Themes and Topics

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If you know about your abstract situtation, please contact with Umut Yıldırım (Ms.)

ORAL PRESENTATION TOPICS

2nd Workshop on Extension of the European Database

Conveners
Yusuf Yigini 
Luca Montanarella 
Panos Panagos 

The workshop will discuss the Extension of the European Soil Database to North Africa, Middle East and Caucasus Regions. The meeting will be held with the experts form North Africa, Middle East, Caucasian Region and Turkey.

Best Management Practices For Protection of Environmental Resources

Convener
Esen Momol 
Hayriye İbrikçi

The protection of water resources is enhanced through landscape care practices that make the best use of technology and the practical experience of professionals.

University studies throughout the country, including Florida have shown that properly managed turfgrass, soil, and landscapes do not significantly contribute to nonpoint source pollution.

Pollution occurs when less than adequate management techniques are used.

Developing low risk irrigation, fertilizer, soil management, and pesticide programs, and ensuring that these programs are properly administered and periodically reviewed, reduces the possibility of nutrient movement off-site.

Professionals should educate their clients on landscape best management practices that encourage proper management of soil, water conservation and pollution prevention.

Biochar

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Dr. Jan Mumme 
Dr. Yoshiyuki Shinogi
David Manning
Claudia Kammann
Jürgen Kern
Bruno Glaser
Aydın Güneş
Heike Knicker

This symposium fosters in-depth discussions on current advances in understanding biochar-soil interactions and on alternative strategies for stabilisation of soil carbon. Three session are proposed on carbon stabilisation (S1), soil amendment & remediation (S2), and N dynamics (S3). Each session will have talks from different disciplines (e.g. soil microbiology, soil chemistry, agronomy) to stimulate cross-disciplinary discussions and a maximum gain of knowledge given the complexity of the underlying mechanisms.

Session 1 Stabilization of soil carbon

Organic matter, when added to soils, is rapidly mineralized on a human timescale, generating CO2. A proportion of this enters solution as carbonate, and if the chemistry of the soil solution is appropriate carbonate minerals precipitate, giving a stable host for soil carbon. This session addresses the processes involved in carbonate mineral formation, and how they can be exploited as a way of capturing atmospheric CO2.

Session 2 Use of biochars and biochar-like materials for soil amendment & soil remediation

The level of knowledge on biochar-soil interactions is constantly growing. At the same time an increasing range of biochars with distinctive properties and novel biochar-like materials such as hydrochars or biochar-mineral complexes are investigated for their effects on the soil system. This session will combine an overview of the latest material developments with the current knowledge on their functions in terms of soil amendment and soil remediation including chemical and physical characteristics of biochars and biochar amended soils.

Session 3 Impact of biochar on N dynamics and N2O formation

The interaction of the carbon-rich biochar materials with reactive nitrogen is likely a key property for its agricultural use potential. Biochars can (but must not) reduce N2O emissions, sorb ammonium or when acidified ammonia, capture organic N and, surprisingly, nitrate, and alter soil N transformation processes. The session will investigate the potential causes and effects of biochars with regard to soil N cycling including N2O emissions, and potential tradeoffs between N capture and retention against leaching versus N delivery to plants when needed.

Biofertilizers

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Metin Turan 
Nurgül Kıtır

Biofertilizers- the fertilizers can be used in organic farming and have potential to be used in organic farming. The experiences about biofertilizer producing and organic fertilizer types and derivatives producing or projects. Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. The organic fertilizers types are really important for providing a good soil management, sustainable farming, and without providing any chemical process or content to treat the soil in terms of organic material and eligible macro-,microelement deficiency. Presenters are invited to explain what kind of biofertilizers they are using in their country and region. They may report how they decide the organic fertilizer and biofertilizer type according to soil type and can report the sample brands and contents of brands of the matket that they used or advised. Testing the organic fertilizer samples results and reports are also welcome. LTE on biofertilizers reports can be explained and evaluated during the presentation.

 

Keywords: Biofertilizers, organic farming, organic fertilizers, nutrient deficiency, boidiversity

Calcretes: Formation, Distribution and Anthropogenic

Convener
Muhsin Eren 

Calcretes are very common in the Mediterranean region, indicating arid and semi-arid climates. They have been used as a proxy for paleoclimate reconstructions. In some places, modern calcretes show anthropogenic influence.

Can Sustainable Land Management Mitigate Desertification In Drylands?

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Claudio Zucca 
Feras Ziadat

The session will discuss the potential of Sustainable Land Management (e.g., soil and water conservation practices, water harvesting, etc.) in preventing and mitigating land degradation and reducing the risks associated with climate variability and change.

Contributions proposing or discussing concepts and methods to assess/predict at different scales the effectiveness of SLM in terms of mitigation of degradation processes and enhancement of ecosystem services are particularly welcomed.

Contributions discussing factors (bio-physical, socio-economic, regulatory, etc.) limiting the wide adoption of SLM by land users, and approaches to be followed to best upscale SLM practices are also very welcomed.

Contributions based on case studies (success/failure stories) are recommended.

Carbon Management In Agriculture

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Hakkı Emrah Erdoğan

Carbon management is moving up the corporate agenda and many sectors now understand the need to handle their emissions. But what makes the management of carbon strategically important for agriculture and will it grow as a priority. The soil are fundamental as a large reservoir of reactive carbon, moderate the global carbon cycle, atmospheric chemistry, and radioactive forcing and ecosystem services. The objective of this session is to open a debate to develop policy strategy to better soil carbon management in agricultural sector.

Carbon Sequestration to Mitigate Climate Change

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Prof. Dr. Gönül Aydın

The burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, has caused a substantial increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. This increase is causing measurable global warming. Controlling atmospheric CO2 will require deliberate mitigation with an approach that combines reducing emissions and increasing storage. The term “carbon sequestration” is used to describe both natural and deliberate processes by which CO2 is either removed from the atmosphere or diverted from emission sources and stored in the ocean, terrestrial environments (vegetation, soils, and sediments), and geologic formations. The symposium is intended to bring scientists from related branches together to share and discuss knowledge gaps, develop collaborations on climate change, carbon sequestration, soil quality, soil fertility, land (soil) management, carbon management and other related branches and to discuss future outlook and knowledge integration in Carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change.

 

Key Words: Carbon storage, terrestrial ecosystem, atmospheric CO2, climate change

Challenges of Land and Water Use Management

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Prof. Dr. Jumpei Kubota 
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Çullu

Influence of men on hydrological cycle and land use of local and global environment are increasing and becoming a critical topic from the standpoint of proper land and water management. Understanding of Earth’s natural dynamics and influence of men on it need close attention and discussed by scientists around the world to find out the best technological adaptations to dynamic Earth environment. Assessments of the influence of man is extremely important and an essential topic for proper land and water management for the benefit of life on earth. As human societies design their future they require the best understanding of the Earth’s natural dynamics and degree of influence of man on it. The symposium will emphasize the description of physical standards related to boundaries and thresholds to allow analyses and find out best eco-technologic adaptations to dynamic earth environment. This proposal is based on a cooperative research work which is currently going on between Turkish and Japanese scientists. It is expected to attract attention of scientists from both countries as well as other scientists in Europe and elsewhere in the world.

