of soil research. Interest in maintaining Earth's biodiversity and exploring past cultures has also sparked renewed interest in achieving a greater understanding of soils.

[Stunning Mother Nature, Nguyen Hoang]

- Research Topics in Soil Science

• Soil regeneration
• Soil and water resources conservation
• Soil-water environment and ecosystem
• Application of environmental biotechnology in soil and groundwater bioremediation 
• Soil science and Plant Nutrition
• Crop and soil sciences
• Soil fertility 
• Soil carbon research
• Soil management
• Soil compaction: causes, effects and control
• Soil physics and soil chemistry 
• Environmental biophysics 
• Soil fertility/plant nutrition
• Soil genesis/classification/pedology
• Soil ecology, waste management & environmental microbiology
• Soil microbial genomics & evolutionary biology
• Pedometrics
• Plant-soil interactions
• Soil management
• Soil organic matter dynamics and carbon sequestration
• Soil pollution & remediation 
• Soil chemistry
• Soil biogeochemistry & nutrient Cycling
• Soil biology, ecosystems and biodiversity
• Soil microbiology 
• Soils and human health
• Soilborne pathogens
• Green building
• Hydroponics
• Horticultural engineering
• Controlled environment agriculture engineering
• Rooftop greening
• Vertical farming (Urban farming)
  
• Urban agriculture
• Nanoclay: the liquid turning desert to farmland