Soil Geomorphology, Soil Systems, and Seeing Beyond the Hilltop - Perspectives and the Soil Geomorphology Institute (SGI).

Soil Systems provide a functional and coherent integration of geomorphology, stratigraphy, hydrology, pedology, and ecology.  Originally emphasizing conceptual soil geographic relationships, the application of Soil Systems has evolved to incorporate quantitative processes and assessments that can credibly extend point measurements to broader areal basis.  Furthermore, effective soil landscape models link geomorphic and pedologic processes to soil patterns and properties both spatially and temporally. This is a critical bridge for soil studies across multiple scales (microscopic, pedon, hillslope, regional, continental), and can address dynamic soil behavior relevant to a diverse range of users. Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) approaches can be sophisticated quantitative methods to define soil patterns.  To be accurate, DSM models are critically dependent on capturing the complex relationships between geomorphic and pedologic processes and relationships that exist in soil landscape models. The USDA-NRCS’s Soil Geomorphology Institute (SGI) provides in-depth training for experienced field scientists in which participants use a combination of Soil System relationships, Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing technologies culminating in developing soil systems for diverse settings. The goal of this presentation is to share the core concepts of Soil Systems and applications including examples developed from the SGI.