UF IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences

UF IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences We are a University of Florida department within IFAS and CALS offering degree, certificate and exte or Ph.D.

We research, teach and learn about soil, water and environmental sciences in urban, agricultural and natural ecosystems. As a University of Florida department within IFAS and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), we offer degree, certificate and extension programs on campus and online (http://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/). UF/IFAS is a federal-state-county partnership dedicated to developin

g knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences, and enhancing and sustaining the quality of human life by making that information accessible. The Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences' expertise and programs are focused on several key areas in soil, water and environmental sciences, including carbon dynamics and ecosystem services; landscape analysis and modeling; nutrient, pesticide and waste management; soil, water and aquifer remediation; and wetlands and aquatic systems. We integrate research, teaching and extension programs in each of those areas. While our main location is McCarty Hall on the Gainesville campus, Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences faculty and programs are located at IFAS Research and Education Centers throughout the state. We offer the following degree and certificate programs:
• B.S. in Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences with specialization in Soil Science or Water Science
• B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies: Environmental Management in Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Minor in Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences
• Combined BS/MS degree program
• M.S. in Soil and Water Science or Environmental Science (with optional interdisciplinary concentrations in Agroecology (MS), Climate Science, Geographic Information Systems, Global Systems Agroecology (PhD), Hydrologic Sciences, Tropical Conservation and Development, or Wetland Sciences)
• Graduate Certificates in Biodegradation and Bioremediation; Fertilizer Science and Technology; Soil Ecosystem Services; Soil, Water, and Public Health; Sustainable Agroecosystems; Sustainable Land Resource and Nutrient Management; and Wetland and Water Resource Management

Many of these programs are also available online:
• B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies: Environmental Management in Agriculture and Natural Resources
• M.S. in Soil and Water Science, Agroecology Concentration
• M.S. in Soil and Water Science, Environmental Science track
• Graduate Certificates in Biodegradation and Bioremediation; Fertilizer Science and Technology; Soil Ecosystem Services; Soil, Water, and Public Health; Sustainable Agroecosystems; Sustainable Land Resource and Nutrient Management; and Wetland and Water Resource Management

Disclaimer:
The University of Florida Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences (SWES) intends to educate, inform and provide updated information on the department's activities and to support and promote the department's objectives for these activities through its social media account. All of the department's comments are made by SWES designees. The University of Florida welcomes your comments on our social media posts and encourages interaction among Gators around the world. We also encourage our community to foster respectful and vibrant online connections. Before you post, please consider the UF Core Values and review these UF Community Commenting Guidelines (“Guidelines”). We review all comments made, and when necessary, we reserve the right to remove comments that are:
– Off-topic
– Containing links to third-party websites or content
– Made in violation of Florida or federal law
Comments made by outside users are the authors’ opinions, not the university’s. By posting a comment on our social media pages, you agree to follow the University of Florida Community Commenting Guidelines, host social media channel Terms of Service, Florida, federal law, and UF regulations and policies – including but not limited to the university’s Acceptable Use of Computing Resources Policy. Your comments may be removed if they violate these Guidelines.

𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀, 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘀!There’s plenty to celebrate for Ph.D. student Oluwasegun Olubisi, who recently passed h...
08/28/2026

𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀, 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘀!

There’s plenty to celebrate for Ph.D. student Oluwasegun Olubisi, who recently passed his qualifying exam and was awarded the Doris Lowe and Earl and Verna Lowe Scholarship for Graduate Students from the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences for the 2026–2027 academic year! 👏

The scholarship supports graduate students whose work contributes to agricultural and wildlife environments. Working in Dr. Mary Lusk's lab, Oluwasegun is studying how waste-derived materials and cover crops can help build healthier, more resilient soils while improving nutrient retention and protecting natural resources.

These two achievements mark exciting steps forward in his Ph.D. journey.

Oluwasegun shared:

“𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘮𝘺 𝘗𝘩.𝘋. 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘕𝘙𝘌 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘓𝘰𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢 𝘓𝘰𝘸𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘍 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘙𝘌𝘞𝘚 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵.”

Congratulations, Oluwasegun! We’re proud to celebrate these milestones with you and look forward to all that’s ahead. 🎉

We are hiring!Lecturer/Senior Lecturer (Instructional Asst/Assoc Professor)This is a 12-month, non-tenure-accruing facul...
08/26/2026

We are hiring!

Lecturer/Senior Lecturer (Instructional Asst/Assoc Professor)
This is a 12-month, non-tenure-accruing faculty position with a 100% teaching appointment in the Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences (SWES), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), at the University of Florida's main campus in Gainesville, Florida.

Contribute to the department's instructional mission by providing innovative, student-centered teaching and mentoring while advancing experiential learning and integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data science. The lecturer will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in face-to-face, hybrid, and/or online formats, depending on programmatic needs.

The successful candidate may revise and assume responsibility for teaching one or more existing courses depending on interests and expertise. New course development will focus on emerging needs and candidate’s interests. All aspects of environmental sciences focused on soil and water (e.g., chemistry, quality, remediation, management, watersheds, etc.) and ecosystem sciences (e.g., ecosystem restoration, services, management, etc.) are encouraged.

