Soil Archive

Background

“I strongly believe that health of soil, plants, animals, people and ecosystems are one and indivisible” --- Rattan Lal, Soils Rock Star, 2018

“Each soil has had its own history. Like a river, a mountain, a forest, or any natural thing, its present condition is due to the influences of many things and events of the past.” --- Charles Kellogg, The Soils That Support Us, 1956

The importance of soil archives cannot be overemphasized (Ayres 2019, Soil Science Society of America Journal ). Soil is a physical record of history and reflects, not only of its quality, but the status of the whole ecosystem itself over time. The LTE Soil Archive have been collecting soil samples from different experiments for the past 37 years (est.1983). Most of these soil samples have been analyzed using the methods available in different years and can be correlated with various parameters along the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. This valuable resource offers a wealth of information and a collaboration platform which can contribute in addressing research questions on ecosystem sustainability, productivity, and health.

Purpose

  1. Record a historical account of the changes that occurred in IRRI's long- and medium-term experiments and provide means to explain how things evolved in these ecosystems.

  2. Provide a physical evidence for the different treatments implemented in IRRI's medium to long term experiments, which gives researchers the chance to step back in time and explore new scientific dimensions using contemporary methodologies.

  3. Proactively provide means for researchers to confirm their hypotheses on scientific ideas, which are manifested in slow-changing components of the soil.