EUROSOIL 2012

S1.1.

Title: Soils and paleosols: what can they tell us about (palaeo-)climates and time-spans of geomorphologically stable conditions?
Convener: Sauer Daniela - Hohenheim University - Germany
Co-Convener: Scarciglia Fabio - University of Calabria - Italy

Paleosols indicate periods of geomorphological stability, whereas sediment layers between paleosols indicate dynamic phases in the landscape history. In addition, types of paleosols, their morphological, chemical and mineralogical properties, and biological objects (phytoliths, molluscs, charcoal, stable chemical vegetation remains etc.) serve as valuable indicators of climatic conditions and vegetation cover during the period in which the paleosol developed.When we analyzed a paleosol-sediment sequence and, based on our observations and data, are trying to reconstruct the landscape history, it is essential that we find the best possible answers to the questions:
1. How much time is required to produce such stages of soil development that we see in our sequence?
2. What are the climatic and environmental implications of the morphological features and chemical, mineralogical, biological and other characteristics that we have detected in our paleosols?
This symposium aims on contributing to the necessary continuous improvement of the base of interpretation of paleosols in terms of time-spans and environmental conditions reflected in paleosols. Thus, papers presenting soils and paleosols that 1. experienced a known time-span of soil formation or 2. exhibit features representing reliable indicators of specific climatic and environmental conditions, are particularly welcome.

S1.2.

Title: Terrestrial archives for palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic reconstruction
Convener: Zaccone Claudio - University of Foggia - Italy
Co-Conveners: Barbante Carlo - University of Venezia - Italy
Bragazza Luca - University of Ferrara - Italy

Terrestrial archives such as lake and peat deposits, speleothems, and ice-cores have been often used as records of natural and anthropogenic-induced changes in the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and anthropogenic inputs on different temporal and spatial scales. In detail, when organic molecules and/or inorganic dusts deposit into soils or sediments, they can serve as proxies for reconstructing palaeo-vegetation and -climate and/or human impact at the time of deposition, although some processes (e.g., decay, humification, vertical migrations) may affect the “reliability” of such archives.The present session will be devoted to the use of multi-proxy studies of past environmental changes as recorded by continental archives on annual, decadal, centennial and millennial time-scales, as well as to the understanding of processes and mechanisms governing the fate of such proxies. Relevant topics will include: (i) reconstructions of vegetation and climate of the past through the integrated analysis of different terrestrial archives; (ii) reconstructions of the human impact on the environment, in terms of organic and inorganic pollutant, land-use, fires, etc; (iii) influence of organic matter diagenesis, humification, and vertical migrations on the reliability of these records.  

S1.3.

Title: Polygenetic soils - rather normal than exceptional?
Convener: Makeev Alexander O. - Moscow State University - Russian Federation

This symposium focusses on the area, where interests of pedology and paleopedology fully coincide. A major part of European soils are polygenetic (relic soils or surface paleosols, according to Paleopedology Glossary, 1998). Their profiles have been influenced by former environments, and therefore polygenetic soils are important paleogeographic archives being rather a landscape memory than mirror. In many cases pedogenesis was also accompanied by additional sedimentation (soils on glacial and periglacial sediments, especially loess, tephra, slope sediments, river, lake and sea terraces, ancient weathering crusts, etc). For this reason soil profiles keep principal information on the final stages of sedimentation. Polygenetic soils are under-estimated in fundamental research (soil genesis, evolution, geography and classification are primarily based on monogenetic models) and practical applications (in land use, the relic pattern of a soilscape is often not recognized). And finally, relic features in soils often proof to be remarkably stable and we need to know how these features adapted to new environments or how they adjusted modern soil functions (e.g. moisture and temperature regimes). Papers, presenting data and views in a broad range of aspects, described above are welcome.

S1.4.

Title: Pedogenic processes in technosols
Convener: Quideau Sylvie - University of Alberta - Canada

Technosols, often referred to as urban or mine soils, have been recently recognized as a separate soil group in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB). They include soils reconstructed using human-made materials as well as materials brought to the Earth’s surface by human activity. This symposium will examine the early pedogenesis of these constructed soils that are entirely composed of technogenic parent materials.  Presentations may include discussion of the properties, functions, or classification issues related to Technosols, with a focus on the pedogenic processes at play in these young soils.  

S1.5.

Title: Wetland, floodplain, riparian soils: properties, processes and ecological functions
Convener: Luster Jörg - Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL - Switzerland
Co-Conveners: Guenat Claire - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne - Switzerland
Rinklebe Jörg - Bergische Universität Wuppertal - Germany

Past research has paid relatively little attention to soils in semi-terrestrial ecosystems when compared to terrestrial soils. Nevertheless, semi-terrestrial soils play important roles in ecosystem functions such as flood regulation, habitat provision, carbon sequestration, climate regulation, and as biofilters for nutrient loads from agriculture or for inorganic and organic contaminants. Important determining factors, e.g. whether soils act as positive or negative filter, are related to landscape position: i) the hydrological connectivity with ground- and surface water bodies, ii) level, frequency and duration of water saturation; iii) the related dynamics of redox conditions; iv) flooding related disturbance and sediment input; v) the input of organic carbon, nutrients, and pollutants.We would like to bring together soil scientists who study different ecological functions of these soils, including underlying processes, but also hydrologists who assess or model the flow of water and matter across the interface between soils and ground or surface water bodies. We particularly welcome studies that emphasize the role of landscape position and related factors outlined above, including issues of spatial and temporal heterogeneity or scaling. This interdisciplinary exchange may help to better understand the role of these soils and to valuate related ecosystem services. 