 

Key Words: Water management, hydrological cycle, dynamics of earth environment technological adaptation

Climate Change and Agricultural Systems

Convener
İnci Tekeli 

Agriculture is a crucial sector for many countries, given, notably, socio-economic and food security issues. For this sector, the links between productivity, resilience and sustainability are very strong, and the associated challenges are exacerbated by climate change. Actions and policies must be promoted at national and international levels which respond to the specific, but different vulnerabilities of the sector faced with climate disturbances and to foster potential contributions to the climate change mitigation efforts. With due regard to the diversity of contexts and priorities, agriculture must thus achieve the triple challenge of adapting to climate change and contributing to mitigation, whilst managing to meet the crucial objectives of food security. Unless immediate action is taken by policy-makers, the impacts on livelihoods will increase over the long-run, especially if agriculture expands onto wild-lands that now provide natural resources such as clean water and biodiversity.

Climate Change, Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Quality: A systems approach to improve Agroecosystem Services

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Prof. Dr. Taşkın Öztaş 
Prof. Dr. Khandakar Rafiq Islam

World food production needs to double by 2050 to feed the increasing population. While high-input production agriculture produces greater amounts of food, feed, energy and fiber, the current management practices based on energy, chemical, and water inputs are expensive and associated with accelerated soil quality degradation and contribute to diminished agroecosystem services. As a result, the threats of climate change are constantly increasing, and in fact, its impact has already started worldwide. Sustainable agricultural management practices employ novel and holistic approaches and technologies to improve soil health, enhance agroecosystem services, increase farm economics and mitigate climate change effects. Farming practices may include continuous no-till, conservation tillage, cover crops, controlled traffic, and crop rotation. Adoption of these practices would: improve bio-diversification and biocontrol services, improve control of weeds and diseases, conserve soil moisture, control erosion, reduce soil compaction, improve drainage, fix nitrogen, and recycle nutrients. Optimization of soil amendments, such as compost, manures, bio-stimulant, gypsum and Zeolite is expected to improve the soil health with enhanced agroecosystem services.

Constraints and New Challenges for Recovery of Degraded Soils under Arid and Semiarid Conditions

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Angel Faz 
José A. Acosta
M. Ángeles Muñoz

Arid and semi-arid areas all around the world suffers specific problems and a high risk of soil loss due to physical, chemical and biological degradation and erosion. Adverse climatic conditions favour soil organic matter mineralization, loss of soil structure, increments in salinity and sodification, and as a consequences there is a decrease in soil productivity. This can lead to impoverished soils with poor structure and reduced vegetation cover, with increments in soil erosion risks. In critical situations, these processes can lead to soil loss, changes in the landscapes, and negative socio-economic impact on the population. The purpose of this symposium is to get a state of the art overview of recent findings and future research challenges about recovery of degraded soils in arid and semiarid areas. We welcome studies on soil organic and inorganic matter dynamics, soil carbon sequestration and stabilization mechanisms, organomineral interactions and biological activities, remediation of saline and sodic soils, new techniques to assess soil quality and degradation in arid and semiarid areas, modelling of soil degradation and recovery trends, erosion mitigation and erosion modelling, etc. We especially encourage multi-disciplinary contributions that integrate soil knowledge with management practices associated with agriculture, forestry, recreational, resource-extraction and biodiversity protection practices.

Keywords: organic matter, salinization, erosion, aridity, sodification.

Decision Support System (Dss) For Soil Management, Case Study: Integrated Agricultural Information System

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Gürsel Küsek
Yüksel Şahin

Integrated Agricultural Information System is a tool for better decision making for policy makers in agricultural sector, This session is mainly to identify agricultural information system components, their availability, the understanding of how successfully they work, problems associated with them and how to improve their performances. The review of analysis methods and process of soil information systems are also explained. It can also be used to develop suggestions to solve the common problems in agriculture information systems, to improve the policy programs, the extension and research activities, and to manage information on agriculture. Finally, general conclusions about agricultural information systems are emphasized and implications for further development of soil information systems might be presented.

Detection, Risk Assessment And Remediation Of Polluted Soils From Mining And Smelting Areas

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Jaume Bech 
Elena Korobova
M. Manuela Abreu
Claudio Bini
Hyo-Taek Chon
Carmen Pèrez-Sirvent
Nuria Roca

The anthropogenic miss-management of mining and smelting activities causes contamination in the surrounding soils and downstream waters, environmental trouble for crops, livestock and human health. There is an increasing need to apply more suitable, affordable, sustainable and innovative technologies for the prevention, detection, monitoring, risk assessment, remediation and reclamation of polluted soils due to industrial, mining and smelting activities. Therefore, this symposium will focus on the most recent findings and state of the art methodologies that prioritise soft, cost-effective, time-efficient, interdisciplinary and holistic procedures of polluted technosoils. We welcome theoretical and applied methodologies, experimental laboratory and field work to reclaim damaged soils in open-pit or underground mines and ore processing industries including case studies from around the world. These will be reviewed and updated in this symposium. We look forward to a lively Oral and Poster Session. We also hope to publish the outcome of this symposium in a special issue of an international indexed journal.

Distribution of soil biodiversity and related ecosystem services from local to global scale

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Alberto Orgiazzi 
Arwyn Jones
Philippe Lemanceau

This session will discuss recent development in the study of spatial and temporal distribution of soil communities across ecosystems. Preferences will be given to studies presenting patterns of whole soil biota, from microorganisms to macrofauna. The potential of new high-throughput tools for this kind of analysis may be presented and discussed. Also, the opportunity to apply these techniques for the development of specific policies for the conservation of soils and their life should be presented in the proposed case studies.

The session will offer the opportunity to present the first Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas recently developed by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative.

Keywords: soil biodiversity, ecosystem services, biogeography, conservation

Economics Of Land Degradation: Soil Dimension

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Pavel Krasilnikov 

Land degradation is one of the greatest challenges for food security in 21st century, especially in dry areas, where ecosystems suffer major impact of desertification, degradation and droughts. However, public awareness on land degradation is still very low, and it is not properly addressed. Economicsof land degradation helps to find a monetary equivalent of the loss of land productivity and ecosystem services, and thus attract the attention of the socity to the issues related to land degradation. Soil degradation is one of the major mechanisms of land degradation, which is responsible for many irreversible changes in ecosystems. The session will focus on the processes of soil degradation, their effect on agricultural production and ecosystem services, and on their economic assessment.

Keywords: ecosysestem services, soil degradation, awareness raising, sustainable soil management

FitzPatrick’s vision on soil: lessons learned

Convener
Fabio Terrible 

Prof. FitzPatrick’s vision of soil has had a strong impact on numerous aspects on the interdisciplinary approaches to problems of major interest for soil science among his students. Research has proven that Fitz’ vision has moulded pedology together with sedimentology, archaeology, geomorphology and engineering. His vision has also led to multiscale approaches to better understand soils with special emphasis to the use of soil micromorphology. His vision has led his scholars to create pedology led interpretations to palaeosols, soil formation, soil classification, and many aspects of pedo-sedimentology.

