The Development of Soil Science in Piedmont

Several institutions focus on soil in Piedmont, from the university and research centers investigating soil properties and mechanisms, to regional agencies providing dissemination and technical services. Starting from the late ‘60s of the twentieth century soil scientists have developed new knowledge about soil layer silicates, iron oxides, as well as soil organic matter and heavy metals, linking them to soil development and the building up of soil chemical fertility. The research topics are still studied, as new knowledge is still needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and avoid losses of a non-renewable resource. On the other hand, regional services, after a more traditional dissemination phase involving map production on paper in the ‘80s, have now established interactive databases, taking full advantage of GIS systems and covering many aspects of soil information that are therefore accessible to a wide public.