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Digging deeper into the hidden world beneath our feet

21 August 2025 | Story Martinette Brits | Photo Stephen Collett

Prof Johan van Tol invited his audience on a journey through the hidden world beneath our feet during his inaugural lecture, Every Soil Has a Story to Tell, on Monday 18 August 2025. Using humour, personal anecdotes, and decades of research experience, he highlighted how understanding soils can guide sustainable land and water management while shaping the next generation of scientists.

Prof Van Tol, from the Department of Soil, Crop, and Climate Sciences, began with a humorous reflection on his high school band: “We were going to make it big. The only thing we needed was a name for the band, but we couldn’t agree on one. In the end, we didn’t make it big because we didn’t have a name for the band. A very positive spin-off is that tonight you are listening to a lecture and not to me singing.” He used this story as a metaphor for academia, explaining that just as a band needs a clear identity to succeed, academics benefit from taking stock of their work and reflecting on their direction. “It is really unique that one has the opportunity – and this is what I like so much about academia – to reflect on the past few years and decades and to say, this is what I have done so far, and also to reflect on what worked, what didn’t work, and what we should be doing in the future,” he said, emphasising the value of looking back in order to plan ahead.

The stories soils tell

He explained the principle behind the lecture’s title, inspired by Emeritus Professor Johan Bouma: “We, as soil scientists, need to speak on behalf of the soils; we must tell their story.” Using examples ranging from sandy, clayey, and loamy soils to soils with red, yellow, grey, and even green or blue tints, he emphasised that “each soil has its own story to tell” and that understanding these differences is crucial for planning, management, and sustainable resource use.

He shared a personal anecdote about his youngest son, who was learning about soils at school: “He said there are sandy soils, clayey soils, and loamy soils … and if you want good crop growth, you should rather use loamy soil instead of the rest.” Prof Van Tol explained that soil diversity goes far deeper, with subtle colour variations and structures revealing how water moves through the ground. For example, “If the iron is oxidised, the soils maintain their red colour. If the iron is reduced by water, you are left with grey soil. A grey colour in the soil indicates periods of significant saturation.”

A key focus of Prof Van Tol’s research is hydropedology, the study of interactions between soil and water. “Soil properties influence how water flows through them, and how the water flows through them – or stagnates in them – will in turn influence how the soils will look,” he explained. He highlighted practical applications, including informing land-use change approvals under the National Water Act, predicting microbial pollutant movement, and developing landslide early-warning systems in South Africa. He also cited the alpine research station in the Northern Drakensberg, describing it as “the highest station in Africa” and part of a long-term socio-ecological research platform that invites collaboration and offers a real-world example of studying soils in extreme environments.

Lessons, mentorship, and impact

Reflecting on his career, he emphasised mentorship and student development: “We often think that we are busy with research, but we are actually in the ‘people business’ – capacitating students. Every research paper is essentially just a progress report; lasting impact lies in how students are shaped.” He also spoke about commitment, patience, and long-term engagement in research and policy: “Even small actions, when carried out with sincerity and persistence, can create huge and lasting change.” Prof Van Tol encouraged adaptability and critical thinking, stressing that “the sheer number of publications will probably matter far less than the quality of research and the evidence of the real impact it provides.”

In conclusion, Prof Van Tol expressed gratitude to colleagues, friends, family, and mentors, dedicating the lecture to two late mentors and his father, acknowledging their profound influence on his life and career.

About Prof Johan van Tol

Prof Johan van Tol obtained his BSc (Agric) in Agronomy and Soil Science (2006), MSc in Soil Science (cum laude, 2008), and PhD in Soil Science (2011) from the University of the Free State. After completing his doctorate, he joined the University of Fort Hare as a lecturer, later senior lecturer, before returning to the UFS in 2016.

An NRF-rated scientist, Prof Van Tol has led or contributed to numerous nationally and internationally funded projects, focusing on hydropedology. His research has informed national water policy, and he has completed more than 100 consultancy projects providing practical soil solutions. He has published more than 90 scientific articles and book chapters and serves as an associate editor for Discover Soil and the South African Journal of Plant and Soil. Prof Van Tol is also a former President of the Soil Science Society of South Africa and chairs the Hydropedology Working Group of the International Union of Soil Sciences.