Forensic Soil, Forensic Entomology and Taphonomy

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Murat Mert 
Ersin Karapazarlıoğlu

Soils have important roles to play in criminal and environmental forensic science. Since the initial concept of using soil in forensic investigations was mooted by Conan Doyle in his Sherlock Holmes stories prior to real-world applications, this branch of forensic science has become increasingly sophisticated and broad. Soils can provide intelligence, in assisting the determination of the provenance of samples from artifacts, victims or suspects, enabling their linkage to locations or other evidence. They also modulate change in surface or buried cadavers and hence affect the ability to estimate post-mortem or post-burial intervals, and locate clandestine graves. This interdisciplinary volume explores the conceptual and practical interplay of soil and geoforensics across the scientific, investigative and legal fields. Many processes can alter the appearance of bone and related organic materials after death. Factors in the transport and dispersal of skeletal elements include animals, gravity, or water and fluvial processes. Animal related processes include trampling, entrance fall, gnawing, and digestion. Physical factors include rock-fall, water transport, sandblasting, weathering, burial, diagenic movement, volcanic shock-wave, acid attack by roots, cryoturbation, release and breakup by bottom- fast ice, and mineralization by ground water. Both animal and physical processes need to be understood in reconstructing the context of death and the sequences after death in forensic cases.

Forest Ecosystem Nutrition and Monitoring of Forest Soils

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Friederike Lang 
Jaane Krüger
Nicole Wellbrock

Forest Soils

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Doğanay Tolunay 
Oktay Yıldız

Forests cover 31% of World’s surface, and offer many services to human beings and other organisms such as sequestering carbon, preventing erosion, and providing habitats. Forest soils are important, being part of forest ecosystems and contributing to the ecosystem services along with above ground component of the ecosystem. Forest soils differ from agricultural and urban soils in temperature regime, water supply, landform, parent material, organic matter, nutrient content, and biodiversity. In addition, the forest soils are highly spatially variable, leading to their management is highly complicated.

Forest soils have been converted to the other land uses despite they provide important ecosystem services including carbon storage in particular. Annually, five million hectares of forest land, thus forest soils, have been lost via deforestation. Historically, 1.8 billion hectares of forest area have been converted to other land uses.

The Symposium aimed at bringing scientists/scholars to discuss every aspect of forest soils, especially in regard to their properties, management , ecosystem services, and degradation. The feedbacks of forest soils versus climate change and desertification will also be covered. In addition, new techniques and theories proposed in forest soils studies are welcome.

Frontiers in Soil Food Webs: Understanding the Link Between Fertility and Species Function

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Sina Adl 

The standardisation of several technical innovations over the past 15 years has allowed biologists to escape the black-box treatment of soil microbial biomass. We now have a much better understanding of the diversity in soils, and of the role of that diversity in releasing nutrients through the decomposition of organic matter by soil food webs. Key technical innovations have been the next generation DNA sequencing approaches coupled to other molecular biology tools, but especially, improvements in our statistical understanding of the bioinformatics information. Other innovations have been in stable isotopic tracer studies, in the utilisation of neutron beams or synchrotron based X-rays that have all contributed to improve stoichiometric modelling of the food web interactions. This symposium will bring together speakers that have made significant contributions to advancing and integrating our modern synthesis of nutrient release to roots through soil food webs.

Hydropedology

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Sabit Erşahin 
Hikmet Günal

Hydropedology, an interdisciplinary branch of soil science and hydrology, integrates pedology, soil physics, and hydrology at multiple scales to fill the knowledge gaps on interactions among landscape hydrology, flow and transport in vadoze zone, spatial variation of soil properties and processes, integration of soil morphological properties in modeling soil hydraulic properties at multiple scales in the Earth’s near-surface terrestrial acosystems. Hydropedology bridges soil and water sciences, resulting a unique contribution to understanding of soil-water interaction at different scales, landscape processes, watershed management, nutrient cycling, ecosystem dynamics, climate-soil formation relations, and land use and management.

The symposium was intended to bring scientists from related branches together to share and discuss knowledge gaps, developing collaborations among pedology, soil physics, and hydrology, along with soil chemistry, soil fertility, soil mechanics, geo-chemistry, geo-physics, goe-morphology, hydro-geology, hydro-ecology, hydro-climatology, bio-geology, and other branches of soil science and hydrology; and to discuss future outlook and knowledge integration in hydropedology.

Identifying Management-Induced Effects Of Energy Crop Cultivation On Soil GHG Emissions And Soil Fertility

Conveners & Co-Conveners
to be announced…

Climate change impacts resulting from fossil fuel combustion and concerns about the diversity of energy supply are driving interest to find low-carbon energy alternatives. As a result, bioenergy is receiving widespread scientific, political and media attention for its potential role in both supplying energy and mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Bioenergy is complex and encapsulates a wide range of crops, varying from food crop-based biofuels to dedicated second generation perennial energy crops and forestry products. It is estimated that the bioenergy contribution to the EU 2020 renewable energy targets could require up to 17–21 million hectares of additional land in Europe. Currently, the cultivation of energy crops for biogas or biofuel production has to meet challenging GHG mitigation requirements, i.e. as specified in the EU Renewables Directive, and is also under discussion with respect to associated impacts on soil fertility (i.e. loss of soil organic matter) and environmental pollution (i.e. by NH3 and NO3).

It is recognized that GHG savings or losses are in part a function of the original land-use that has undergone change and the management intensity for the energy crop. In addition to the choice of crop, the identification of suitable management practices is key to the reduction of field GHG emissions from energy crops, but it is complicated by the high spatio-temporal variability of GHG emissions and opposing GHG fluxes between soils, plants and the atmosphere. Moreover, the quantification of management-related effects of energy crop cultivation on soil organic matter stocks is also still a major challenge, as changes in soil organic matter stocks can only be detected over the course of years to decades.

We invite studies trying to quantify the effects of management practices like fertilization, crop rotation, tillage and land use reversion on field-emissions of CO2, N2O, CH4 and NH3 and soil fertility. We also welcome studies which aim to improve the mitigation of GHG fluxes through optimizing the bioenergy system i.e. new genotypes, novel fertilizers and new plant establishment methods. We are particularly interested in the separation of management-induced effects from effects induced by interannual climatic variability, allowing for the identification of management practices which minimize field GHG emissions from energy crops and conserve soil fertility.

Implications of Rizhosphere Effect on Soil Quality

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Dr. Araceli Pérez-Sanz 
Dr. Javier Cuadros
Dr. Raúl Zornoza
Dr. Rocio Millan

The rhizosphere is an area of high reactivity with different properties to the surrounding soil where plant root exudates sustain a high microbial activity and high microbial density. The stimulation of rhizosphere (defined as root interface) opens new possibilities to different biotechnological applications of plant breeding and soil management programs. These technologies are based on modifying the mobility and bioavailability of contaminants and/or nutrients in the soil, particularly at the rhizosphere, where degradation, root uptake or exclusion takes place. Rhizosphere can be stimulated or modified in different manners: i) by the contribution of plant exudates or associated microorganisms; ii) by promoting the growth of plant-beneficial microorganisms or eliminating pathogens; iii) by phytohormone application, iv) by rhizobacterial inoculants or v) the addition of organic amendments that improve the physico-chemical properties of the soil and provide an organic substrate for the proliferation of the inoculated microorganisms. The outcome and success of the stimulation depends on the net biological effect on the rhizosphere, the plant and soil properties. The stimulation techniques have an indirect effect on bulk soil quality.

