The 5th International Soil Judging Contest will be held in Nanjing, China as an event prior to the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science. This unique event will showcase the diversity of soils and landscapes of the region, offering a significant training and networking opportunity to undergraduate and graduate students. 

Program 
The event will consist of three days of technical training followed by a one-day contest. The training will consist of lectures and practical field experiences, led by an international team of soil scientists. Local experts will introduce the landscape and soils of the competition area. Participants will apply their knowledge and practical skills to describe, understand, and interpret soil characteristics in the field. Participants (both in teams and individually) will describe a series of competition soil profiles using basic field tools, selected standards, and provided guidelines. The winners will be those who most accurately describe and classify each soil, assess its possible functions, and interpret its capacity to perform under different land uses and management practices. 

Background 
This event follows the successful International Soil Judging Contests held in Jeju, Korea (2014), Gödöllő, Hungary (2015), Seropédica, Brazil (2018), and Glasgow, Scotland (2022). 

Participation 
Up to 16 teams are expected to compete, totaling as many as 64 student participants with representation from every continent except Antarctica. 

Organization 
The contest is being organized by the Soil Science Society of China and the IUSS International Soil Judging Working Group. 

The registration deadline is December 25, 2025.

International Soil Judging Contest

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  • June 2 - 6, 2026
  • Nanjing,
    China