Estonian Soil Science Society

Executive Board members:

Alar Astover (president)

Endla Reintam

Kerttu Tammik

Who can be EMTS members?

Any person who wants to develop an activity in line with the society's goals can apply to become a member of EMTS. Admission to membership is decided by the board of the society.

The general assembly can elect a natural or legal person as an honorary member who has made a significant contribution to the development of soil science in Estonia and has significant merit in the implementation of the goals set out in the EMTS statute.

Participation in international organizations

EMTS belongs to the European Confederation of Soil Science Societies (ECSSS) and is a member of the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS). EMTS is the official representative of these organizations in Estonia. All EMTS members are also full members of IUSS. (International Union of Soil Sciences - IUSSlink opens in new page) 

By the decision of the General Assembly of the Estonian Soil Science Society (EMTS) on June 1, 2022, Professor Raimo Kõlli was elected as an honorary member of the Society.

By the decision of the General Assembly of the Estonian Soil Science Society (EMTS) on January 29, 2010, Igna Rooma and academician, Professor Loit Reintam (posthumously) were elected honorary members.

Igna Rooma† (November 30, 1930 – January 29, 2017)
Graduated in 1954 from the Faculty of Agronomy at the Estonian Agricultural Academy. He then began working in the unit under the Land Management Authority of the Ministry of Agriculture, with the task of organizing a unit for mapping Estonian soils. This unit evolved in 1961 into the Soil Research Department of the Estonian Agricultural Project (serving as head until 1964). From 1964 to 1970, he worked as a senior research fellow at the Department of Soil Science and Agrochemistry at the Estonian Agricultural Academy. From 1970 until his retirement in 1990, he was the chief soil scientist at the Estonian Agricultural Project. His main work focused on processing data collected on soils and compiling summaries, as well as formulating methodologies for compiling Estonian soil maps at various scales (1:200,000; 1:500,000; 1:1,500,000; 1:1,000,000) and directly participating in this work. From 1992 to 1996, he worked as a researcher at the University of Tartu and from 1993 to 1995 also at the Estonian Agricultural University. He taught general soil science and a specialized course in soil mapping at both universities. He participated in the compilation of Estonian soil cover maps at various scales. Likely the Estonian soil scientist with the most extensive field research experience. A pioneer of soil monitoring in Estonia. Member of the Central Council of the All-Union Society of Soil Scientists and an active member of its Estonian branch.

Loit Reintam† (November 12, 1929 – January 17, 2010)
After obtaining his agronomy degree at the Estonian Agricultural Academy in 1954, he defended his candidate dissertation in 1960, and his doctoral dissertation was completed in 1974. Three years later, he was awarded the title of professor, and since 1990, he was a member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. L. Reintam was a charismatic figure who was successful in science, public initiatives, numerous administrative roles, and in his work as a lecturer. Since 1997, he served as Professor Emeritus at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. His scientific work was highly diverse—ranging from soil mapping, classification, genesis, soil regimes, substance migration, the characteristics of organic matter, and reclamation of mining areas to exploring the links between soil formation and the development and culture of human society. He represented the biopedological school, which focuses on the genesis and ecology of plant-soil systems.
As an active member of the All-Union Society of Soil Scientists (since 1956) and chairman of its Estonian branch (since 1964), he remained the de facto leader of Estonian soil scientists during the transitional period (1991–2010), up until his death—at which point the Estonian Soil Science Society was re-established. L. Reintam made an irrefutable contribution to the in-depth study of Estonian soils and to the ecological orientation of agricultural and natural sciences.