Industrial Use of Soils

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Erhan Akça 
Necdet Sakarya

The symposium seeks to amalgamate various disciplines concepts and approaches that are utilizing soil as a raw material. Huge volumes of soils are used in ceramic and tile industry, cement production, dam constructions, road building. Thus, we want to hear new techniques, success and unsuccessful stories on soil uses, particularly environmental impacts of soil mining. Therfore, we welcome titles on:

  1. Use of soil in various disciplines,
  2. Environmental impacts of soil mining

International Network Of Soil Information Institutions

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Rainer Baritz
Hakkı Emrah Erdoğan

Long-Term Soil Preservation Of Pyrogenic Carbon

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Dr. Marie-Agnes Courty 
Dr. Ethel Allue

CourtyThis session proposes to further elucidate what are the controlling factors explaining the long-term preservation of pyrogenic carbon in a wide diversity of soil environments. The later refers here to combustion residues from plant biomass (charcoal, char, polymeric compounds) that resisted over centuries to millennia to microbial decomposition, chemical weathering and physical processes. We intend at clarifying the controversies between the long-term stability of the organic compounds due to their intrinsic molecular properties (chemical recalcitrance) or other pedological processes from the fossilizing conditions which would operate independently from the molecular nature of carbon species. Exchange between long-term experiments on the storage of pyrocarbon in soils and multi-proxy studies of pyrocarbon from high resolution palaeoenvironmental archives (palaeosols and archaeological sequences) is most welcome. In situ multi-analytical characterization of pyrogenic carbon in their host matrix from aggregates down to the nanoscale is greatly encouraged. A special call is directed to clarifying the possible transformation of pyrogenic products into inert hard carbon by flash thermal shock and/or high energy irradiation as a consequence of lightning strikes.

Keywords: pyrogenic carbon, soil environment, charcoal, carbon species, transformation

Meet the Editors

Convener
Michael Goss 

Guidelines for successful submission and review of scientific papers

Presenters: Michael Goss1, Margaret Oliver2

1School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
2Soil Research Centre, Department of Geography & Environmental Science, School of Human & Environmental Sciences, The University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom

Our aim is to help authors and reviewers through the many stages that lead to the successful publication of papers.

Many papers are rejected at the first stage of assessment without going for peer review, for reasons that authors could easily have prevented. As Editors-in-Chief of two different international Journals we believe we can help everyone avoid the disappointment that results from the unnecessary rejection of a paper.

Our workshop will guide new authors and those with little experience of publishing in international scientific journals on the preparation and submission of papers so that they are successful in getting their research published. Wiley, the publishers of our journals will also be making a presentation on the support that they can provide.

This is not a workshop about writing per se, but on how best to approach the development of a paper, target the most appropriate Journal and ensure the best possible chance of it being accepted for publication.

Editors don’t just tell you the decision on your paper but can provide access to expert advice during its preparation, or if reviewers identify areas that require revision. The guidelines we present include the handling of comments from reviewers and responding to the copy editor’s questions on the proof stage.

Reviewers are essential to the peer review process and hence for publishing scientific papers. They ensure that the scientific content provides new, relevant, up-to-date and accurate knowledge. Part of becoming a successful author is being involved in peer review. Every author needs to act as a reviewer and prevent Journals falling into disrepute. Although participation takes time, we will guide you through the key aspects and provide handouts.

The workshop will comprise a presentation of 30 to 40 minutes, a question and answer session and an opportunity for delegates to have one-to-one sessions with us.

Please contact either Margaret Oliver: or Michael Goss: if you require more information

Mineral-Organic Associations: Relevance for the Biogeochemical Cycling of Major and Trace Elements

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Robert Mikutta 
Christian Mikutta

Mineral-organic associations are a central component of soil ecosystems and control the cycling of major and trace elements (e.g., C, N, P, heavy metals). Such associations may form by the adsorption of organic matter to secondary minerals, such as metal (oxyhydr)oxides and phyllosilicates, and via coprecipitation of organic ligands with multivalent metal cations. Properties of mineral-organic associations in different soil ecosystems vary in space and time, with important consequences for their ability to preserve organic matter or to sequester and transform inorganic and organic trace compounds. We invite contributions that involve both laboratory and field experiments dedicated to the formation and properties of mineral-organic associations, as well as on their various interactions with soil organic matter and trace compounds. Particularly, we welcome studies using state-of-the-art spectrometric, spectroscopic, imaging, and theoretical approaches to address these interactions on the molecular scale, but also studies investigating the role of mineral-organic associations on larger scales.

Modeling Desertification and Producing Risk Map for Turkey

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Mahmut Temiz 

Modeling Desertification and Producing Risk Map for Turkey – a tool for Development of Watershed Monitoring and Evaluation System
An infrastructure is being developed to determine desertification and land degradation risk situation of our country, to take the necessary measures on time to combat desertification effectively and to monitor the status of desertification in our country. Towards this goal, all related models, projects and programs in the World were studied. It has been determined that it was necessary to create a unique model for our country. Desertification criteria for Turkey (Climate, Soil, Water, Land Cover and Land Use, Topography and Geomorphology, Socio-economics and Management), and indicators have been identified. Classes and scores that are used to determine indicators impact on desertification were established. An algorithm that calculates the desertification risks has been created and Desertification Risk Map of Turkey was produced using the generated model and existing data sets. The project is being carried out with 11 academicians from different disciplines and practitioner representatives from government institutions. A workshop was organized to get the knowledge and experience of academicians and practitioners who don’t take part in the team. All work is progressing with collaboration. The results are being validated in the Gediz Pilot Basin and the model is being calibrated. The development of Desertification Monitoring System is underway.

Modeling Of Soil Erosion

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Velibor Spalevich 
Morteza Behzadfar

Precipitation intensities and volumes are increasing. We should discuss the response of various soil erosion models and different precipitation and vegetation related parameters, what is, in this moment of high importance. How much the erosion and runoff will change with the change of rainfall intensity and what about change in land use? What about changes in rainfall amount associated with changes in storm rainfall intensity and its impact on runoff and erosion? What is the correlation between the climate change and increasing of global soil erosion rates? What about conservation measures? Modeling of soil erosion processes, good topic is now!

Mycorrhiza and Carbon Sequestration Related With Soil Quality

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Ortaş 
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Coşkan

Arbiscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are the largest symbiotic associations between plants and fungi which make a significant contribution on physical, chemical and biological aspects of soil quality through the AM fungal hyphae extending into the rhizosphere and thereby improve the absorption of nutrients especially phosphorus and micronutrients. The establishment of mycorrhiza causes changes in the physiology of the host plants. Like other soil microorganisms, AM fungi act as ecosystem engineers on the roots and root surface of the plants.

