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cssssoils.bsky.social
Canadian Society of Soil Science
@cssssoils.bsky.social
130 followers 18 following 55 posts
We are dedicated to starting conversations about #Soil, #agriculture, #SoilScience and supporting a Canadian community of experts and enthusiasts. Website: csss.ca
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cssssoils.bsky.social
Land reclamation is a requirement of companies seeking to alter the landscape for natural resource operations and/or land use changes. This photo shows a restored mining operation. Learn more about soil reclamation in this #GroundedInSoils blog: wp.me/pclOv9-cP
An area of land that was reclaimed after mining. The land is now covered with grassy vegetation and some shrubs.
November 9, 2025 at 7:35 PM
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Soil can capture & retain water for a substantial amount of time, depending on the type of soil particles present. By storing water, soil supports plant & soil microbe health and growth. Learn more about how soil holds water in this #GroundedInSoils blog: wp.me/pclOv9-xV
A hand wearing a yellow gardening glove on top of soil. Nearby is a packet of seeds.
November 8, 2025 at 12:33 AM
cssssoils.bsky.social
Controlled traffic farming is an approach to address soil compaction. Controlled traffic farming limits where all field equipment is driven. This method reduces soil compaction and improves soil health. Read our #GroundedInSoils blog: wp.me/pclOv9-cn
Graphic of two farm fields. One has controlled traffic, with wheel marks in parallel lines. The other shows random traffic where lines vary.
October 29, 2025 at 10:53 PM
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The goal of soil health management is to minimize threats to #soil health that result in soil degradation. This #GroundedInSoils blog covers reducing soil compaction - including using root vegetables! More: wp.me/pclOv9-cc
A diagram that compares soil that has a carrot growing in it, which loosens the soil in a process called biodrilling. Crops that follow biodrilling plants have better root growth.
October 19, 2025 at 6:06 PM
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Soil is a complex three-phase system, comprised of solids, liquids, and gases. This area of soil science study is called soil physics. Learn about this important area of study in this new #GroundedInSoils blog post: wp.me/pclOv9-xc
Pie chart showing soil is a three-phase system; solid, liquid and gas. The proportion of each phase may vary, but ideally, it consists of 50% solid, 25% liquid, and 25% gas. © Asim Biswas, Univ. of Guelph is licensed under a CC BY (Attribution) license. ALT a pie chart showing the % phase of soil as outlined in the caption.
October 4, 2025 at 5:33 PM
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Keith Reid is a soil scientist working toward the sustainable management of soil resources. Learn about why he became a soil scientist and what he likes about soil in this new #GroundedInSoil blog post: wp.me/pclOv9-xL
Keith Reid giving a demonstration in a soil pit located in southern Ontario, discussing the impacts of the differences in properties in different soil horizons and the potential impacts on crop growth. Description: A man in a white hat and green shirt stands in a soil pit. He is holding some soil and speaking to an audience. A water bottle and tools are behind him.
September 21, 2025 at 7:25 PM
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No single measurement quantifies #soil health. Soil scientists infer the health of a soil from a multitude of soil attributes, processes, and contexts. Tend to the soils with care to ensure that soils’ role in providing #ecosystem services will continue. wp.me/pclOv9-bT
Schematic path of identifying a soil threat, measuring various soil health indicators, and implementing the 6Cs of soil health management that restore soil health and simultaneously enhance various ecosystem services. Adapted from the Soil Health Institute by Laura Van Eerd. © Soil Health Institute is licensed under a CC BY (Attribution) license.
