World Soil Congress
About WCSS
The WCSS has been held quadrennially since 1927 as a scientific meeting in the field of soil science.
Soil scientists from all around the world come together to discuss soil issues, exchange knowledge and find solutions for current problems.
It´s not unusual to gather about 2500 participants from more than 100 countries around the world at WCSS.
Usually the WCSS provides a wide range of scientific programs and stimulating social activities. In addition, renowned experts will address the pertinent issues and technological advances in the broad areas of soil science throughout the meeting. Furthermore, participants have a great opportunity to network through extensive discussions and informative exchanges.
Besides, interesting field trips and social programme makes the WCSS a unique Event.
Below you find information about all past WCSS.
- overview_of_world_soil_congresses.pdf (313 kB)
- iuss_congress_bids_guide.pdf (163 kB)
Overview of WCSS
Guidelines for the Preparation of Bids to host the WCSS
Future WCSS
The 23rd WCSS will take place from 12-17 July 2026 in Nanjing, China under the theme “Soil and the Shared Future for Mankind”.Past WCSS
The past WCSS have been great events and a huge number of contibutions made them a great success.
Thank you for your understanding that we can not provide all the documents for download. We provide an overview of all available documents and if you are interested in specific documents please
22nd Congress 2022 / Glasgow, UK
The 22nd WCSS took place from 31 July 2022 to 5 August 2022 in Glasgow, United Kingdom under the theme “Crossing Boundaries - Changing Society”.
Congress website: https://22wcss.org/
21st Congress 2018 / Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- proceedings_of_the_21wcss_volume_i.pdf (5 MB)
- proceedings_of_the_21wcss_volume_i_i.pdf (8 MB)
Proceedings 21st WCSS - Volume I (Abstracts of oral presentations)
Proceedings 21st WCSS - Volume II (Abstracts of poster presentations)
- Programme 21st WCSS (4 MB)
Programme 21st WCSS
20th Congress 2014 / Seoul South Korea
- 20wcss_abstracts.pdf (32 MB)
Proceedings 20th WCSS - Abstracts
- Programme 20th WCSS (3 MB)
Programme 20th WCSS
- Proclaimed at the Soil Parade of the 20th World Congress of Soil Science (20WCSS) Monday, June 9, 2014 Jeju, Korea (16 kB)
Jeju declaration - Soils Embrace Life and the Universe
19th Congress 2010 / Brisbane Australia
Available information assorted by:
- Symposia: Symposium 1.X , Symposium 2.X , Symposium 3.X , Symposium 4.X , Congress symposium , Division Symposium , Working groups symposium
- Congress handbook (14 MB)
- 2008 Inter-congress council meeting reports (87 kB)
- A letter from 1966 (357 kB)
19th Congress 2010 / Brisbane Australia
19th Congress 2010 / Brisbane Australia
19th Congress 2010 / Brisbane Australia
18th Congress 2006 / Philadelphia USA
Available information:
- 3rd announcement (September 2005) (2 MB)
- Program book (June 2006) (3 MB)
- Book of Abstracts (123 MB)
- Reports of the congress (174 kB)
- Council meetings report (S. Nortcliff) (197 kB)
18th Congress 2006 / Philadelphia USA
18th Congress 2006 / Philadelphia USA
18th Congress 2006 / Philadelphia USA
18th Congress 2006 / Philadelphia USA
18th Congress 2006 / Philadelphia USA
17th Congress 2002 / Bangkok Thailand
Available information:
- Council meetings (101 kB)
- Programme (3 MB)
- Keynotes (6 MB)
- Vol.1 (25 MB)
- Vol.2 (24 MB)
- Vol.3 (21 MB)
- Vol.4 (21 MB)
- Vol.5 (21 MB)
- Index authors and subjects (9 MB)
17th Congress 2002 / Bangkok Thailand
17th Congress 2002 / Bangkok Thailand
17th Congress 2002 / Bangkok Thailand
