IUSS book series

As one of the outreach activities during the International Decade of Soils (2015-2024) the IUSS launched a book series. These books are not only addressed to soil scientists, but also to academic students of other sciences. These books shall shed light on important soil issues related to other disciplines and global challenges.

Sustainable soil management as a key to preserve soil biodiversity and stop its degradation

Within the framework of the International Decade of Soils (IDS) 2015-2024 and continuing with the objective of publishing and distributing material relevant to the interests of the IUSS and its members an IUSS Open Access Book Series was launched under a Creative Commons license. This is the first book of the Open Access IUSS Book Series celebrating the 98th anniversary of IUSS as it was published on May 19, 2022.

Soil Biodiversity was proposed as a current topic of great scientific, social, economic, and political importance for the present IUSS book. The book was written from an interdisciplinary perspective covering the current state of the art in this area. Perspectives of various points of view and interactions are reflected according to the different areas of knowledge of soil sciences offered by the authors. That is why the book contains both experimental data and conceptual information, didactic experiences, and reviews organized in four different sections.

Soil Sciences Education: Global Concepts and Teaching

Edited by Takashi Kosaki, Rattan Lal, Laura Bertha Reyes Sánchez Published in the series GeoEcology Essays in December 2020 by Schweizerbart.

The International Union of Soil Sciences has identified education and public awareness of soils and soil sciences as one of the most important goals of the International Decade of Soils 2015-2024, which is reflected in this book. This book addresses readers primarily involved in teaching soils, geosciences, environment, ecosystems, art, etc., in schools, and who serve at museums, educational or extension organizations, NPOs, NGOs, etc. It’s authors provide a basic framework and a collection of good practices currently used in soil and soil sciences education to make students aware of soils and their importance. Specifically, this publication strives to enable readers to learn and share whatever is best suited to fit their particular requirements.

Readers are encouraged to further improve the methods and contents of soil sciences education for the future, and to provide new knowledge and innovative tools for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, and beyond.

Global Soil Proverbs. Cultural Language of the Soil

Edited by Jae E. Yang; M. B. Kirkham; Rattan Lal; Sigbert Huber. Published in the series GeoEcology Essays in December 2018 by Schweizerbart.

Proverbs are truths that link one generation to another. They have been passed down through millennia to provide advice about how to live life. Every country has a vast archive of proverbs that have been handed down orally from generation to generation. The objective of this book is to compile soil proverbs and, through them, share insights about philosophy, culture, and life in each country, as they relate to soils. The book features 32 chapters from 29 different countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania.

The authors of the individual chapters provide soil proverbs in both English and their native language. Chapters are illustrated with pictures related to the respective proverbs.

Soil and Sustainable Development Goals

Edited by Rattan Lal, Rainer Horn and Takashi Kosaki. Published in the series GeoEcology Essays in July 2018 by Schweizerbart.
This book aims to document the importance of soil and soil protection to reaching these Sustainable Development Goals. This fifteen-chapter book, authored by experienced and knowledgeable researchers from around the world, is a synthesis of the knowledge and state-of-the- science, linking soil properties and processes to specific SDGs. The volume highlights individual soil related aspects of these SDGs, such as the contribution of soil science, soil management and use, measures to minimize erosion, climatic effects, carbon sequestration by soils, soil restoration, the role hydrology plays in sustainable soil management, ways to preserve soil structure of fertile volcanic soils.

The Nexus of Soils, Plants, Animals and Human Health

Edited by Bal Ram Singh, Michael J. McLaughlin and Eric Brevik on behalf of the IUSS; Published as GeoEcology essay by Schweizerbart in November 2017. The 21 contributions in this book describe the role soils play for plant, animal and human health. They show that soil- and human health are intricately connected, because healthy soils produce healthy crops, which in turn nourish humans and animals, allowing for their health and productivity. The book summarizes the current state of research of these important issues and provides a comprehensive treatise of the global importance of soils for humankind.

Soils within cities – Global approaches to their sustainable management

Edited on behalf of the International Union of Soil Sciences, this book is the result of a joint effort of the international SUITMA (Soils of the Urban, Traffic, Mining and Military Areas) working group of the International Union of Soil Sciences. The book undertakes to shed light on the role and importance of soils in cities, and stresses the need to consider and manage this unique component of the urban ecosystem on our way to build sustainable cities. Thirty-four short contributions comprehensively highlight key aspects and characteristics of soils of the urban ecosystem and the problems and challenges associated with them.

Task Force: Soil Matters – Solutions under foot

Edited by Stephen Nortcliff on behalf of the International Union of Soil Sciences, Nov. 2015, Catena Verlag, GeoEcology Essays. 160 pages, numerous figures, photos, tables. ISBN 978-3-923381-63-0. Price Paperback 14,90 EUR. Contact for order: . This collection of papers seeks to illustrate the diversity of the soils and soil functions and shows the importance of soils for all aspects of our lives. The eight sections of the book deal with soil threats, soil carbon, biodiversity, land use and the environment as well as society. Soil value and ecosystem services as well as the international year of soils are specific topics of this book.