September 21, 2025 at 1:08 AM
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You may have heard that #soil can have salts in it. Does this mean table salt? Not really. There are many types of salts that build up in the soil – which can be a bad thing. Learn more about soil salinization in this #GroundedInSoils blog post: wp.me/pclOv9-x5
White patches on top of reddish soil with dried grasses in the background
September 7, 2025 at 7:22 PM
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Individuals can improve the organic matter of the soil in their own yard (or workplace!) by adapting the best practices of farmers. Learn more in this #GroundedInSoils blog post: wp.me/pclOv9-wZ
Individuals can improve the organic matter of the soil in their own yard (or workplace!) by adapting the best practices of farmers. Learn more in this #GroundedInSoils blog post: https://wp.me/pclOv9-wZ
August 24, 2025 at 7:21 PM
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Though we typically refer to Alberta, Saskatchewan, & Manitoba as the Prairie Provinces, the true #prairies generally occupy only their southern portions. Shown: Chernozemic & Luvisolic great groups found in the Prairie Provinces. Read about their interesting #soils here: wp.me/pclOv9-bJ
Examples of major soils of the Chernozemic and Luvisolic great groups found in the Prairie Provinces. Soils of the Chernozemic order have organically enriched A horizons (Ah) overlying decalcified and slightly reddened Bm horizons. The upper C horizon has concentrated secondary calcium carbonate (Cca) overlying largely unaltered parent material (Ck) with lower calcium carbonate contents. The Dark Gray Chernozem is transitional to the Gray Luvisolic soils and has an A horizon with both organic accumulation and bleaching (Ahe horizon). The forested Gray Luvisols have a leaf litter layer (LFH) on top of the mineral soil horizons. The uppermost bleached Ae horizon overlies a B horizon with higher clay levels than the Ae (Bt horizon). © “Brown, Dark Brown, Dark Gray Chernozem: Saskatchewan Center of Soil Research; Black Chernozem: Roly St. Arnaud (Saskatchewan Center of Soil Research); Dark Gray Luvisol: Kent Watson (Saskatchewan Center of Soil Research)” is licensed under a CC BY (Attribution) license.
August 17, 2025 at 3:10 PM
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Scientists are working with farmers and others to find ways to increase the soil organic matter on their farms. Leaving plant litter, reducing tillage, and using cover crops are a few methods being used. Learn more in this #GroundedInSoils blog post: wp.me/pclOv9-wZ
Snow-covered former corn field. The lower part of the stalks - stubble - about 8 inches tall, is in rows sticking up from the snow.
August 2, 2025 at 9:25 PM
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Soil organic matter is a complex mixture of plant, animal, or microbial-derived residues at various stages of decomposition. Plants and microbial communities are usually the biggest contributors to #soil organic matter. Learn more in this blog post: wp.me/pclOv9-wQ
On the bottom edge of the photo, leaf litter on top of a compost pile. Mid-range, steam rising from the compost pile. Background, blurry trees
July 27, 2025 at 2:25 PM
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What is soil organic matter? #Soil organic matter consists of both living and non-living organisms and their components. Learn more in this #GroundedInSoils blog post: wp.me/pclOv9-wQ
Major sources of inputs that form soil organic matter. The types and quantities of inputs vary with different ecosystems and land management practices. © Myrna Simpson. Figure created with BioRender (www.biorender.com). ALT infographic showing the major sources of soil organic matter: leaves, needles and wood; bacteria & fungi; arthropods & earthworms; roots (coarse and fine)
July 6, 2025 at 3:46 PM
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Charitha Hansima studied the environmental fate of veterinary antibiotics for her Masters degree. This work led her to the soil science community, and she started to see “the environment” through the lens of soil. Learn more: wp.me/pclOv9-xo
Lab equipment set up for testing. Several water bottles, a stainless bowl with a tube dripping into it and a basin below to collect overflow.
June 26, 2025 at 5:58 PM
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How have humans influenced #soil development? Activities like agriculture and logging disrupted the natural processes of soil development that were in place before the settlers arrived in Canada. Learn more in this #GroundedInSoils blog post: wp.me/pclOv9-wI
A large hill with a gully - hole - in the middle of it, where soil has eroded. On each side is green grassy material
June 19, 2025 at 10:19 PM
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A research team at the Natural Resources CA, CAForest Service, Northern Forestry Centre, Edmonton, AB, recently published results of a study using native #wetland species to reclaim treated fluid fine tailings. Read more in this #GroundedInSoils blog post: wp.me/pclOv9-eQ
Image description: Graphic showing cylinders of soil with two types of tailings tested in a recent study. Each column shows: (1) the type of native plant community tested (woody fen or graminoid fen on right, graminoid fen on left), (2) the capping material (peat mineral mix or a mixture of peat mineral mix and till), and (3) depth used for the tailings tested in the study (ranging from 0cm to 85cm). Infographic by Fuse Consulting LTD.