News Archive

UFS policies want to help all students

2005-03-09

The death of Hannes van Rensburg, a first-year student from the JBM Hertzog residence, this past weekend, placed various aspects of student life in the spotlight. Dr Natie Luyt, Dean: Student Affairs at the University of the Free State (UFS), and the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the UFS explain which policies are in place to counter these practices.

At all tertiary institutions there are rules and policies to guide students and provide direction for certain behaviour and practices. The same applies to the University of the Free State (UFS).

“At the beginning of the year the UFS provides every residence committee with a manual to establish a framework for meaningful and orderly relations within and among residences on the campus,” said Dr Natie Luyt.

However, it is one thing to set rules, but it is an impossible task to enforce all aspects thereof. Policies currently in place include an alcohol policy, a policy on the induction of first years and a policy on banned practices in residence orientation.

“The alcohol policy was compiled in cooperation with students and their input was constantly asked,” said Dr Luyt. We also liaise on a continuous basis with residences and senior students to encourage the responsible use of alcohol, especially around activities like intervarsities and Rag.

In the policy, recognition is given to the right and voluntary and informed choice of every individual to use alcohol on the UFS campus in a responsible way.

Guidelines for the use of alcohol on campus include among others the following:

Only authorised points of sale will be permitted on campus. In this case it is the various league halls in most of the male residences on campus.

Alcohol will only be made available during fixed times and is not permitted in residence rooms.

All alcohol-related functions are regulated and an application for a temporary alcohol license must be obtained from the Dean: Student Affairs.

The UFS obtained a liquor license in March 2004 which must be administered by senior leagues in various residences on campus. Normal liquor license conditions and the county’s liquor laws apply. Liquor can only be sold to members of the senior league (or special guests) and also to persons over the age of 18 years. Liquor may not be used in public (outside the senior league) or on campus.

The senior leagues may only be open three nights per week and within prescribed times. No liquor could be used in any other place than the senior league halls. Senior leagues could buy liquor from club monies generated by themselves.

The right of senior leagues to serve liquor was suspended by the Rector and Vice-Chancellor the UFS, Prof Frederick Fourie, on Monday 7 March 2005 – pending an investigation of the recent events on campus.

The policy on banned practices include among others that no swearing and shouting at first-years may take place, no first-year student may be targeted individually, no senior may enter the room of a first-year student without an invitation or permission from that first-year student and no senior under the influence of alcohol may have contact with first-year students.

The induction of first-year students takes place by means of three functions, namely an information function (the introduction to the various facets and possibilities of the university system), an induction function (the first-year student becomes involved in various campus and residence activities) and a development function (the first-year student is motivated to take charge of his development potential).

No first-year induction activity may commence before the residence committee’s contracting with the senior students is not completed. This meeting is attended by the residence head and all senior students. The induction policy, residence induction policy of first-year students and first-year rules are discussed.

The senior students sign an attendance list to show that he/she was informed about the policies. A senior who does not sign, may not be involved with any induction session with first-year students.

No physical contact is allowed during the conclusion of the first-year students’ official induction period. The induction of first-year students as full members of the residence is a prestige event, presented by the residence committee. No physical or degrading activities may take place.

The Dean: Student Affairs also has a daily meeting with the primarii of all the residences during the induction period. This helps to monitor the situation and counter any problem behaviour or tendencies.

“Enforced behaviour – where a senior student forces a first-year student to do something against his/her own free wil – is not allowed. Where there is any sign of this, it is met wortel en tak uitgeroei,” said Dr Luyt.

“In any group of people – whether it is a group of students or people at a workplace – there will always be those who will break the rules or those who would like to see how far they could push it.

The SRC, the UFS management and myself are and will stay committed to make each student’s life on this campus a school of learning and an experience which would be remembered for ever,” said Dr Luyt.

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