Though we may not recognise it on a daily basis, standards are important for all of us. They help us work together, to measure progress, and to ensure quality and fairness.

Multi-element soil extractions, like Mehlich 3, gained popularity in recent years. Mehlich 3 (M3) is a cost-effective method as it extracts macronutrients, including phosphorus and potassium, as well as micronutrients from soil samples. Availability of M3 data presents challenges for the use of soil and crop models that are calibrated based on different soil tests.

There are different ways to evaluate map accuracy, and ISRIC pedometrician and senior researcher Gerard Heuvelink recently gave a talk on what he considers to be the gold standard of soil map accuracy assessments: design-based probability sampling.

Soil spectroscopy is a rapidly growing field of research used to measure soil properties and generate soil data. Along with the increased use of soil spectroscopy, sound and standardised procedures are needed for soil spectral measurements, analysis, storage, exchange and prediction of soil properties.

This Sunday, September 12, the World Soil Museum is open for tours as part of Open Monumentendag, a celebration of cultural heritage across the Netherlands and Europe.

Come enjoy this special opportunity to see more than 100 soils from around the world and hear stories from a guide relating the importance and diversity of soil.

On Sunday, guided tours begin at 1:00 PM, 1:45 PM, 2:30 PM, 3:15 PM and 4:00 PM. There is a maximum 10 visitors per tour and face masks are mandatory.

Two articles co-authored by ISRIC – World Soil Information scientists were recently selected for the European Journal of Soil Science Editor’s Choice 2021 list. The articles address important and timely digital soil mapping topics related to machine learning:

We were saddened to hear of the passing of our former colleague, Mr Wout Bomer. While at ISRIC (1979 – 2010), he worked with great dedication in various capacities providing support with respect to documenting our soil monolith collection, digitization of the slide collection, as well as being our graphic designer and photographer. Wout also ensured that records documenting ISRIC events were properly archived, thereby preserving the institutional ‘memory’ of our institute.

At the June board meeting, ISRIC – World Soil Information’s leadership and managing board had a bittersweet moment congratulating Machteld Roos and also bidding her farewell from the ISRIC – World Soil Information managing board. Machteld has been a valuable member of the managing board for four years.