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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 Scheffer/Schachtschabel Lehrbuch der Bodenkunde (Textbook of Soil Science), the renowned standard textbook on soil science in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland, is now available in English for the first time.  The first edition of this highly cited book was published in 1937 under the title “ Agrikulturchemie, Teil A: Boden ” (Agricultural Chemistry, Part A: Soil).  Based on the 16 th   German edition which was written by a team of leading soil scientists (all renowned professors of soil science), the 2016 English edition was published by Springer Verlag, so it is available globally. I really applaud this development since I have always admired and used this book since the time I was a doctoral student in Stuttgart-Hohenheim many years ago and until now as a professor of soil science at Visayas State University. I remember I read the 10 th German edition several times, from cover to cover, in preparation for my comprehensive examina...

The new Philippine National Standard (PNS) for Organic Fertilizer was published in 2013 by the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS) of the Department of Agriculture (PNS/BAFPS 40:2013). According to this new PNS, Organic Fertilizer is “any product in solid or liquid form, of plant (except by-products from petroleum industries) or animal origin that has undergone substantial decomposition that can supply available nutrients to plants with a total Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) of five to seven percent (5-7%). This may be enriched by microbial inoculants and naturally occurring minerals but no chemical or inorganic fertilizer material has been added to the finished product to affect the nutrient content.” Organic Plant Growth Regulator/Promoter is “any compound of organic origin, in liquid or solid form, which in low concentration promotes or modifies physiological process in plants.” Organic Plant Supplement is “any compound of organic origin ...

A new book titled " Friedrich Albert Fallou und the Begruendung der Bodenkunde " (Friedrich Albert Fallou and the Founding of Soil Science) has been published in 2013 as volume 33 (Heft 33) of the " Waldheimer Heimatblaetter ", a monograph series published by Waldheim, a town in Saxony, Germany. Friedrich Albert Fallou & the Founding of Soil Science F.A. Fallou (1794-1877) has been considered by several authors as the Father of Soil Science. This was the subject of an article I posted earlier on this blog . Unfortunately, this distinction has been wrongly attributed to the Russian V.V. Dokuchaev. For this reason, the prominent Russian historian Jarilow wrote in 1904 that "Fallou is one of humanity's forgotten best sons". The book  provides clear and strong evidence that Fallou founded the scientific study of soil. It was authored by two retired prominent professors, Prof. Dr. Heiner Kaden (Chemistry, Technical University Freiberg) and Prof. Dr. Han...

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...