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    Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences

    Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences

    We research and teach about soil, water, and environmental sciences in urban, agricultural, and natural ecosystems. As a University of Florida department within the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, we offer degree, certificate, and extension programs on campus and online. Since our origins, more than 100 years ago, we have made significant contributions to improving the productivity of Florida’s agriculture, helping protect the state's unique ecosystems, and contributing to soil and water science at national and international levels.


     

     
       SWES Program Areas:
     

    • Water quality and watershed management
    • Water quality and watershed management

      Research and outreach focused on protecting water resources through improved watershed practices, pollutant reduction, and sustainable land use.

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    • Soil health and nutrient- agrochemical management
    • Soil health and nutrient- agrochemical management

      Advancing sustainable soil management by optimizing nutrient use and minimizing agrochemical impacts on the environment.

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    • Ecosystem and Community Ecology
    • Ecosystem and Community Ecology

      Exploring the structure, function, and dynamics of ecosystems and communities to guide conservation and land stewardship.

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    • Hydrology and Critical Zone Science
    • Hydrology and Critical Zone Science

      Understanding how water moves through landscapes, from rainfall to rivers to underground systems, to inform resource management.

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    • Biogeochemistry
    • Biogeochemistry

      Investigating the chemical, physical, and biological processes that govern the movement of nutrients and trace elements across ecosystems.

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    • Integrative Transdisciplinary Modeling Across Ecosystems
    • Integrative Transdisciplinary Modeling Across Ecosystems

      Using cutting-edge technologies and earth system science to better understand and predict how ecosystems work and respond to change.

      Read more

    Myakka

    Check out the Spring 2025 issue of the department newsletter, Myakka.

     


    A female professor speaking to a class of college students in a soil lab
    Teaching
    A female college student explains her research at a poster session.
    Research
    A man in a field holding a shovel full of soil with two others looking on
    Extension
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    Online Learning

    SWES Online Programs

    The UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences offers fully online programs at the bachelor's, master's, and graduate certificate levels.

    IN THE NEWS  

    Tracing the Long-Term Impacts of Biosolids on Florida’s Sandy Soils

    What happens to nutrients and metals in soil long after biosolids—a byproduct from sewage treatment—have been applied to the land? That’s the question JoAnn Donald, a graduate student in the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences (SWES), set out to answer. The research study appears in the journal Geoderma Regional. Working under the guidance of Dr. Yang Lin, SWES assistant professor of soil health, JoAnn

    Planting responsibly: Celebrate Earth Day by testing your soil first

    Every year on April 22, Earth Day inspires Floridians to get outside and give back to the planet—often with a shovel in hand. From planting flower beds to establishing native trees, we celebrate by trying to bring more nature into our yards. But before you begin digging, there is one crucial step many people skip: getting a soil test. “People put a lot of care into choosing the right plants but often forget to ask the most basic question:

    Phew, Florida summers are sizzling — and UF/IFAS research shows more scorching days likely in the next 25 years

    Think we’ll broil during the upcoming summer days in Florida? Look ahead, because by 2050, some places in Florida may see 70 hot days annually, a University of Florida scientist says. In a newly published study, researchers found an increasing number of hot days over the past 60 years across Florida and predict more such days in the future. Scientists define

    UPCOMING EVENTS  

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    Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences
    2181 McCarty Hall A, PO Box 110290, Gainesville, FL 32611-0290
    (352) 294-3151

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