Soil Science Society of America

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The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), is a scientific and professional society of soil scientists, principally in the U.S. but with a large number of non-U.S. members as well. It was formed in 1936 from the merger of the Soils Section of the American Society of Agronomy and the American Soil Survey Association.

The mission of the Society is: "1) to enhance the sustainability of soils, the environment, and society by integrating diverse scientific disciplines and principles in soil science for the wise stewardship of soil and natural resources, and 2) to advance the discovery, practice, and profession of soil science through excellence in the acquisition and application of knowledge to address challenges facing society, in the training and professional development of soil scientists, and in the education of, and communication to a diverse citizenry." [1]

The SSSA is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin (USA) and publishes (with the American Society of Agronomy) a number of scientific journals, among them: 'Soil Science Society of America Journal', 'Journal of Environmental Quality', 'Vadose Zone', and 'Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education', and books on subjects such as soil testing, carbon sequestration, chemical equilibrium modeling, etc. The SSSA holds annual meetings attended by thousands of its members. The SSSA is a member of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Coalition and the American Geological Institute (AGI), a federation of 44 geoscience societies. It is a member of the International Union of Soil Sciences, a union of 86 national and regional soil science societies.