S1.6.

Title: Evolution and properties of paddy and wetland soils
Convener: Koegel-Knabner Ingrid -Technical University Muenchen - Germany
Co-Convener: Kalbitz Karsten - Instituut voor Biodiversiteit en Ecosysteem Dynamica - Netherlands

Wetland soils occur extensively throughout the world, making up about 10 % of the worlds land mass. Regardless of their geographic location, these soils show many common properties, as their development is strongly influenced by temporary or permanent water saturation. Redox potential oscillations have strong effects on long-term biogeochemical processes in these soils. They lead to a translocation of iron in various directions, and particularly change the crystallinity of iron oxides. Interactions between redox potential, pH, solubility of organic matter and its biodegradation and microbial communities play a decisive role for the biogeochemistry of wetland soils. Paddy soils make up the largest anthropogenic wetlands on earth. The formation of these Anthrosols is induced by tilling the wet soil (puddling), and the flooding and drainage regime associated with specific redoximorphic features. Paddy soils might thus be an ideal model system for redox-driven changes in soil development. We invite contributions to all aspects of mineral wetland and paddy soils, specifically those improving the quantitative and mechanistic understanding of the coupling of pedogenetic processes such as organic matter, N, and mineral transformations and fluxes and how they are regulated by redox potential, degree of soil development and microbial community structure and function. 

S1.7.

Title: Paddy soils – processes, modelling and management of soil, water and compound dynamics
Convener: Lennartz Bernd - University of Rostock - Germany
Co-Conveners: Janssen Manon - University of Rostock - Germany
Peng Xinhua - Chinese Academy of Sciences - China

Rice is the worldwide number 1 staple food and demand is constantly rising. Land area suitable for wet rice production, however, is limited, and water scarcity poses a serious problem in many rice producing regions. It is therefore inevitable to understand the highly dynamic soil-water-plant system of rice paddies. This session aims at bringing together experts and scientists from around the world to discuss the prevailing processes, modelling approaches and optimized management strategies in paddy landscapes. Important topics include the soil structure dynamic as resulting from intermittent irrigation cycles and their impact on water and compound losses, and water and soil management. Contributions on soil and rice plant (micro)biological processes known to play an important role in paddy rice systems are also welcome.  

S1.8.

Title: Soil in karst environments: its role in hydrology and functioning of karst systems
Convener: Parise Mario - CNR - Italy
Co-Conveners: Slabe Tadej - Karst Research Institute - Slovenia
Urushibara-Yoshino Kazuko - Hosei University - Japan
Veni George - National Cave and Karst Research Institute - USA

Karst represents a very peculiar environment which differs in several ways from other natural settings. Such peculiarity mostly derives by its hydrological features, characterized by minimal or absent surface flow and rapid groundwater recharge. While karst landscapes are often marked by rock outcrops, the presence of soils, even of limited thickness, is of extreme importance for the development of karst processes, the evolution of karst systems, and their survival. This session will explore the features of soils in karst, taking into particular consideration the epikarst, the upper portion of the vadose zone. The session is mainly devoted to the following issues:       
i)      type of soils in karst;       
ii)     hydrological function (water infiltration and recharge);       
iii)    presence of fauna and related safeguards;       
iv)    soil as geomorphogenetic factor; and       
v)    human impacts.As regards the last point, contributions dealing with the degradation of soils in karst (from contamination to mining, and other negative impacts of human activities such as erosion and desertification) are particularly encouraged. 

S1.9.

Title: Soil Research for European Cities
Convener: Burghardt Wolfgang - University Duisburg Essen - Germany
Co-Convener: Morel Jean-Louis - INPL - ENSAIA - Nancy - France

Today in Europe it is well recognized that in urban areas soils occur and contribute by their functions to the quality of urban life. There are particular demands to urban soils. The service to fulfill them will depend on specific properties, and amount and distribution of soils. They differ within and between European urban areas. For proper urban planning and supply of technologies for urban life focus of soil research will be on soil material, soil water household, and relationships to climate and urban green. Important aspects are also the role of availability and use of open space in strong sealed and contaminated areas for preventing overheating and fine dust formation, for urban gardening, bio-diversity, hygiene and entertainment, and their feedback effects on soils. The aim of the symposium is to present new results of the state and benefit of urban soil research in Europe. 

W1.1.

Title: Workshop on world atlas of organic soils in peatlands
Convener: Jones Arwyn - European Commission - Joint Research Centre Ispra - Italy
Co-Convener: Broll Gabriele - University of  Osnabrueck - Germany

While peatlands have been assessed from a wetlands, ecological and resource viewpoint, little has been done to describe them from a purely soil perspective, especially at global scale.  Recent focus on the role of soil as a carbon sink and store has tended to ignore the great differences in structure, composition, landscapes and genesis of organic soils from both a topographical and ecozone perspective.
Objectives: Current pressures on organic soils as a result of thawing permafrost in northern latitudes or draining of tropical peatlands for the cultivation of biofuels have marked implications for global carbon balances and the provision of environmental goods and services from soil. As a consequence, the European Commission is supporting an initiative to highlight the global significance of these soils through the production of a new global database on organic soils in peatlands and a related atlas-style publicationThis session will discuss current issues affecting organic soils.
 Presentations will be welcome on studies relating to the chemical, physical and biological characterisation and inventories of organic soils, harmonised definitions (classification), soil organic carbon flux assessments, ecosystem goods and services delivered by organic soils, pressures and threats from exploitation and climate change.