Department of Soil Science (DSS) is one of the five Departments (Animal Science, Crop Science, Agricultural Economics and Extension Education, Food Science and Technology and Soil Science) established in the School of Agricultural Sciences (1971) at the University of Zambia. It has a staff establishment of twenty composed of academic, technical and support staff. The Department offers training, research and public service in Land and Water Management with the mission of enhancing the quality of human life and health, and to sustain environmental resources through a better understanding of soil, water, atmosphere and related disciplines. The Department conducts fundamental and applied research on Land and Water Management through basic and applied sciences, and educates graduate and undergraduate students. The main goal is to promote principles to implement integrative and effective systems for soil and water resources management, and enhance science education and public appreciation of soil science.

Vision and Goals for the Department
We have strength in research, outreach, and teaching undergraduate and graduate program in Land Management in the nation and the sub-region.
The Department maintains a high quality of programme delivery by:

• Establishing a creative and interactive environment that fosters productive Department’s staff and students;
• Creating and fostering quality training programs by recruiting outstanding individuals, who are highly motivated and competitive;
• Developing high impact extension and research programs that address the changing needs of the citizens of the nation, and the world;
• Maintaining a balance between applied and fundamental research programs;
• Striving for an extramural funding base of competitiveness that is complemented by other appropriate funding sources;  
• Supporting high publication productivity in respected peer-reviewed journals and;  
• Maintaining analytical laboratories with high quality standards, to support outreach programs and needs of clientele