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President Rodrigo R. Duterte emphasized the conduct of soil analysis in the country during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 15, 2016. He said that “we shall also conduct a nationwide soil analysis to determine areas most suitable for rice farming to optimize production with the use of effective soil rehabilitation and fertilization.” As an effect of this presidential pronouncement, many people including professionals from various academic fields have been wondering what soil analysis is. Several readers of this blog suggested that I write about this topic hence, this article. Soil analysis refers to the measurement of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. It is done, depending on the type of soil analysis, for the following purposes: 1) to evaluate the origin and formation of the soil; 2) to assess the level of contamination of the soil; 3) to characterize the soil as a habitat of soil organisms; 4) to assess the soil fertility status; and 5) to evalu...

The latest issue of the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) bulletin is now available . The bulletin, the official publication of IUSS (formerly International Society of Soil Science or ISSS) with approximately 60,000 members worldwide, has a long and distinguished history. The first volume was produced by  F.A.van Baren and published in 1952. The society president at the time was the renowned soil scientist, Prof. R. Tavernier from Gent, Belgium. IUSS Bulletin 122 (June 2013) In the Introduction of the maiden issue, Prof. Tavernier wrote that “the bulletin of the International Society of Soil Science aims to pass on official information about all important events concerning the life and activity of the Society to its members and to National Societies and Regional Groupings as well as to Research Institutes. We hope that this bulletin will satisfy our members’ wishes, who have expressly shown their desire to be informed about these activities and about the development of So...

The Department of Agronomy and Soil Science at Visayas State University in Leyte, Philippines joins the global community of more than 60,000 soil scientists in celebrating the World Soil Day today, December 5. Our soil science program at VSU is now more than 30 years old. It produced the first batch of BSA (Soil Science) graduates in 1980. It is now among the top soil science programs in the Philippines.  Many of our BS alumni have become very successful professionals/scientists in various academic and research institutions in the Philippines and other parts of the world.  We are very proud to name a few: Dr. Leticia S. Sonon , University of Georgia, USA Dr. Marife D. Corre , University of Goettingen, Germany Dr. Nilda R. Burgos , University of Arkansas, USA Dr. Sergio M. Abit Jr ., Oklahoma State University, USA Dr. Joel Bandibas, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Japan Dr. Constancio Asis, Jr., Philippine Rice Research Institute (Phil...

Dr. Nicolas L. Galvez (1903-1991) laid down the groundwork for the different fields of soil science in the Philippines and he trained many Filipino soil scientists as a professor at the University of the Philippines College of Agriculture (UPCA) for 42 years. He was the head of the Soils Department at UPCA from 1948 to 1961, a difficult but crucial post-war period that had long-term impact on the development of soil science as an academic field in the country. Upon his retirement in 1970, Dr. N.L. Galvez was honored by being appointed as a University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) Emeritus Professor.  Dr. N.L. Galvez (Source: SAED, UPLB-CA) Dr. N.L. Galvez was an internationally recognized scientist having published numerous relevant scientific papers on soil chemistry, soil mineralogy, and other aspects of soil science. For his pioneering and great contributions to the development of soil science in the Philippines, Dr. Galvez is widely considered, and deserves to be called, ...

The 14th Ann ual Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Philippine Society of Soil Science and Technology (PSSST) was held at the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City, Leyte last 25-27 May 2011. About 140 soil scientists, soil practitioners, and agriculturists working in universities, government agencies, non-government organizations, and private companies throughout the country attended the conference. The opening program was graced by Dr. Florentino Tesoro who represented Congressman Angelo B. Palmones (AGHAM Partylist), Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo (VSU President), Prof. K. Stahr (Germany), Mr. Deogracias Pernites (representing Mayor Carmen Cari of Baybay City), Dr. Cezar Mamaril (PSSST Adviser), Dr. Eduardo Paningbatan (PSSST Adviser), Ms. Constancia Mangao (PSSST President) and Dr. Victor B. Asio (Dean of the College of Agriculture, VSU). Prof. Dr. Karl Stahr, the Chairman of Division I of the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS), gave the keynote lecture about the limest...

