Event Date
Conference poster

We are pleased to announce that the next British Society of Soil Science Annual Conference will be a joint event with the Soil Science Society of Ireland and take place in Belfast on Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 December 2023.

Register for the conference HERE.

Venue: The Conference will be held at Assembly Buildings Conference Centre, Belfast, BT1 6DW

Abstract: The scientific committee have reviewed abstracts across five topics, linked to the conference theme, Soil Management and Monitoring:

  1. Nutrient Management
  2. Soil Carbon 
  3. Water Management and Quality 
  4. Technology and Innovation 
  5. Soil Health.

About the Conference: The British Society of Soil Science and the Soil Science Society of Ireland’s Joint Annual Conference 2023 will take place from Monday 4 – Tuesday 5 December in Belfast. The overall conference theme is Soil Management and Monitoring. The packed two-day event, set in the historic Assembly Buildings Conference Centre in the heart of Belfast, will provide delegates with a fantastic opportunity to see the latest research and developments within soil science.

Programme: The exciting and diverse programme will feature keynote speakers and experts across the 2 days. To see the full programme, click here

On Monday 4 December, representatives from all UK nations and Ireland will take part in our keynote policy session in the afternoon, which will provide an overview of the key activities being undertaken in each of the nations to monitor and manage soils at a governmental level.

In the advent of Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs soil sampling programme and the recent UK Parliamentary Soil Health Inquiry, the consideration of soil and soil management from governments has seen a recent positive surge.

On Tuesday 5 December (World Soil Day), the afternoon will feature oral and poster presentations. We are inviting abstract submissions for oral and poster presentations on: nutrient management, soil carbon, water management and quality, technology and innovation and soil health.

This is a pivotal time to hear from experts, practitioners and policy makers about the latest developments in soil monitoring and management and engage with fellow soil scientists and policymakers across related disciplines.

Tours: You can also choose to take part in a tour on Tuesday 5 December. Tuesday morning will provide an opportunity for delegates to visit field sites in Co Down, where the Northern Ireland Soil Nutrient Health Scheme combines whole-farm soil sampling with high resolution water quality monitoring to create tailored farm nutrient management plans and nutrient runoff risk maps for farmers across Northern Ireland. There will also be a cultural tour of Belfast, for those who want to explore the city.

Gala Dinner: There will also be a Gala Dinner in the evening on Monday 4 December which will be held at Crumlin Road Gaol. This will consist of a 4 course meal and entertainment from a professional Irish Dance Company, all set in one of the most historical buildings in Belfast, providing an authentic experience for the conference. There are limited number of places so book now to avoid missing out. To book your place, click here.

Sponsors: We are delighted to be working partnership with VisitBelfast in the delivery of the event, and would like to thank them for their continued support and expertise.

Tickets: There are various ticket types available, whether you are a Full Member, Early Career Member or Non-Member. There are 1-Day tickets available that provide entry to the conference on Monday 4 December only.

Early Bird ticket prices end on Tuesday 5 September

Related Organisations

Connected Content

Soil is an essential natural resource for all farmers. Over recent years many initiatives have sought to provide information and advice on soils and Soil Health, notably AHDB Great Soils. 

The intricate web of relationships between physical, chemical and biological soil components underpins crop and livestock health and productivity.

There is a lot of interest in soil carbon currently, due to the opportunity to store and sequester carbon in soil. It is also vital for soil health, forming part of soil organic matter.

The British Society of Soil Science (BSSS) is an established international membership organisation committed to the study of soil in its widest aspects. The society brings together those working within academia, practitioners implementing soil science in industry and all those working with, or with an interest in soils.

Good soil structure is vital for optimising water and nutrient use efficiency; and for sustaining profitable cropping systems. Poor soil structure and compaction can reduce yields, restrict access for field operations, increase fuel use and, for high value root and vegetable crops, increase reliance on irrigation. Where there are clear signs of soil compaction, cultivations to remove the compaction may result in a yield benefit. Visual soil assessment is important to assess the extent and depth of compaction and to inform decisions on the most appropriate course of action.  

Soil biology includes a variety of soil microbes, bacteria and larger fauna such as earthworms and collembolans.

The proportions of primary particles (sand, silt, and clay) in a soil define its texture.  Silt particles range from 0.002–0.06 mm; clay is small and sand is larger, up to 2 mm.  Marked changes in texture often occur vertically through a soil profile. 

Soil organic matter (OM) is all living or once-living materials in the soil.  OM provides a direct source of energy/food for many soil organisms: it is the fuel in the soil food web.  Turnover of OM successively releases and immobilises elements vital to the nutrition of crops. 

Soils form over thousands of years through local interactions of climate, geology, hydrology and management, giving variability in the proportion of sand, silt & clay, soil depth and what underlies the subsoil.

Soil is a major source of nutrients needed by plants for growth.