See the job description and application process here:
https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/541038/lecturersenior-lecturer-instructional-assistantassociate-professor

08/26/2026

Mangroves, a natural defense.

08/14/2026

Enroll now!
UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering

Way to go, Dave Hébert and Nassau County Extension!This is a great example of how a combination of cover crops, compost/...
08/11/2026

Way to go, Dave Hébert and Nassau County Extension!
This is a great example of how a combination of cover crops, compost/mulch, and pollinator habitat can improve soil health, reduce weeds, and support good bugs. These strategies can be adapted to gardens and farms of many sizes—and investing in healthy soil now provides benefits for years!

Email 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 X Linkedin 0 Stumbleupon 0 Healthy soil is the foundation of successful gardening and farming. At the UF/IFAS Extension Nassau County office in Callahan, a demonstration garden has spent the last four years showing how cover crops, compost, mulch, and pollinator...

Crimson (clover) and cottonUF IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences researchers are evaluating cereal r...
08/03/2026

Crimson (clover) and cotton

UF IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences researchers are evaluating cereal rye and crimson clover as winter crops that can do more than protect soil. Early results suggest they may provide hay income, improve nutrient cycling, support soil health, and help set up the next cotton crop for success.

The study is also looking at brassica cover crops (like radish and turnips) and long-term impacts on repeated cotton production in Florida.

Florida cotton growers interested in testing crimson clover or cereal rye on their farms are encouraged to reach out about becoming an on-farm demonstration site.

Read more: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/jacksonco/2026/07/31/consider-winter-cover-crops-for-hay-before-planting-cotton-next-year

What can fish trawls tell us about seagrass recovery? 🐟🌿 Through the   project, researchers are studying how boat propel...
08/03/2026

What can fish trawls tell us about seagrass recovery? 🐟🌿

Through the project, researchers are studying how boat propeller scars impact seagrass meadows across Florida’s Nature Coast.

Along with drone mapping and habitat surveys, researchers use benthic fish trawls (like the one pictured) to understand how the density of propeller scars within a given area affects where fish and other marine life are found throughout the seagrass meadow.

When boating this season, stay in marked channels, trim up in shallow water, and help keep Florida’s seagrass healthy. 🛥🌱

This work is funded by the NOAA RESTORE Science Program in collaboration with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, UF IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, and UF IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences SFFGS. For more see: https://bit.ly/scarmaps-summary (link in bio)

Today is  !Conservation starts from the ground up. Healthy soils, clean water, and resilient ecosystems are all connecte...
07/28/2026

Today is !

Conservation starts from the ground up. Healthy soils, clean water, and resilient ecosystems are all connected—and protecting these natural resources isthe work we do every day in the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences.

Through research, Extension, and education, we're helping develop science-based solutions that improve water quality, enhance soil health, and build more sustainable communities for future generations.

Every action counts. Together, we can conserve the resources that sustain us all.

Learn more about our department: https://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/ 💙💚🤎

07/17/2026

Happy🌍 World Emoji Day!🎉

Can You Guess These Ecosystem Processes?

1. 🌧️💧🟤⬇️
2. 🍂🪱🍄🟤
3. 🌳💧🌊
4. 🌊🌱🐟🦀🐢
5. ☀️🌊🌱🫧🐟
6. 💧🌾🦆🐸
7. 🌧️➡️🌾➡️💧✨🌊
8. 🌧️🟤➡️💧❌
9. 🌱🟤💧➡️🌊
10. 🌎♻️🌱

Answers below!
🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻
How many did you get?
Which one was the trickiest?
🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻

1. Water infiltration (rain soaking into soil)
2. Decomposition & nutrient cycling (building healthy soil)
3. Healthy watersheds (forests protect water resources)
4. Seagrass habitat supports marine life
5. Aquatic plants produce oxygen that supports fish
6. Healthy wetlands provide wildlife habitat
7. Wetlands naturally filter water before it reaches rivers or coasts
8. Sediment runoff degrades water quality
9. Healthy soils protect downstream waters
10. Healthy ecosystems sustain our planet

Did we miss any??

Healthy trees start with healthy soils, but UF IFAS NFREC - Suwannee Valley experts say the work begins long before the ...
07/15/2026

Healthy trees start with healthy soils, but UF IFAS NFREC - Suwannee Valley experts say the work begins long before the first tree is planted.

Unlike annual crops, orchard and perennial systems offer limited opportunities to improve the root zone after establishment. From soil preparation to building organic matter and improving water-holding capacity, early management decisions can have lasting impacts on productivity and sustainability.

Learn how thoughtful soil health practices can benefit orchards for years to come.

🔗 https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/nfrecsv/2026/07/14/soil-health-in-orchard-and-perennial-systems/

Address

1692 McCarty Drive, 2181 McCarty Hall A
Gainesville, FL
32611

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+13522943151

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