-- Soil Judging International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) --
Soil judging taught me to apply classroom knowledge to real-world soil profiles, enhancing my understanding of environmental management.
Participating in international contests opened my eyes to global soil diversity and fostered valuable networking opportunities.
These events are crucial for advancing soil science education and promoting sustainable land use worldwide.
The hands-on experience in soil morphology has led to 100% employment rates for our graduates in soil-related fields.
Competing internationally honed my skills in soil classification and interpretation, preparing me for a career in conservation.
@ Nanjing, China 2026
IUSS Handbook (in development)
Score cards (in development)
Contest Rules & Regulations (in development)
Download link (in development)The simplified versions of WRB and Soil Taxonomy
aim to facilitate the students to understand and
apply soil classification concepts effectively
Manuals providing standardized procedures for describing soil profiles
Soil Taxonomy: NRCS Field Book WRB: Annex 1 of the WRB Manual (p.159)A Basic System of Soil Classification for Making and Interpreting Soil Surveys
ST pdf link Soil Taxonomy PageExplore various training resources and techniques.
Soil Judging Training VideosInternational Soil Judging past contests materials: Handbooks, scorecards
MaterialsJoin international soil judging events organized by IUSS. Check upcoming events and contact organizers for registration details.
IUSS membership provides access to global soil science resources, events, and networking. Visit iuss.org for membership info.
4th International Soil Judging Contest
Near Stirling, Scotland, as part of the 22nd World Congress of Soil Science.
3rd International Soil Judging Contest
Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as part of the 21st World Congress of Soil Science.
2nd International Soil Judging Contest
Gödöllő, Hungary, as part of the International Year of Soils.
1st International Soil Judging Contest
Jeju Island, South Korea, as part of the 20th World Congress of Soil Science.
Start of Land Judging through Future Farmers of America (FFA)
Precursor program limited to high school students (grades 9-12), focused on basic soil and land use evaluation, run by a separate entity from SSSA.
Learn More →First Regional U.S. Soil Judging Contests
Emergence of local and regional competitions for detailed soil profile analysis, extending land judging to advanced educational contexts in universities and agricultural associations.
Learn More →First U.S. National Soil Judging Contest in Lexington, Kentucky
Established by SSSA and ASA for hands-on experience for college students, evaluating soil horizons, classification, and land use; held annually since, except virtual in 2020 due to pandemic.
Learn More →Publication on Early Development of Soil Judging Contests
Documents pedagogical evolution of regional and national contests in the 1960s-1970s, emphasizing training in soil science and conservation.
Learn More →First Year of Team Judging at U.S. National Level
Introduces group competition format in the National Collegiate Soil Judging Contest, promoting teamwork for soil analysis in real agricultural and environmental contexts.
Learn More →First International Soil Judging Contest
U.S. national winners compete globally at the World Congress of Soil Science, expanding scope for comparing methodologies and international soils; U.S. wins in later editions like 2022.
Learn More →Ongoing Soil Judging Competitions Worldwide
Held locally and regionally in multiple countries, often tied to the World Congress of Soil Science; e.g., U.S. hosts annual nationals with 25+ teams, while international events like the 2022 Glasgow contest feature global participation for skill-building in soil evaluation and conservation.
Learn More →Co-chairs
Peter Schad
John Galbraith
Members
Chris Baxter, Erika Michéli, Andrew Sherfy, Márta Fuchs, Jaclyn Fiola, Richard Heck
Co-chairs
Brian Needelman
Erika Michéli
Members
Márta Fuchs, Peter Schad, Amber Anderson, Fabricio Pedron, Daniel Saurette, John Galbraith, Rosa Poch
Co-chairs
Yuri Gelsleichter
Caleb Ocansey
Members
Jaclyn Fiola, Jorge Mataix Solera, Daniel Saurette, Fei Yang
Co-chairs
John Galbraith
Fei Yang
Members
Biao Huang, Ganlin Zhang, Brian Needelman, Daniel Saurette