Eight Working Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS), 30 April - 4 May 2018

2. Pillar 2 report
Maria de Lourdes Mendonça Santos Brefin
ITPS Chair for Pillar 2

4. The finalization of the programme is URGENT, we have to
launch and implement it in at least 2 countries
(potentially Africa and LAC) by the end of this year
IMPLEMENTING COUNTRIES WILL THEN SERVE AS CASE STUDIES
FOR IMPROVING THE PROGRAMME AND FURTHER IMPLEMENT
IT IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND REGIONS.

5. Farmers to farmers training

10. In general: the methods needs references and the structure and the formatting needs
work for the sections that we want to keep, they need to be harmonized. We also need
to change some methods to include methods that are available within the FAO/GSP
publication of “Guidelines for Soil Description” when relevant.
The introduction might need to be modified and more info needs to be provided.
The introduction to Rapid Soil Testing needs more detail.
The introduction to the soil parameters needs to be longer and needs to include
examples of when soil parameters actually mean something/ when they are a symptom
of unhealthy soils.
Soil Texture:
We need an intro for what is it and why is it important.
We need to add different methods as only one is a field method and the rest are all
laboratory analyses
Some of the methods are available in FAO/GSP guidelines for soil description.
Soil moisture:
We need to change lab methods to field methods.
What has to be done? How can you help?

11. Soil pH:
The intro section needs to be changed as it is a little bit confusing to follow.
Methods need to be modified from lab methods to field methods.
Available N:
Need to modify the intro section.
All the methods are lab methods and need to be changed to field methods.
Available P and K:
Need to write an intro section.
All are lab methods, we need to write field methods.
Soil micronutrients:
Need to write the intro.
This section is empty so we need to write field methods.
Soil Organic Carbon content:
Need to write the intro.
This section is empty so we need to write field methods.

12. Bulk density:
All good, we could change the intro section and improve it a little bit.
Biological activity:
Introduction could be improved but the methods are there.
Soil compaction:
Needs an intro.
The last 2 sections currently don’t make much sense and still need some
work (complete soil testing kits and scientific and technical cooperation
opportunities.

13. Educational Material
WHAT IS… HOW TO…

14. Thanks for your attention