University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Ole Wendroth has been named this year’s recipient of the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) Don and Betty Kirkham Soil Physics Award. The award, one of the most prominent in soil science, recognizes significant contributions to soil physics — particularly in innovative research, education and dedication to practical agricultural applications. 

"Receiving the award is a tremendous honor,” UK Department of Plant and Soil Science professor Wendroth said. “My journey, from teaching soil physics at the graduate level to conducting research directly impacting farmers, has been incredibly rewarding. This recognition stresses the importance of our work and the collaborative spirit between academia and the agricultural community." 

Wendroth’s commitment to soil science 

After completing his Ph.D. research at the University of Goettingen, Germany, Wendroth helped simplify the evaporation method for quantifying soil hydraulic conductivity and soil structural characteristics, now a globally-used technique.  

While working at the University of California-Davis, Wendroth explored soil spatial variability using geostatistical and time series analyses. His focus on spatial processes in agro-environmental systems has led to significant advancements in understanding and managing crop yield variability and nitrogen fertilizer application. 

"These statistical methods and the derived spatial soil property and crop yield patterns have become fundamental in assessing soil health," Wendroth said. "Understanding soil variability is crucial for sustainable agriculture." 

His approach to teaching and research is grounded in real-world applications, evident in his work on Hillview Farms in Princeton. Wendroth's field experiments, which arrange treatments in cyclic patterns, have improved the applicability of treatment experiments in heterogeneous soils. 

"We need to expose ourselves to what farmers see every day," Wendroth said. "I aim to help farmers with my work. I appreciate the experimental work done by colleagues and our graduate students. It's about finding basic things and applying them in meaningful ways to help more farmers." 

Wendroth's commitment to the soil science community is also evident as former associate editor and technical editor for four journals published by the Tri-Societies and as the current chief editor of a top-ranked soil science journal, Soil & Tillage Research. He is also a past president of the SSSA. 

His research, particularly in understanding the spatial variability of farmers' fields and the application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for data collection, represents a major advancement in agricultural practices.  

"It’s about making a real difference on the ground, helping farmers optimize their practices with the latest in soil science research," Wendroth said. "I'm proud and thankful to serve the University of Kentucky, my department and the broader scientific community in these roles. Every day in the field is an opportunity to learn and apply new insights.” 

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