By Doug Graves

Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Roughly 140 students from 21 colleges and universities from across the nation converged in Ohio last month to compete in the National Soil Judging Contest, which was hosted by The Ohio State University.

This contest is a two-day team and individual competition where students compare their soil knowledge with each other and local experts. Students identify, evaluate, classify and describe soil profiles endemic to the area. The tri-societies (the American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America and the Soil Science Society of America) oversee the event, which rotates annually across different college campuses.

While chilly and wet weather kept Ohio farmers from getting into their fields, the poor conditions didn’t stop these collegians from entering muddy pits and testing their soil skills.

“Hand texturing soils when you can barely feel your hands is tough,” said North Carolina State soil judging team member Jacob Cheers. “Day one was in the low 30s with 20 miles per hour winds. The soil pits had six to eight inches of standing water. Our feet were freezing and we had to go to the van almost every hour to warm up.”

This competition took place at five separate sites (three individually judged sites and two team-judged sites). The event took place at farms in two Ohio counties. At each site, a pit was excavated roughly 200 cm deep.

Contestants were allowed 60 minutes to judge each individual site. Two members of each team described the left pit face and the other two team members described the right pit face. A pit monitor at each site enforced the rules, answered any questions, kept time limits, cleaned soil from the base of the pit as needed and ensured all contestants had an equal opportunity to judge the soil.

A soil judging contest such as this allows participants to describe soil properties, identify different kinds of soils and associated landscape features, and interpret soil information for agriculture and other land uses.

This year’s major contest interpretations included water holding capacity (for crop interpretation); soil carbon storage (for environmental interpretation); erosion risk; and building limitations for roads, houses and septic systems (for engineering interpretations) based on soil and site characteristics.

“By understanding more about soils and their management through activities like soil judging, we stand a better chance of conserving soil and other natural resources for future generations,” said Matthew Ricker, assistant professor of pedology and land use at North Carolina State University. “These contests are an enjoyable and valuable learning experience, giving students an opportunity to obtain a first-hand view of soils and land use outside their home areas.

“The students gain an appreciation for soil as a natural resource by learning about soils and their formation. We all depend on soil for growing plants, crops and range for livestock, building materials, replenishing water supplies and waste disposal. If we do not care for our soils, loss of productivity and environmental degradation will follow.”

Each year, soil judging at the collegiate level is first held at seven different regions in the nation. The top teams who compete in the fall then compete for the national title the following spring.

Collegiate soil judging originated in the southeastern United States in 1956. Only twice since that time has the event been altered or canceled. The 2020 event was canceled due to COVID and the 2021 competition was held virtually.

Ohio State competes in Region 3, which includes schools found in the upper Midwest.

“There are no restrictions who can participate, but the contest is normally attended by those in agriculture colleges,” said Dr. Brian Slater, professor at Ohio State’s School of Environment and Natural Resources. Slater has served as OSU’s soil judging coach the past 20 years.

“The teams all had three days of practice then headed out to the competition fields, which were held on private farms located in Champaign County and Union County here in Ohio,” Slater said.

Virginia Tech finished first overall with 2,464 points, North Carolina State was second with 2,334 points and Platteville was third with 2,331 points. Purdue University was 8th overall while Ohio State finished 20th in the 21-team field.

Competing for Purdue were Katie Parsons, Andrew Goebel, Nikira Lane and Emma Spurgeon. Ohio State members included Tee Trotter, Macie Mcpeak, Devyn Wilhelm and Marian Tolen.

Ricker said soil judging teaches hirable skills that are transferable to any career path in soil science.

“Many consultants and government hiring managers specifically look for soil judging on resumes,” he said. “The contest teaches students the ability to make quick determinations about soil morphology, genesis, classification and interpretations for land use. In many cases, students get to see soils they otherwise would never have the chance to see and to network with other soil programs from across the country.”

Next year’s event will be sponsored by Oklahoma State University.