Illinois Centennial Soil Archive

Illinois Centennial Soil Archive
Tuesday, September 16th at 6:00 p.m.

Discover the incredible story behind the University of Illinois Soil Lab’s Centennial Soil Archive Project—a unique window into Illinois’ agricultural heritage.

This world-class soil archive dates back to the earliest surveys of Illinois soils, some beginning as early as 1899. Soil scientists mapped types across the state by sampling to a depth of three feet, carefully documenting and preserving distinct soil layers. Thanks to the foresight of early researchers, both the records and physical samples were preserved on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. Today, this historical treasure helps us understand long-term changes in soil—shedding light on the effects of farming practices, environmental policy, and even climate change.

Learn how modern resampling efforts are uncovering new insights—and find out how you can get involved. Register now: go.illinois.edu/CentennialSoils