The term “pedology” is the kind of word that makes eyes glaze over.  In my first soils course, I couldn’t wait to be done with the unit.  It was full of dry and confusing terms like “eluviation” and “illuviation”.  Seriously, who does that?  Years later though, I’ve come full circle.  As much as I might want to focus on management, on nutrient balances and aggregate stability, I’ve found that without an understanding of how soil is formed, I’m always left asking why?

Pedology essentially seeks to understand the story of soil, a story that is full of hidden tales from the past.  Like the myrid of creation myths and the fervour that Charles Darwin caused with his theory of evolution, pedology seeks to answer a vital question: how did things come to be the way they are? Buried beneath surface horizons lay intricate structures, along with the occasional human artifact.  This realm has the richness of an archaeological dig site, indicating histories of fire and flood, climate change and civilization.  The challenge is that pedologists must piece together stories through triangulation, though advanced laboratory methods are increasing their accuracy.  They layer chemical processes on physical properties and account for biological interactions, all the while remembering the unfaltering effect of time.  Like evolution, pedology speaks to both ancient history as well as future potential.

Now is the time to study the soil, transcribe the hidden stories, before they are lost to the sands of time, or anthropogenic changes to the land.  Climate change will shift the development of soils through altered temperature and precipitation regimes.  Vast swathes of soil are being turned over to access the essence of dinosaurs that fuel our lifestyle.  Pedology is where the study of soil began, and I believe its story is not yet complete.  Here’s how you can learn more:

1. Access free resources from the SoilWeb Soil Classification Virtual Learning Resources
2. Take an Introductory Soil Science Course at your university or go into more detail:
3. UNBC FSTY 425 Soil Formation and Classification – Syllabus
4. UVIC GEOG 379 Pedology
5. Have fun getting your hands dirty on a PRSSS Summer Soil Identification Trip