Soil science and its interface with the history of geology community

Despite the historical origins of soil science as a geological science, scholarship in the history of soil science remains an outlier with respect to the presently structured history of geological sciences community. The history-oriented activities of the Soil Science Society of America, the European Geosciences Union, and the International Union of Soil Sciences show active efforts to document and extend knowledge of soil science history. An overview of pedology and its numerous links to geomorphology and other geological specialties is presented. Geologists were involved in early soil mapping, soil degradation studies, creation of soil classification systems, and development of the soil geomorphology subfield, each case demonstrating strong historical ties between geology and soil science. Areas of common interest between soil science and geology offer new opportunities for integration and cooperation in Earth science history going forward.