Soil Science Society of America

The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) is a professional and scientific association devoted specifically to the study, management, and communication of soil science. It is described as the largest soil-focused society in the United States and serves researchers, educators, consultants, government professionals, students, and others whose work concerns soils and their relationships with agriculture, ecosystems, water, climate, and society. SSSA was formed in 1936 through the merger of the Soils Section of the American Society of Agronomy and the American Soil Survey Association. Its institutional position also reflects an earlier international connection: in 1934, the Soils Section of the American Society of Agronomy became the official Americas section of the International Union of Soil Sciences, a role that SSSA continues to fulfill. The Society therefore operates both as a United States professional organization and as a participant in the international soil-science community. The Society's mission combines scientific advancement with practical stewardship. It seeks to improve the sustainability of soils, the environment, and society by integrating scientific disciplines and promoting responsible management of soil and natural resources. It also supports the acquisition and application of knowledge, the education and professional development of soil scientists, and communication about soil science to the wider public. Publishing is a central part of SSSA's work. The Society publishes or cooperates in publishing peer-reviewed journals, member magazines, books, textbooks, professional guides, and special-topic titles. Its official journal, the Soil Science Society of America Journal, developed from the Society's earlier Proceedings and publishes original research, reviews, issue papers, comments, letters, and book reviews. Its subject coverage includes basic and applied soil research in agricultural, forest, wetland, and urban settings. SSSA is also associated with Vadose Zone Journal, an interdisciplinary publication focused on the Earth's Critical Zone and the interfaces extending from the surface toward groundwater, and with the Journal of Environmental Quality, which addresses human impacts on terrestrial, atmospheric, and aquatic environments. The broader publishing program includes Natural Sciences Education and the member magazine CSA News, produced in cooperation with the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America. Publications are made available through the Wiley Online Library and related publishing arrangements. SSSA also provides voluntary professional certification. The Certified Professional Soil Scientist and Certified Professional Soil Classifier programs establish expectations for knowledge, skills, and professional conduct. They are intended to help clients, employers, and public agencies identify practitioners with appropriate expertise, while offering professional recognition comparable in purpose to aspects of soil-science licensing systems. The Society's policy and outreach work has addressed major challenges facing soil science, including climate change, food and energy security, waste treatment and water quality, and human and ecosystem health. Its public education programs include Discover Soils, Soils4Teachers, Soils4Kids, the Soils Matter, Get the Scoop! blog, and support for the traveling exhibition Dig It! The Secrets of Soil. Through classroom resources, public events, books, videos, and question-and-answer activities with scientists, SSSA presents soil as a living and socially important system rather than merely a growing medium. The organization remains active as a scientific society, publisher, certifying body, educator, and advocate for informed soil stewardship.

The institutional roots of the Soil Science Society of America lie in the development of organized soil research and soil surveying in the United States during the early twentieth century. Soil science was increasingly recognized as a distinct field linking agricultural productivity with chemistry, physics, biology, geology, hydrology, and environmental management. Within the American Society of Agronomy, the Soils Section provided a professional home for specialists working on soil formation, classification, fertility, conservation, and management. The American Soil Survey Association represented another important strand of the discipline, centered on the systematic description and mapping of soils. In 1934, the Soils Section of the American Society of Agronomy became the official Americas section of the International Union of Soil Sciences. This gave the American soil-science community a formal connection to international scientific coordination. Two years later, in 1936, the Soils Section and the American Soil Survey Association merged to form the Soil Science Society of America. The merger created a dedicated society able to represent soil scientists, support research communication, and develop professional activities around the full range of soil science. Over subsequent decades, SSSA developed as both a scholarly association and a professional community. Its members have included researchers in agricultural, forest, wetland, urban, and environmental soils, as well as specialists in soil physics, chemistry, microbiology, classification, conservation, and education. The Society's awards, fellowships, meetings, and certification programs have helped define professional standards and recognize contributions to the field. The Society has also maintained close working relationships with the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America, including joint publications and member communications. Publishing became one of SSSA's principal activities. Its official journal, initially issued as the Soil Science Society of America Proceedings, continued as the Soil Science Society of America Journal and provided a venue for original research, reviews, technical discussion, and broader assessments of soil-related problems. The Society later supported a wider portfolio addressing the vadose zone, environmental quality, natural-science education, and public understanding. Its books and other publications have been designed for audiences ranging from schoolchildren and teachers to professional practitioners and academic researchers. Distribution through the Wiley Online Library has extended access to its scholarly output. The Society's role has broadened as soil science has become increasingly connected to climate change, water quality, food security, ecosystem health, waste treatment, and human well-being. In 2011, SSSA assessed major grand challenges for the discipline and identified research priorities spanning climate change; food and energy security; waste treatment and water quality; and human and ecosystem health. These themes reflect a shift from viewing soil primarily as an agricultural input toward understanding it as a central component of the Earth's Critical Zone and of environmental sustainability. Public education has become another important part of the Society's work. SSSA has created online resources for the general public, teachers, and children; participated in science-teacher events; worked with conservation organizations; and supported the Dig It! The Secrets of Soil exhibition. Its International Year of Soils activities in 2015 provided a structured year-long communications program, while the Discover Soils platform and related blogs, books, videos, and classroom materials continue to explain soil processes and stewardship. The Society remains an active United States scientific association with international reach, combining research publishing, professional certification, education, outreach, and policy engagement.