June 2, 2025 at 2:46 PM
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Early bird registration prices end this Saturday, May 31st! Make sure to register to get your discount! "Soils for our Future - A Gathering of Global to Local Perspectives" will be held in Winnipeg, Canada, from July 20-25, 2025.

Sign up for amazing tours and workshops!

soilsforourfuture.ca
May 29, 2025 at 11:45 PM
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Charitha Hansima is earning her PhD in soil science at the University of Manitoba. Her research is especially relevant for Prairie agroecosystems, where sustainable management of soils is key. Learn more in this #GroundedInSoils blog post: wp.me/pclOv9-xo
Person with shoulder length dark hair wearing a jacket, pants and boots, stands in a field. A blue sky is next to them.
May 18, 2025 at 12:59 PM
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Soils are now recognized as the most biodiverse habitat on Earth. Some biota in the soil can be seen, like ants and earthworms. Others can only be seen using a microscope. Learn more in this GroundedInSoils blog: bit.ly/3gzuiuH
May 4, 2025 at 12:20 PM
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Transformations of mineral and organic materials within the soil are very important for both soil creation and for plant nutrition. This is an important step in soil health. Learn more about soil formation in this blog post: wp.me/pclOv9-wdR
Large rock with thick moss growing on it
April 30, 2025 at 6:14 PM
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Happy Earth Day! The 4R nutrient stewardship approach is a decision-making framework that guides farms in selecting the four ‘right’ actions related to fertilizer use. 4R optimizes nutrient acquisition by the crop. Read more: wp.me/pclOv9-9V
Man driving a tractor in a field
April 22, 2025 at 2:41 PM
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Congratulations to Charitha Hansima, U of Manitoba, who earned the Steve Pawluk Scholarship Award! Charitha is a PhD candidate with Dr Inoka Amarakoon investigating soil-based carbon sequestration mechanisms in Canadian Prairie agroecosystems.
Photo of woman in lab coat sitting on a stool in front of a lab bench.
April 3, 2025 at 3:41 PM
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Only a few areas of Canada were not glaciated, and the soils of these unglaciated regions reflect soil formation over much longer time periods than most Canadian soils, which affected Canadian soil formation. Read more here: wp.me/pclOv9-w6
A soil pit showing different colors and layers of soil - Yukon paleosol. The lower glacial outwash deposits have a clay-rich, reddish soil horizon indicating a long period of soil formation and soil weathering. The upper wind-blown loess deposit is much younger and is less weathered. The sand wedge into the outwash deposit is evidence of a period of intensive frost action that affected the lower soil layer. Photo courtesy of Paul Sanborn. © Paul Sanborn, UNBC; licensed under a CC BY (Attribution) license.
March 30, 2025 at 7:55 PM
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Some plants can get #nitrogen from the air. Others rely on biological processes in the #soil to free up nitrogen from #organic matter and manure. In managed systems like farms, plants may need #fertilizer to meet their nitrogen needs. wp.me/pclOv9-9L
Simplified version of the soil nitrogen cycle. Nitrogen is used by plants for many processes. Some plants can get their nitrogen from the air. Others rely on biological processes in the soil to free up nitrogen from organic matter and manure. In managed systems like farms, plants may need fertilizer to meet their nitrogen needs. © Joann Whalen, licensed under a CC BY (Attribution) license.
March 21, 2025 at 9:16 PM
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Plants acquire most of their essential nutrients ions from the soil pore water, a dynamic environment. In agriculture, much effort is made to understand the soil nutrient supply. Our #GroundedInSoil blog explains: wp.me/pclOv9-9n
soil showing a mass of plant roots. green shoots come out of the top
March 16, 2025 at 1:33 PM