The soil quality as the critical component of the ecosystems is associated with soil’s usefulness or performance to environmental quality as well as food quality. Soil quality is also related to the rhizosphere beneficial microorganisms, such as AM fungi and bacteria. The AMF is an active and major component of the soil microbial community and have an important role on soil quality. Thus mycorrhiza has a significant impact on soil resilience which is also an important component of soil quality.

Nanomaterials In Soil Environment: A Soil Microbiological Approach

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Mehmet Öğüt 
Turgay Tekinay

A nanometer (nm) is 10-6 mm and nanomaterial is a material of which a single unit is sized (in at least one dimension) between 1 and 1,000 nm but is usually 1-100 nm. The length of a soil bacterium is usually 2,000 nm or 2 micrometers (um). The fertilizers industry routinely manufactures materials with a particle size of no less than 10 um. Although at research and development stages, “nanofertilizers” will soon become more application areas in agriculture. Biosolids are the nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the treatment of sewage sludge in wastewater treatment facilities. Sewage sludge is solid, semisolid or liquid untreated residue generated during the treatment of domestic sewage. When treated and processed, sewage sludge becomes biosolids which can be safely recycled. It is soil applied to improve and maintain soil physical, chemical and biological properties for enhanced plant growth. However, biosolids also contain considerable amounts of nanoscale materials. There is little information regarding the migration of biosolid nanomaterials to soil (possibly to groundwater?) and potential contamination of soil and water resources.

New Water Saving Technologies For Conserving Water In The Soil

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Alvin J.M.Smucker 
Dr. Yasemin Kavdır

Soil water conservation and water use by plants are problem for especially in mariginal (highly permeable and clay) soils. Sandy soil types require different water conservation methods such as using organic amandements, polymers, subsurface water retention technology (SWRT), engineering etc. Our major goal of this section is to combine recent advancements in water conservation practices to identify the most water use efficient systems on soils.

Paleosols And Palaeo-Environment In Western Asia

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Martin Kehl 
Farhad Khormali

Paleosols reflect environmental conditions during past soil forming periods in multiple ways. Soil properties such as structure, depletion or secondary enrichment in carbonate, stable isotope signatures etc.indicate syngenetic or post-depositional soil formation onmore or less stable land surfaces of the past. In dry climatic regions such as Western Asia, subtle morphological differences between parent material and soil horizon may indicate phases of soil formation. In the past, this area was affectedby fluctuations in westerly storm tracks and in the northern extension of the Monsoon system causing changes in precipitation, vegetation and type and intensity of soil forming processes. The potential of paleosols to provide markers in stratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction in Western Asia is largely unchallenged. We call for papers on all aspects of research on paleosols in the area.

Palaeosols And Polygenetic Soils

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Daniela Sauer 
Edoardo A.C. Costantini

What can they tell us about past environmental conditions and their duration, and in which ways may they affect present soil functioning and carbon sequestration? The main questions to be answered in palaeopedological studies are: 1. How much time is required to produce the stage of soil development that we see in this palaeosol? 2. Which environmental conditions may produce the morphological features and chemical, mineralogical, biological and other characteristics that we observe in this palaeosol? Yaalon (1971) distinguished (i) rapidly adjusting features (adjusting within some hundreds of years), (ii) slowly adjusting features (adjusting within some thousands of years), and (iii) persistent features (showing no changes over ten thousands to millions of years). All branches of palaeopedological research still need a significant effort to continue in the ongoing process of moving from qualitative to more quantitative approaches. Thus, this session especially welcomes (i) papers that contribute to a better understanding of palaeosols, (ii) papers providing quantitative information on rates of soil-forming processes, (iii) papers using methods that allow for semi-quantitative or quantitative palaeo-environmental interpretation of palaeosols, (iv) papers demonstrating, how features of different periods and environmental conditions can be unraveled in polygenetic surface soils, (v) papers dealing with the influence of relic features on functioning of polygenetic soils, and (vi) papers quantifying contributions of palaeosols to SOC and SIC sequestration.

Keywords: palaeosols, palaeo-environmental indicators, rates of soil-forming processes, polygenetic soils, carbon sequestration

Pedogenesis in Extreme Environments

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Sergey Goryachkin 

Soil formation in most natural environments is already understood. However, still little is known about pedogenesis in some specific extreme conditions, which are restricted to small and hardly accessible areas. Also we should mention specific “extinct” environments that exited on the Earth in the past, but cannot be found actually. The existing extreme landscapes include very cold environments in Arctic, Antarctic and high mountainous areas, very dry deserts, caves and many other localities. The study of the pedogenetic processes in extreme enviaronments can help us understanding the trends in soil devlopment throughout the history of the planet, and to predict possible soil change.

Keywords: Arctic, Antarctic, paleosols, nival mountainous zone, soils of caves

Pesticides In The Soil Environment: Turnover, Fate, Residues And Relevance In Risk Assessment

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Karolina Nowak

Pesticides as anthropogenic chemicals are of high interest, since they have been and will be deliberately applied in high amounts to soils used for food crop production. Soil as a complex environment with a wide variety of binding sites is regarded to be a major sink for these compounds. Pesticides entering this complex soil system may undergo various turnover processes. They can be degraded by microorganisms, immobilised in the form of non-extractable residues (NER), volatilised, leached to the groundwater or taken up by plants. NER are considered to be formed via various physico-chemical interactions (e.g. sorption, covalent bonding or sequestration) of the parent organic compound or its primary metabolites with the soil matrix, e.g. soil organic matter. It is speculated that toxic active compounds or their metabolites immobilised in the NER form may be remobilised. They can be further exported to groundwater or taken up by food crops posing a potential hazard for environmental and human health. The multitude of compounds and potential processes makes detailed studies of scenarios impossible. Our session aims at presenting the most recent concepts, results and different perspectives on the fate of pesticides in soils and is expected to cover both laboratory and field studies dealing with biotic and abiotic degradation, sorption processes, plant uptake, identification of degradation pathways and effects on soil microorganisms.

Progresses toward the GlobalSoilMap

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Cristiano Ballabio 
Dominique Arrouays

The GlobalSoilMap project aims at producing a detailed digital soil map of the world, using state-of-the-art and emerging technologies for soil mapping, and predicting soil properties at fine resolution. The final objective is to build a database of key soil properties at multiple depths using soil information and environmental covariates. This new global soil map will be supplemented by interpretation and functionalities, aiming at assisting in better decision making in a range of global issues such as food production, soil security, climate change, and environmental degradation. This session will present the recent progresses toward the creation of the GlobalSoilMap products by showing how these products were developed in different areas around the world, the challenges involved in their production and examples of their use in decision making processes and planning.

