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The OSSS Flyer
The Oregon Society of Soil Scientists has a free flyer to distribute to anyone interested. Send email to osss@peak.org to request copies. The remainder of this page shows the contents of the flyer.
SOILS SUPPORT ALL LIFE
Soil is an essential natural resource and basic treasure. Soil produces food and fiber for all civilization. If properly cared for, soil will continue to sustain and nourish all of our Earth's inhabitants.
The concept of soil has many meanings. Its most common definition is the natural medium in which plants grow. Like skin, soil is a relatively thin layer, covering our planet's rocky core. Soil is a living, dynamic system at the boundary between bedrock and the atmosphere.
Though Oregon's soil mantle is not uniform, all soils share several common features:
- every soil has four major components -- air, water, mineral particles, and organic matter
- every soil occupies space -- length, depth, and breadth
- every soil has a profile -- many layers or "horizons" over loose, weathered rock.
SOIL FORMATION FACTORS
Soil forms in response to forces of climate and plant and animal life that act on parent material in a specific place over a long period of time.
These five soil-forming factors shape the unique and dynamic character of a soil. As a result, thousands of different soils carpet the United States, and in Oregon alone hundreds of different soils cover its surface.
OREGON SOCIETY OF SOIL SCIENTISTS
Soil scientists are soil stewards who:
- analyze the physical, biological, and chemical properties of soil
- design sustainable soil management action plans
- develop environmental impact statements for multidisciplinary management projects
- implement son conservation, irrigation, and drainage measures
- evaluate soil capabilities and limitations.
In the State of Oregon, a non-profit organization known as the Oregon Society of Soil Scientists represents soil science professionals.
OSSS MISSION
The Oregon Society of Soil Scientists strives to:
- advance the knowledge of soil science
- promote public awareness of the soil resource and OSSS services
- promote high standards of professional development continuous learning, and quality service
- encourage member certification in ARCPACS (American Registry of Certified Professionals in Agronomy, Crops, and Soils.
OSSS SERVICES
OSSS members provide a wide variety of services:
- on-site evaluations
- soil fertility appraisal
- project siting
- on-site waste disposal
- resource inventories
- land, water, and vegetation surveys
- soil erosion, compaction and degradation
- land use surveys
- planning
- irrigation, drainage and reclamation
- watershed and riparian area protection
- regional, county, municipal plans
- research, education and training
- soil-plant-water relationships
- soil analysis and testing
- soil chemistry, physics, ecology
- publications, workshops and conferences.
MEMBERSHIP and ACTIVITIES
The Oregon Society of Soil Scientists offers membership to soil scientists and related natural resource professionals committed to stewardship of soil resources. (Membership Application)
Soil scientists work in business and industry, government agencies, universities, agricultural and forestry extension, and as private consultants. In Oregon, soil scientists work in many types of organizations, including:
- State Departments of Minerals and Industries, Forestry, Water Resources, Environmental Quality, and Economic Development
- US Bureau of Land Management
- Universities and other OSSHE Institutions
- US Forest Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Native American Tribes, Bands, and Nations
- US Environmental Protection Agency
- OSU Agricultural and Forestry Extension
- US Soil Conservation Service
- Businesses and independent consultants involved in agriculture, forestry, waste utilization, microbiology, surveying and mapping, land information systems, horticulture, specialty crops, land use planning, hydrology, environmental training, ecological engineering, riparian areas wetlands, arboriculture, and remote sensing.
The Society encourages individuals and organizations to join and actively participate in the conservation and management of the soil resource, our most precious life support system.
General Soil Map of Oregon
