Soil-Net Case Studies

Case studies bring soil science to life. Rather than reading about soil in the abstract, you can explore real places, real problems and real discoveries — from a badger sett in an English woodland to terraced fields in Madeira, Roman roads still visible after two millennia, and forensic soil evidence used to solve crimes. Each example shows how ideas from the main sections of Soil-Net work in practice.

Soil is a factor in everyday life, whether we notice it or not. It underpins what we eat, how water is stored and filtered, the stability of the ground our homes and roads are built on, and the burial conditions that preserve our archaeological and historical heritage. These case studies help you see those connections in familiar and unexpected settings.

To explore, choose a theme from the menu on the left — such as farming and food production, ecology or soils and water — then use the top menu on each theme page to open individual case studies. You can also jump directly to a theme using the links above.

Do you have a case study you would like to share with us? We would like to hear from you, so please email us!