Keywords: GlobalSoilMap, soil security, soil mapping

Radioactive Contamination in the Environment: Lessons from Fukushima Nuclear Disaster

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Oğuz Can Turgay
Naoki Harada
Bihter Çolak Esetlili

No doubt that the investments to nuclear energy have diversified energy patterns of a fairly large number of developing and developed countries all the time and contributed the attempts through minimizing energy losses all over the world. The estimations on actual energy resources and future energy needs of the world also point out the fact that nuclear energy may not be a choice but an obligation for developing countries such as Turkey in near future. On the other hand, world-worst nuclear disasters such as Three Miles Ireland (1979), Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011) pointed that nuclear accidents could occur anytime and anywhere, no matter what security systems or technologies are used and could damage both human and environment from many different aspects. Investigating the behavior and mechanisms of radioactivity is the only way to develop solutions to challenge with the radioactive contamination. Thus, the major issue addressed by this potential symposium is to understand how radioactivity is incorporated into air, soil and water resources, as important components of natural and agricultural ecosystems. The aim of this symposium is therefore to highlight the effects of nuclear plant disasters, mainly Fukushima, on human and environment. We believe that sharing these great experiences and scientific accumulation behind environmental contaminations due to Chernobyl and Fukushima Disasters in such a powerful scientific ground, Eurosoil2016, would facilitate not only scientists but also world public opinion to comprehend how to challenge with radioactive contamination as a potential risk of nuclear energy. This is especially important for Turkey, who will be generating nuclear energy from two power plants currently being constructed in Mediterranean and Black Sea Turkey.

Examples of potential sessions and topics (in parenthesis) underlying the influences of radioactive contaminations are as below;

  • Radioactivity in soil (effect of radiocontamination in pasture; decontamination using fungi in forest; soil chemistry of radiocesium)
  • Radioactivity in water resources (contamination of irrigation water for rice fields; Surface water contamination with radiocesium)
  • Radioactivity in agricultural crops (Cesium Uptake in Rice: Possible Transporter, Distribution, and Variation; Radiocontamination of soybean affected by a biofertilizer; Radioplant physiology)
  • Remediation and decontamination (Soil washing; Soil evacuation)
  • Rural development (Agricultural economics after the Fukushima accident; Organic farmers against radiocontamination)

Risk Assessment of the Soils for Herbal Therapy

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Münir Öztürk 
Prof. Dr. Latif Mohamad

Use of herbals constitutes an important part of human heritage, as these contain numerous biologically active compounds like; alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, carotenoids, sterols, simple phenolic glycosides, saponins and polyphenols with a strong correlation with the soils supporting the herbals. Currently nearly 80 percent of the people on our earth depend on herbals, a health practice incorporating living objects and mineral based medicines; applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain human as well as animal well being. But, the damage that could occur due to wrong use of herbals or using herbals with toxic elements uptaken from soil is a big problem that needs to be investigated at length. In order to avoid unwanted adverse reactions, phytochemicals provide an extensive research area particularly related to the soils supporting these plant taxa.

Key Words Medicinal-Aromatic Plants, Soils, Risk Assessment

Soil and Terroir

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Edoardo A.C. Costantini  Peter Strauss
Emmanuelle Vaudour

The relationship between quality crops and the land where they are cultvated is a research area with increasing interest, also because its high economic relevance. Governing the soil natural and human induced features that affect the quality of a crop, preserving its ecosystemic functions, is still a challange, which need integrated research activities in many branches of soil, climate, agronomic, biological, and economic sciences.

Soil Biota In Land Use Systems

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Martin Potthoff 
Guenola Pérès
Johann G. Zaller
Astrid Taylor
Mirjam Pulleman

Soil Biota In Land Use Systems – Assessing The Importance Of Functions And Services Provided By Soil Organisms In Sustainable Soil Management
Linking soil biodiversity to ecosystem functions and services is the one challenge in soil biological research and sustainable soil management. This symposium aims to discuss how land use systems affect soil biodiversity in Europe and how soil biodiversity (i.e. the performance of functional groups) feeds back to soil functions and ecosystem services. Knowledge is mounting that a sustainable intensification of land use needs to include the conservation of processes and functions run by soil biota that are essential for self-preservation considering services provided by soil biota including soil biodiversity. The strong progress in developing methods for biodiversity determination in soil and the quantification of biota specific impacts should be mirrored by the contributions. This session welcomes oral and poster contributions that explore the role of soil biota and soil biodiversity for current and future land use systems:

  • Response of soil biota to conventional or innovative land use practises/systems and measures to identify favourable management tools
  • Quantifications and modelling of processes, ecosystem functions and/or services induced by soil organisms
  • Suggestions of sustainable management practises in different land use systems and European regions
  • Socio-economic approaches on cost-effects of soil biota and on the implementation of sustainable management practises.

 

Keywords: Soil organisms, ecosystem services, farming practises, tillage, fertilization

Soil Classification

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Peter Schad 
Cezary Kabala

Soil classification is the science that condensates our knowledge of a soil to a name. Soil classification groups the continuum of soils into classes. If our soil classification system is good, the name of a soil provides us with the following: 1. We understand the genesis and the dynamics of the soil. The name of the soil must inform us about both, soil characteristics inherited from the parent material and soil characteristics resulting from soil-forming processes. 2. If we gave names to a set of neighbouring soils, we are able to create a map unit. A map unit usually comprises several soils with an estimation of their share. The detailedness depends on the scale. Spatial soil information is crucial for any understanding of processes in landscapes.3. We are able to detect information about the land-use potential, the resilience of the soil and other soil functions. A special focus is given to the third edition (2014) of the international soil classification system World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB). After two years, a first résumé of the quality of the changes and an evaluation of its additional potentials should be possible. Besides WRB, experiences with and reflections about other soil classification systems are welcome.

 

Keywords: Soil classification, WRB, map unit, soil genesis

Soil Degradation Due To Mechanical Deformation

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Rainer Horn
Peter Weiskopf

Soils are regularly exposed to different kinds of external loads, which can be described as static or dynamic and are always variable in loading time and magnitude. How far these external forces and soil management strategies coincide with the approach of sustainability of soils and their functions in a changing world with an intensely growing population is often controversy discussed. Flooding events all over Europe and catastrophic landslides also visualize the enormous effects and threats which must be linked to the manmade soil degradation due to non-side adjusted management approaches in combination with climate change induced more intense rainstorm events etc. This idea is the more relevant the more intense is the effect of soil cultivation dependent changes in the mechanical, hydraulic and physicochemical soil processes and functions. The result of such processes must be defined as a degraded system, which certainly under the aspect of requested crop yield increase, better filtering and buffering for clean drinking water production as well as also concerning a less intense climate gas emission to the atmosphere (global change effect) requires a better and more process based understanding of the dominant processes. The most serious question are there options to ameliorate such degraded soils and what kind of technics and what consecutive management systems are accepted need to be discussed in more detail during the Eurosoil conference.

Soil Erosion modelling taking into account future climate change, policy implementation and land use changes

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Panos Panagos 
Erik Cammeraat
Gunay Erpul
Katrin Meusburger

This session will discuss new trends in modelling soil erosion focusing on agricultural lands. Preference will be given to new introduced modelling techniques for estimating soil loss by water (or wind). We welcome submissions on the impact of soil conservation policies, future land use changes and climate change in soil erosion modelling.

A special issue in peer review journal will be organized by the organisers of the session.