1. 2015International Year of Soils program

   SSSA organized twelve monthly educational themes and related activities and videos in recognition of the International Year of Soils.

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2. 2011Grand challenges assessment

   SSSA identified climate change, food and energy security, waste treatment and water quality, and human and ecosystem health as major challenges for soil science.

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3. 1936Society founded through merger

   The Soil Science Society of America was formed through the merger of the American Society of Agronomy's Soils Section and the American Soil Survey Association.

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4. 1934Americas section of the International Union of Soil Sciences

   The Soils Section of the American Society of Agronomy became the official Americas section of the International Union of Soil Sciences, establishing an international role later continued by SSSA.

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A specialist scientific society connecting soil research, professional practice, environmental stewardship, education, and public understanding.

• Soil Science Society of America JournalPeer-reviewed journal

  The Society's official scholarly journal, formerly known as Soil Science Society of America Proceedings, publishes original research, reviews, issue papers, comments, letters, and book reviews. Its coverage spans basic and applied soil science in agricultural, forest, wetland, and urban environments.

• Vadose Zone JournalPeer-reviewed journal

  An international interdisciplinary journal focused on the vadose zone and the Earth's Critical Zone, including processes and assessment between the land surface and groundwater. It publishes research articles, reviews, and special sections involving multiple scientific disciplines.

• Journal of Environmental QualityEnvironmental science journal

  Published jointly by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and SSSA, this journal examines anthropogenic effects on terrestrial, atmospheric, and aquatic systems, with emphasis on understanding environmental processes.

• Natural Sciences EducationEducation journal

  A peer-reviewed online journal serving educators in areas including animal science, ecology, natural resources, agronomy, environmental science, and entomology. It is published by the American Society of Agronomy with cooperating societies including SSSA.

• Certified Professional Soil ScientistProfessional certification

  A voluntary certification program that establishes professional expectations for soil-science knowledge, skills, and conduct. It gives employers, clients, and government agencies a way to identify practitioners meeting the program's standards.

• Certified Professional Soil ClassifierProfessional certification

  A voluntary certification for professionals specializing in soil classification. The program is intended to communicate competence and professional standards to clients, employers, and public agencies.

• Discover SoilsPublic education platform

  SSSA's public-facing education platform presents information about soil preservation, conservation, food and health, climate, environment, culture, technology, and soil fundamentals, including material about soils in urban settings.

• Dig It! The Secrets of SoilMuseum exhibition

  A large public exhibition explaining soil as a complex living system and its importance to life. SSSA was the founding sponsor of the exhibition, which was originally developed and displayed at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History before traveling to other United States museums.

• 2015International Year of Soils outreach

  United States · International

  SSSA marked the FAO-designated International Year of Soils with twelve monthly themes, educational activities, and videos designed to communicate the importance of soil to a broad audience.

  Outcome. The program expanded public-facing communication about soil science and provided a structured set of educational resources.

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• Discover Soils

  United States · International

  An ongoing public education initiative covering soil conservation, climate, food, health, environmental issues, urban soils, and basic soil science.

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• Soils4Teachers and Soils4Kids

  United States · International

  Education resources for K–12 teachers and children, including lessons, activities, games, soil topics, career information, an Ask a Scientist feature, and opportunities to request classroom visits.

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• Dig It! The Secrets of Soil exhibition

  United States

  SSSA supported a traveling museum exhibition that introduces visitors to the biological, physical, and environmental complexity of soil.

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• 2011Prioritization of soil-science grand challengesStrategy

  Soil science was increasingly connected to global environmental, agricultural, water, and public-health pressures.

  What changed. SSSA assessed the discipline's major challenges and highlighted climate change, food and energy security, waste treatment and water quality, and human and ecosystem health.

  Aftermath. The assessment provided a framework for research priorities and public discussion of soil's role in sustainability.

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• 1936Formation through organizational mergerM&A

  The American soil-science community had separate organizations representing agronomic soil research and soil surveying.

  What changed. The Soils Section of the American Society of Agronomy and the American Soil Survey Association combined to establish SSSA.

  Aftermath. The merger created a dedicated national society for soil science and strengthened the field's professional and international representation.

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• 2015International Year of Soils outreach program

  During the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's International Year of Soils, SSSA developed twelve monthly themes, activities, and videos to explain the importance of soils.

  Campaign
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• 2011SSSA identifies major grand challenges for soil science

  The Society completed an assessment highlighting climate change, food and energy security, waste treatment and water quality, and human and ecosystem health as major research challenges.

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• 1936SSSA established through merger of two soil organizations

  The Soil Science Society of America was created by combining the Soils Section of the American Society of Agronomy with the American Soil Survey Association.

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1. Soil Science Society of America
2. Soil Science Society of America official website