The Philippine Society of Soil Science and Technology Inc (PSSST) will hold its 14th Annual Meeting and Scientific Conference on 25-27 May 2011 at the beautiful campus of the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay, Leyte, Philippines. Theme of this year's conference is Improving the Productivity of Marginal Lands Through Integrated Soil and Water Management. Marginal lands particularly degraded uplands are widespread throughout the country and improving their productivity is vital to attaining food security. More than a hundred soil scientists from various universities, government agencies, private companies and non-government organizations are expected to attend the three-day conference. In addition, some leading soil scientists from Australia, Canada, and Germany will be attending as plenary speakers. The Department of Agronomy and Soil Science of VSU, a co-sponsor of the conference, will be organizing a pre-conference tour for those participants who will arrive early. The tour...

The Philippine Society of Soil Science and Technology (PSSST) will hold the 13th Annual Meeting and Scientific Conference in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, on 27-28 May 2010. Following is the formal announcement by the PSSST President Constancia G. Mangao. PHILIPPINE SOCIETY OF SOIL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, INC. c/o BUREAU OF SOILS AND WATER MANAGEMENT Elliptical Road corner Visayas Avenue, Diliman February 16, 2010 Dear Fellow PSSST Members: The Philippine Society of Soil Science and Technology, Inc. (PSSST), a duly recognized non-stock, non-profit professional society registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, will hold its 13th Annual Meeting and Scientific Conference on May 27-28, 2010. This will be an important gathering of the members of the Society and interested professionals to share the latest developments and findings in soil science and technology. In line with the conference’s theme, Soil and Water Management Approaches for Climate Change Mitigation and Adapta...

First published June 2009. Revised November 2016. Philippine soil science owes its early development to the Americans. The first soil survey was conducted by C. W. Dorsey an American soil surveyor in 1903. In 1921 a Division of Soil and Fertilizer was created under the Bureau of Science which in 1934 was renamed as Division of Soil Survey. In 1951, the Philippine Congress enacted Republic Act No. 622 organizing the Bureau of Soil Conservation with Dr. M. M. Alicante as its first director (BSWM, 2008). Teaching of soil science to students of agricultural science started as early as the 1920s at the University of the Philippines College of Agriculture (UPCA). R. L. Pendleton an American from California was one of the pioneer soil science instructors who taught from 1923 to 1935. Dr. Pendleton was also an outstanding researcher as reflected by the about 50 scientific papers he published (Pendleton, 1942; Carter, 1958). Until about the 1960s, much of the work of soil scientists in the Bur...

Contributed by Judith Carla P. dela Torre (PhilRice) The 12 th Annual Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Philippine Society of Soil Science and Technology, Inc. (PSSST) was held at Eden Nature Park, Toril, Davao City last May 21-22, 2009. About 140 members from the different international and local institutions, agencies, and state colleges and universities participated in the said event. With this year’s theme titled “Enhancing Soil Productivity and Environmental Quality”, scientists, researchers, extension workers, and students presented their paper and posters to help in finding solutions to issues like soil erosion, decreasing soil fertility and climate change; and to achieve better soil productivity for our country’s sustainable food production program. The keynote address on “Rice Science for Food Self-sufficiency” was given by Atty. Ronilo A. Beronio, Executive Director of PhilRice. He discussed the rice self-sufficiency program to be achieved by 2013 and challe...

The Philippine Society of Soil Science and Technology (PSSST), the country’s national professional organization of soil scientists and soil practitioners, is holding its 12 th Annual Meeting and Scientific Conference on 20-23 May 2009 at Eden Nature Park and Resort, a beautiful man-made resort on the slopes (about 800 m asl) of Mount Talomo, Toril, Davao City. The conference which aims to meet the challenges in enhancing soil productivity and environmental quality, reflects the state of the art of soil research, development, extension and policy support in the Philippines . It provides an excellent forum for the exchange of research findings and scientific ideas among established and young soil scientists and soil practitioners working at the various universities, colleges, research centers, and government agencies. I wish to congratulate the officers led by Dr. Danny Mendoza and the members of the society for organizing this very important activity. I hope most members will b...