North Carolina State University
Department of Soil Science
Strategic Plan
Mission
- To develop knowledge of basic soil science and the interrelationships with plant nutrition and environmental quality;
- to apply this knowledge to advance resource efficient and environmentally sound soil, plant, and environmental management technologies;
- to improve the quality of life by providing research-based information and educational opportunities on the appropriate use and management of soil and water resources;
- to prepare undergraduate students with an understanding of and ability to apply fundamental principles of soil science, agronomy, environment, and natural resource management; and
- to prepare graduate students to conduct basic and applied research that will be used to solve problems and advance soil science.
Vision
The Soil Science Department will be an international leader in soil and related research. The excellence of the Department's academic programs will attract outstanding undergraduate and graduate students. The Department will provide nationally recognized extension leadership in sustainable and productive use of soil and water resources and waste materials.
Goals
- To provide for research and education on sustainable food and fiber production. Emphasis is placed on information and management technologies on systems that are profitable, nutrient and water use efficient, environmentally sound, and that maintain or enhance soil quality.
- To maintain leadership in research and education on minimizing nonpoint source contamination of surface and ground water by nutrients, pesticides, sediments, and other contaminants.
- To expand the study of interactions between soils and chemicals, both organic and inorganic, in the environment. Focus is on assaying ambient and elevated levels of heavy metals and organic compounds in soil ecosystems.
- To quantify the environmental and production impacts of using waste products in agricultural and silvicultural systems.
- To improve methods for quantifying nutrients and potentially toxic elements in soil, and to quantify the processes that influence transport, bioavailability, and soil microbial ecology.
- To quantify nitrogen mineralization, volatilization, denitrification and leaching in fertilizer and waste amended soils. Emphasis is on development of management technologies to protect water and air quality.�
- To maintain national leadership in research and education in on-site wastewater management. Emphasis is placed on understanding chemistry, physics, and biology of surface and sub-soil materials used as a filter for on-site waste management.
- To improve the understanding of native and constructed wetland ecology and their use in runoff and wastewater treatment.
- To advance management technologies for urban landscapes and evaluate the impact of recreational and other non-agricultural land use on environmental quality and soil and water resources.
- To improve understanding of rhizospheric processes and to develop technologies to manage soil microbial activities and physiological properties of roots to promote efficient and productive plant growth and bioremediation of soil pollutants.
- To maintain excellence in teaching and extension programs through effective classroom, laboratory, and distance-learning instruction using multimediated and other technologies.�
Uniqueness and Strengths
Soils are an integral part of all agricultural production systems in North Carolina. The Department has a long history of interdisciplinary cooperation providing basic and applied information on soil science and management for optimum productivity with minimal impact on environmental degradation. The department has a progressive research and education program in non-agricultural use of soils. Because of the department's breadth of programs and national and international reputation, outstanding undergraduate and graduate students can be recruited to maintain program excellence. The Department maintains state-of-the-art chemical, physical, and biological analytical instrumentation, as well as computer technologies to facilitate research and education programs.