One of the most "SOILY" photography contests today is the annual one presented by the FAO's Global Soil Partnership. It focuses each year on a different soil threat or soil-related issue, usually pairing the theme of the Global Symposium (held in the first semester of the year) and the annual World Soil Day campaign (in the second semester) and culminating with the celebrations on 5 December.

The 2022 edition of the photo contest, dedicated to #Soil4Nutrition and organized in the framework of the Global Sympsium on Soils for Nutrition, was one of the best, showing a wide variety of images, some 200 entries, that all strike the core of the problem. Some of these fantastic photos will undoubtedly pique your interest.

Although each of these photos is unique and extraordinary, some were more popular with the public than others.

Here are the winners/the best photos that were selected from the final round of the competition that took place on the Global Soil Partnership Facebook page from 26 to 29 July 2022. The contest reached in a few days 38 500 people and 3 000 engagements with  411 likes, 145 shares and dozens of comments.

Congratulations to the winners and a big thank you to everyone who submitted their photo and voted among the ten finalists!

For more information on this contest, click here.

FIRST CLASSIFIED: 

"Root nodules of Sesbania aculeate (green manure) grown under sodic soils"

Author: Awtar Singh from India​

It is known that nitrogen availability is one of the main factors limiting plant growth in sodic soils. The loss of N in the form of ammonium (NH4+) through the volatilisation process is high in sodic soils. Therefore, sodic soils generally require 20-25% more nitrogen than normal soils. In addition, sodic soils contain low soil organic carbon due to lower biomass production. Therefore, Sesbania aculeata, one of the best green fertilizers to increase nitrogen and organic carbon in sodic soils, is adopted by farmers in India. This image shows the root nodules of Sesbania aculeata, in which Rhizobium bacteria live in a symbiotic relationship to fix atmospheric nitrogen (N2) and supply it to plants. Sesbania aculeata was turned into the soil through tillage 45 days after sowing and the rice crop was transplanted as a result. During the decomposition of Sesbania aculeata, the availability of nitrogen and organic carbon improved in the sodic soils.

531 likes | 68 comments | 136 shares

SECOND CLASSIFIED: 

"Magnesium deficiency symptom in Moringa oleifera"

Author: ​Srinivasan Subbiah from India

"I photographed this view of magnesium deficiency in the leaves of Moringa oleifera near Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India," reported Mr Srinivasan Subbiah. The deficiency is confirmed by the typical chlorosis of the lower leaves. The tree grows in red soil in acidic conditions. Analysis of the leaf tissue further confirmed the deficiency and recorded a low Mg concentration of 0.19%. In addition to the acidic soil pH, established fertilisation practices omitting Mg and high rainfall (1250 mm to 1500 mm) favoured Mg depletion in the soil. The deficient leaves fell prematurely from the tree and caused a significant yield loss. The application of fertilisers containing magnesium will improve the Mg content in the leaves.

361 likes | 76 comments | 29 shares

THIRD CLASSIFIED: 

"Evolution of agriculture in sloping areas under no-tillage in southeastern Brazil"

Author: José Marcos Garrido Beraldo from Brazil

The image illustrates the cultivation of maize under no-tillage in an area with a slope greater than 18%, an area traditionally cultivated with degraded pasture without the use of technology or principles of soil conservation. Location: Municipality of Lagoa Dourada, Minas Gerais, south-east Brazil. Close to the MG-383 motorway. Geographic coordinates: 20°50'52.8"S 44°03'18.0"W" 

268 likes | 25 comments | 5 shares