 

Keywords: soil erosion by water, wind erosion, land degradation, agricultural practices

Soil Governance: Best Practices Of Land Consolidation And Field Development Services

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Gürsel Küsek
Ümit Bingöl

Consolidation of the properties which are scattered according to principal of modern administration, soil reclamation, construction of roads, irrigation and drainage systems, taking precautions for protection of soil and water, reorganization and the distribution of the land, taking all the precautions that would provide rational functioning for agricultural enterprises; minimizing the corrosion of vehicles and machinery and minimizing the loss of labor, time and fuel oil, ıncreasing net usage of acreage by the enterprises, decreasing the distance bet ween the center of the enterprise and parcels, decreasing in the cost of the precautions for protection of the parcels, increasing net income through efficient use of scientific farming methods are aimed.

Soil in Archeometry

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Asuman Türkmenoğlu

Soils are natural recorders of environmental processes as well as they conserve data of cultures who utilizes them for the production artefacts such as ceramics. Soils also manifest the land use practices in ancient environments shaped by humans. So, this session hopes to have oral and poster studies that revealed data obtained from soils and soil materials from ancient culture sites, artifacts and environments.

(1) Human environment interrelations in ancient sites

(2) Soils in ancient sites

(3) New techniques employed in soil archaeometry

Soil Information System for Sustainable Soil Management

Conveners
Suat Akgül 

Technologies, such as remote sensing, mobile soil testing, and digital soil mapping, give the opportunity to identify degraded soils, and may also provide a basis for programmes aiming the protection and reclamation of soils. In the absence of such information, crop production and yield assessments are often not based on the spatio-temporal variability in soil characteristics.
Existing soil maps and soil information systems need to be improved as many of these are not user friendly. Some are difficult to access, some incomplete or out of date, and the various data are not comparable. Digital soil mapping are derived from spatial databases of physical, chemical and biological soil properties such as pH, bulk density, clay content, calcium concentration, organic carbon content etc. Soil properties are compiled from measured and observed soil and landscape characteristics. These data may now be collected using proximal and remote sensing techniques or web crawling. By using geo-statistical methods, soil scientists may develop models to predict and map soil properties at increasingly detailed resolutions.
In addition, uncertainties in soil information systems are notable and build up when predictions are used for monitoring soil properties or biophysical modelling. Consequently, interpretations of model-based results have to be done carefully. Because they provide a scientific, but not always manageable, basis for farmers and/or policymakers. In general, the key incentives for stakeholders to aim for sustainable management of soils and more resilient food systems are complex at farm as well as higher levels. The decisionmaking process aimed at sustainable soil management, be that at farm or higher level, also involves other goals and objectives valued by stakeholders, e.g. land governance, improved environmental quality, climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Soil Legacy Data

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Mehmet Şahin
Yüksel Şahin

Soil legacy data are basic input data for soil mapping. Any monitoring of global soil change cannot be successful unless soil data availability and characterization at the national level are well understood. Spatial data infrastructure frequently hampers many developing countries to take advantage of their soil legacy data for digital soil mapping at the national and regional level. While the initial purpose for developing a soil database is to store survey data, it cannot be efficiently used to support quantitative, digital soil mapping and assessment. The aim of this session is to debate current improvement of national soil legacy data and development of new methodologies for soil mapping.

Soil Science and Food Security

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Sergey Shoba 

Food security is a global concern in the context of growing population and climatic change. Soil science can contribute to all the aspects of food security, namely physical access to food, economic food availability, and the quality of nutrition products (food safety). The initial source of food is agriculture that is strongly linked with soil health, thus physical availability depends not only on infrastructure, but also on the spatial distribution of soil resources. Social and economic food accessibility also depend on soil conditions in rural areas, because the wealth of the farmers depend on soil productivity. Food safety strongly depends on the ecosystem services dependent on soil health. We propose to discuss the theoretical linkage of food security with soil science, and to present particular case strudies on different levels.

 

Keywords: economic availability of food, physical access to food, food safety, soil functions, soil prductivity, ecosystem services

Spatial Distribution Of Soil Contaminants Using Synchrotron-Based Analytical Techniques

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Prof. Dr. Joselito Arocena 
Enzo Lombi

Human extractions of natural resources and other industrial activities degrade environmental quality due to accumulations of high levels of metals such as Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni and hydrocarbons in the environment. In soils, both metals and organic contaminants naturally and preferentially partition into soil components (as seen by high selectivity coefficients, Ks of metals in oxides and Kow of organics in humic materials). And the distribution of these components in contaminated soils are highly organized thus, a knowledge on the spatial distribution is requisite to understand the fate of contaminants in soils and the environment. Recently, the increased availability of synchrotron-based techniques to environmental researchers including soil scientists offers a state-of-the-art approach to understand the storage of soil contaminants such as meal and hydrocarbon at various micro- (and nano) environments. The high flux of photons as well as the micrometer-sized X-ray beams is ideal to decipher the sorption and other storage mechanisms of soil contamination. The objective of this symposium is to highlight the need for information about the spatial distribution of contaminants to better understand the soil processes at the micro- and nano-environments using synchrotron-based (SR) and other advanced techniques. Knowledge of the micro- and nano-distribution of metals and organics in soil systems will facilitate the restoration of soil ecosystem functions perturbed by human activities.

Temperature and Heat Characteristics of Soils, Causes, Effects and Impact Criteria

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Wolfgang Burghardt 
Ralph Meissner

Soil temperature regime differs between soils all over the world. It becomes more and more important for environmental, civilization and technological development of humans. Soils are important bodies for heat storage. They contribute essential to capability of land use, weather and climate conditions, global radiation, cooling effects in sealed urban areas, health care, technical heat storage, and others. Soils are also affected by heating from water, environment, and electricity supply lines. Change of soil temperature effects quality and microbiology of water supply lines, sewage water and ground water. Soils can be also sinks and users of waste heat of power plants. There are already many data on soil temperature and soil heat available. They concern the relationship to soil water content, soil use and other soil properties. Often these data are by-products of other soil investigations, so for example of field trials or lysimeter investigations, and of weather stations. The symposium will have its focus on results of investigations of relationships of soil temperature and soil heat to climate, soil surface properties, the large complex land use as well as techniques to measure the mentioned phenomena with high accuracy. Studies on local, regional and global scales and recently developed measuring techniques are expected on the symposium. The meaning for other soil properties, for climate and the application of these findings for environmental, technological and health problems are also concern of the symposium.

Terra Rossa (Red Mediterranean Soils)

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Dr. Franco Previtali 
Zucca Claudio

Red Mediterranean Soils (Terra Rossa) are long since an interesting subject of scientific debate in many ways, but they are also an important agricultural and forestry resource in many countries with a Mediterranean climate. The unresolved issue is surely their forming process: autochthonous or allochthonous? Have they formed on residual material, especially limestone and dolostone, or rather either on Saharian (or other deserts) fine dust or from loess? Crucial aspects of the debate are the mass balance between soil and bedrock, mineralogical and geochemical set, trace elements and rare earths. Still interesting is the question whether these soils are relic (palaeosols) or if they are still forming, with consequences on their taxonomic classification. Finally, being these soils also important agricultural, forestry and pastoral resources in many countries, which share similar conditions of the Mediterranean climatic type, the theme of their vulnerability and conservation techniques must be considered..