17th Congress 2002 / Bangkok Thailand
17th Congress 2002 / Bangkok Thailand
17th Congress 2002 / Bangkok Thailand
17th Congress 2002 / Bangkok Thailand
17th Congress 2002 / Bangkok Thailand
17th Congress 2002 / Bangkok Thailand
16th Congress 1998 / Montpellier France
Available information:
- Introductory conference and debates (12 MB)
- Volume I (47 MB)
- Volume II (40 MB)
16th Congress 1998 / Montpellier France
16th Congress 1998 / Montpellier France
16th Congress 1998 / Montpellier France
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
Available information:
- Volume 1 Inaugural and state of the art conferences (18 MB)
- Volume 2A – Commission 1 symposia (20 MB)
- Volume 2B – Commission 1 poster (24 MB)
- Volume 3A – Commission 2 symposia (50 MB)
- Volume 3B – Commission 2 poster (37 MB)
- Volume 4A – Commission 3 symposia (30 MB)
- Volume 4B – Commission 3 poster (18 MB)
- Volume 5A – Commission 4 symposia (58 MB)
- Volume 5B – Commission 4 poster (40 MB)
- Volume 6A – Commission 5 symposia (65 MB)
- Volume 6B – Commission 5 poster (34 MB)
- Volume 7A – Commission 6 symposia (33 MB)
- Volume 7B – Commission 6 poster (27 MB)
- Volume 8A – Commission 7 symposia (12 MB)
- Volume 8B – Commission 7 poster (7 MB)
- Volume 9 – Supplement (44 MB)
- Research for Maximum Yield in Harmony with Nature (6 MB)
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
15th Congress 1994 / Acapulco Mexico
14th Congress 1990 / Kyoto Japan
Available information:
- Plenary papers, contents, author index (10 MB)
- Vol.1 (25 MB)
- Vol.2 (33 MB)
- Vol.3 (28 MB)
- Vol.4 (53 MB)
- Vol.5 (42 MB)
- Vol.6 (25 MB)
- Vol.7 (35 MB)
14th Congress 1990 / Kyoto Japan
14th Congress 1990 / Kyoto Japan
14th Congress 1990 / Kyoto Japan
14th Congress 1990 / Kyoto Japan
14th Congress 1990 / Kyoto Japan
14th Congress 1990 / Kyoto Japan
14th Congress 1990 / Kyoto Japan
14th Congress 1990 / Kyoto Japan
13th Congress 1986 / Hamburg Germany
Available information:
- Programme (4 MB)
- Participants list (2 MB)
- Participants list - addendum (400 kB)
- Vol.1 (6 MB)
- Vol.2 (38 MB)
- Vol.3 (42 MB)
- Vol.4 (20 MB)
- Vol.5 (26 MB)
- Vol.6 (35 MB)
13th Congress 1986 / Hamburg Germany
13th Congress 1986 / Hamburg Germany
13th Congress 1986 / Hamburg Germany
13th Congress 1986 / Hamburg Germany
13th Congress 1986 / Hamburg Germany
13th Congress 1986 / Hamburg Germany
13th Congress 1986 / Hamburg Germany
13th Congress 1986 / Hamburg Germany
13th Congress 1986 / Hamburg Germany
12th Congress 1982 / New Delhi India
Available information:
- Presidential address (698 kB)
- Plenary paper (5 MB)
- Symposia papers I (16 MB)
- Symposia papers II (23 MB)
- Symposia papers III (9 MB)
- Panel discussion papers (28 MB)
- Proceedings (14 MB)
- Abstracts voluntary papers (9 MB)
- Review soil research India I (27 MB)
- Review soil research India II (25 MB)
- Summary (21 MB)
12th Congress 1982 / New Delhi India
12th Congress 1982 / New Delhi India
12th Congress 1982 / New Delhi India
12th Congress 1982 / New Delhi India
12th Congress 1982 / New Delhi India
12th Congress 1982 / New Delhi India
12th Congress 1982 / New Delhi India
12th Congress 1982 / New Delhi India
12th Congress 1982 / New Delhi India
12th Congress 1982 / New Delhi India
12th Congress 1982 / New Delhi India
11th Congress 1978 / Edmonton Canada
Available information:
- Vol. 1 Abstracts for commission papers (45 MB)
- Vol.2 Plenary papers (24 MB)
- Vol.3 Symposia papers (29 MB)
11th Congress 1978 / Edmonton Canada
11th Congress 1978 / Edmonton Canada
11th Congress 1978 / Edmonton Canada
10th Congress 1974 / Moscow USSR
Available information:
- Vol.1 (29 MB)
- Vol.2 (31 MB)
- Vol.3 (18 MB)
- Vol.4 (33 MB)
- Vol.5 (9 MB)
- Vol.6 Part 1 (23 MB)
- Vol.6 Part 2 (32 MB)
- Vol.7 (23 MB)
- Vol.8 (10 MB)
- Vol.6 (17 MB)
- Vol.10 (19 MB)
10th Congress 1974 / Moscow USSR
10th Congress 1974 / Moscow USSR
10th Congress 1974 / Moscow USSR
10th Congress 1974 / Moscow USSR
10th Congress 1974 / Moscow USSR
10th Congress 1974 / Moscow USSR
10th Congress 1974 / Moscow USSR
10th Congress 1974 / Moscow USSR
10th Congress 1974 / Moscow USSR
10th Congress 1974 / Moscow USSR
10th Congress 1974 / Moscow USSR
9th Congress 1968 / Adelaide Australia
Available information:
- Vol.1 (45 MB)
- Vol.2 (49 MB)
- Vol.3 (42 MB)
- Vol.4 (54 MB)
- Field Tours (13 MB)
9th Congress 1968 / Adelaide Australia
9th Congress 1968 / Adelaide Australia
9th Congress 1968 / Adelaide Australia
9th Congress 1968 / Adelaide Australia
9th Congress 1968 / Adelaide Australia
8th Congress 1964 / Bucharest Romania
Available information:
- Vol.1 (40 MB)
- Vol.2 (115 MB)
- Vol.3 (163 MB)
- Vol.4 (167 MB)
- Vol.5 (149 MB)
8th Congress 1964 / Bucharest Romania
8th Congress 1964 / Bucharest Romania
8th Congress 1964 / Bucharest Romania
8th Congress 1964 / Bucharest Romania
8th Congress 1964 / Bucharest Romania
7th Congress 1960 / Madison USA
Available information:
- Vol.1 (98 MB)
- Vol.2 (9 MB)
- Vol.3 (92 MB)
- Vol.4 (76 MB)
- Working papers (11 MB)
7th Congress 1960 / Madison USA
7th Congress 1960 / Madison USA
7th Congress 1960 / Madison USA
7th Congress 1960 / Madison USA
7th Congress 1960 / Madison USA
6th Congress 1956 / Paris France
Available information:
- Vol.A (30 MB)
- Vol.B (62 MB)
- Vol.C (43 MB)
- Vol.D (59 MB)
- Vol.E (62 MB)
6th Congress 1956 / Paris France
6th Congress 1956 / Paris France
6th Congress 1956 / Paris France
6th Congress 1956 / Paris France
6th Congress 1956 / Paris France
5th Congress 1954 / Leopoldville DR Congo
Available information:
- Vol. 1 (35 MB)
- Vol.2 (35 MB)
- Vol.3 (23 MB)
- Vol.4 (37 MB)
5th Congress 1954 / Leopoldville DR Congo
5th Congress 1954 / Leopoldville DR Congo
5th Congress 1954 / Leopoldville DR Congo
5th Congress 1954 / Leopoldville DR Congo
4th Congress 1950 / Amsterdam Netherlands
Available information:
- Programme (3 MB)
- Vol.1 (42 MB)
- Vol.2 (23 MB)
- Vol.3 (15 MB)
- Vol.3 (23 MB)
- Soils in the Netherlands, Indonesia & Suriname (6 MB)
4th Congress 1950 / Amsterdam Netherlands
4th Congress 1950 / Amsterdam Netherlands
4th Congress 1950 / Amsterdam Netherlands
4th Congress 1950 / Amsterdam Netherlands
4th Congress 1950 / Amsterdam Netherlands
4th Congress 1950 / Amsterdam Netherlands
3rd Congress 1935 / Oxford UK
Available information:
- Vol.1 (48 MB)
- Vol.2 (23 MB)
- Vol.3 (32 MB)
3rd Congress 1935 / Oxford UK
3rd Congress 1935 / Oxford UK
3rd Congress 1935 / Oxford UK
2nd Congress 1930 / Leningrad USSR
Available information:
- Vol.1 (36 MB)
- Vol.2 (28 MB)
- Vol.3 (35 MB)
- Vol.4 (30 MB)
- Vol.5 (46 MB)
- Vol.6 (38 MB)
- Vol.7 (18 MB)
2nd Congress 1930 / Leningrad USSR
2nd Congress 1930 / Leningrad USSR
2nd Congress 1930 / Leningrad USSR
2nd Congress 1930 / Leningrad USSR
2nd Congress 1930 / Leningrad USSR
2nd Congress 1930 / Leningrad USSR
2nd Congress 1930 / Leningrad USSR
1st Congress 1927 / Washington USA
Available information:
- Vol.1 (18 MB)
- Vol.2 (64 MB)
- Vol.3 (51 MB)
- Vol.4 (70 MB)
- Vol.5 (90 MB)
1st Congress 1927 / Washington USA
1st Congress 1927 / Washington USA
1st Congress 1927 / Washington USA
1st Congress 1927 / Washington USA
1st Congress 1927 / Washington USA
For a full list of soil science congresses up to 1998 see Geoderma article on 75 years ISSS/IUSS – PDF