Key Words: Parent materials, Soil forming processes, geochemistry, Climate and palaeoclimates, Vegetation, Classification, Uses and conservation.

The Enduring Drama of Land Degradation in the Mediterranean and Possible Solutions

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Pandi Zdruli 
Selim Kapur
Claudio Zucca

Land degradation and desertification continue to be the greatest environmental threats for the Mediterranean region having a big impact on food security, biodiversity loss, reducing land and water quantity and quality, and overall influencing political and social stability as well as migratory trends toward Europe. Climate change models predict that the region could become drier and hotter increasing thus the environmental and economic hardships. Furthermore, oil and gas reserves of North Africa and the Middle East on the long run will end some day, hence the region could not rely forever on imported food. A new strategic approach is needed to promote sustainable use of limited land and water use for crop production as well as exploring better the high potential for renewable energy production. The symposium is inviting papers dealing with SLM, water use efficiency, desertification mapping, soil conservation techniques such as no-till, minimum tillage, conservation agriculture, climate change mitigation and adaptation, development of new drought and salinity resistant cultivars, integrated coastal zone management, land use planing, and land degradation monitoring systems.

Urban Soils – What is the soil information we can provide for new trends of demands on environment and ecosystem services from European cities?

Convener
Jean Louis Morel 

One of the essential features of urban areas is their rapid and permanent change due to the fact that they are the primary location of implementation of new technological innovations, strong demographic growth and decline of regions, social progress and tensions. New visions occur like green cities, smart cities (networking, intelligent cities, ITC- technologies), knowledge based cities, ‘liveable’ and resilient or creative cities (by art connected). All trends of city development address the natural resources in urban areas. The question is which role soil can play and which soil information is available or must be elaborated for this task. This concerns also specific investigation methods for urban soils.

Concerns should be antipodes such as urban sprawling, and new urbanism, which follow the idea of densified cities. Both concepts need soils. Designation and protection of good soils must be a primary concern. We have to ask for transformation of many soils in soils of higher quality, also of soils with technological imprints, for better use of soil volume of deeper soil layers, but also for soils underneath sealed areas, and such over solid constructions or covering walls.

There are many urban fields of soil research for which we must develop the knowledge base and for which we must find ways to be part of public activities. We should have our focus on soil sealing, small open land patches, urban green and gardening, roof top planting, biodiversity, reforestation, storm water infiltration, ground water renewal and protection, the enormous and diverse health and nutrition effects of soils, and contributions for diverse population groups, at least also the integration of diverse immigrants and their soil perceptions. Finally, there are many links of soils to art, and soils should become a part of movement of creative cities.
We expect many encouraging contribution for the benefit of European cites and their soils.

Use of Animal Residues as Organic Fertilizers and Amendments

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Angel Faz 
M. Angeles Munoz
J.A. Acosta
Raul Zornoza

Wastes and by-products, which are residual from strockbreeding processes, have beneficial properties when added to soil. When correctly applied, animal residues can restore soil quality, by balancing pH, increasing soil organic matter, enlarging carbon reservoirs, increasing porosity, soil aggregation and water retention capacity, improving fertility and stimulating microbial communities. Thus, amelioration of soil conditions enables vegetation development, increasing productivity. Optimization of animal residues applications to soil to specifically increase soil fertility and restore soil functioning in degraded areas, focusing on their benefits, limitations and drawbacks will be very welcome. New technologies and the challenges to be implemented will be particularly taken into account. We especially encourage multi-disciplinary contributions that integrate soil knowledge with management practices associated with agriculture, forestry, recreational, resource-extraction (e.g., mining) and wildlife practices in any environment.

Keywords: fertility, soil quality, amendment, management practices

Use of Green Technologies for Soil Remediation

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Raul Zornoza 
Rocio Millán
Petra Kidd

Green technologies are a gentle remediation solution for contaminated soil treatments. This environmental friendly technique includes phyto-technologies and bioremediation. Both strategies can be applied independently, combined, or together with other physical and chemical strategies to improve their efficiency. In soil contaminated by organic compounds, plants could provide the optimal conditions for microbes growth and activity, selected degraders of the target contaminants. Regarding heavy metals and metalloids contamination, the efficiency of plants could be enhanced by the action of microorganism in their rhizosophere, by mobilization of contaminants and facilitation of root uptake. This symposium is open to all presentations focused on the application of green technologies to reclaim contaminated soils, showing new challenges for optimization and advances to improve their efficiency, including the selection of the most suitable species regarding soil conditions and contaminants, combination of different techniques, soil management practices to enhance reclamation, studies on physiological plant advances; implementation of omics techniques, rhizosphere studies, the role of the endophyte microorganisms, or pathways of contaminants degradation and mobilization.

Keywords: Microorganisms, soil degradation, physical and chemical technologies, rhizosphere, soil contaminants, remediation

Watershed Management- A Tool For Soil Conservation

Conveners & Co-Conveners
Alaattin Yüksel
Bayram Hopur

Basin management aims at ensuring the sustainability of hydrological services in a geographically divided drainage area, integrated protection and use of land/soil, vegetation, water and other natural resources in the interests of habitants in that area and sub-basin areas, and thus contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.

One of the most important problems of basins in Turkey is the destruction of pastures, agricultural and forest areas and resources due to overgrazing for many years, and the resulting soil erosion that is observed at very large scales and very extensively in almost all basin areas. Also, incorrect soil cultivation and irrigation applications in agricultural lands are among the factors aggravating the severity of erosion.

Turkey has prepared the National Basin Management Strategy that aims to provide guidance for the long-term decisions and investment programs regarding the protection, improvement and sustainable use of the natural resources in watersheds; and lead the way for the efforts to be undertaken to adequately and sustainably meet the needs and expectations of our society regarding the ecological, economic and social benefits and services of basins.

Presenters are invited to explain how they use watershed management strategies/implementations on soil conservation. They may give information about watershed management approaches that has been used in their countries. Or they may give specific examples from different watershed projects implemented in highly degraded land.

 

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POSTER PRESENTATION TOPICS

  • Environmental Pollution
    Convener: Dilek Atasoy
  • Forensic Soil Science
    Convener: Murat Mert
  • Forest Soils
    Convener: Doğanay Tolunay
  • Geostatistics
    Convener: Taşkın Öztaş
  • Land Management
    Convener: Emrah Erdoğan
  • Remote Sensing
    Convener: İlhami Bayramin 
  • Soil Biology
    Convener: İbrahim Ortaş 
  • Soil Chemistry
    Convener: Sonay Sözüdoğruok 
    Convener: Metin Turan 
  • Soil Conservation, Land Degradation, Desertification
    Convener: Taşkın Öztaş 
    Convener: Günay Erpul 
  • Soil Management
    Convener: Yasemin Kavdir 
  • Soil Mineralogy, Soil Genesis
    Convener: Hikmet Günal 
  • Soil Physics
    Convener: Mehmet Aydın 
    Convener: Coşkun Gülser 
  • Soil Productivity, Plant Nutrition, Fertilization
    Convener: Hayriye İbrikçi 
    Convener: Dilek Anaç 
  • Soil Survey and Mapping
    Convener: Yusuf Kurucu 

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