Jaume Porta Casanellas (Barcelona, 1944 – Lleida, 2023) was one of the leading driving forces behind soil science in Catalonia and an internationally recognised figure in the field of soli edaphology. An agricultural engineer trained at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, he specialised in soil studies under the guidance of Carlos Roquero, with whom he shared an applied and integrated vision of the discipline. During his formative years, he furthered his studies in Nancy, France, and completed a doctorate based on research into the saline and soils of La Mancha, a line of inquiry that would shape much of his subsequent scientific career.

In 1977, he joined the Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering of Lleida (ETSEA), where he developed an intense programme of teaching and research. Together with Marta López-Acevedo, he established the Department of Soils and Climate and promoted studies on salinity, erosion, soil conservation, fertility and soil mapping. Convinced of the importance of soil as a strategic resource, he consistently advocated a form of edaphology oriented towards the needs of both the territory and agriculture, combining fundamental research with practical applications in land-use planning, land evaluation and environmental conservation.

Porta was a pioneer in the study of gypsiferous soils and degradation processes in semi-arid environments. His contributions to the micromorphology, classification and terminology of gypsum-rich soils played a decisive role in improving their characterisation and international understanding. At the same time, he carried out notable research on water erosion in vineyards and restored mining areas, as well as on the effects of irrigation on soil salinisation and alkalinisation. His investigations helped define strategies for soil conservation and sustainable land use in Mediterranean regions.

Another of his major contributions was his promotion of soil mapping in Catalonia. From the 1980s onwards, he championed the need for detailed maps at a scale of 1:25,000 as an essential tool for agricultural and territorial planning. He played an active role in the development of soil information systems and in the training of technicians and specialists, playing a decisive role in the consolidation of the work that would later be carried forward by the Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya [Catalan Cartographic and Geological Institute].

He also played a key role in the modernisation of soil analysis laboratories. After working in agricultural laboratories in Galicia, Aragon and Madrid, he promoted the creation of advanced analytical instrumentation in Lleida and supported the establishment of the Soil Analysis and Fertility Laboratory in Sidamon, inaugurated in 1992. This centre became a benchmark institution for soil analysis, fertilisation and technical support for agriculture, and later connected with international methodological standardisation initiatives such as GLOSOLAN [Global Soil Laboratory Network] of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

As a teacher and science communicator, Jaume Porta left a profound legacy. He was the author of landmark textbooks such as Edafología para la agricultura y el medio ambiente [Soil Science for Agriculture and the Environment], Edafología. Uso y protección de suelos [Soil Science: Soil Use and Protection], and the Catalan version, Introducció a l’Edafologia, Ús i protecció de sòls [Introduction to Soil Science: Soil Use and Protection]. These works made a decisive contribution to the education of several generations of soil scientists and professionals in Spain and Latin America. They were distinguished both by their scientific rigour and by their commitment to making a complex discipline accessible. He also promoted the standardisation of Catalan soil science terminology through the Lèxic de la Ciència del Sòl [Lexicon of Soil Science] and later through the Diccionari multilingüe de la ciència del sòl [Multilingual Dictionary of Soil Science], coordinated by the Institut d’Estudis Catalans [Institute of Catalan Studies] and developed with the participation of numerous international institutions.

His academic career culminated in his tenure as Rector of the University of Lleida from 1993 to 2003, becoming the first rector of the restored university after its modern re-establishment. During this period, he promoted the institution’s international profile, academic mobility and a profound urban and architectural transformation of its campuses. Under his leadership, landmark facilities such as the Jaume Porta Library were built, and the University of Lleida was consolidated as a central actor in the city’s cultural and scientific development.

Closely associated with Catalan scientific institutions, he promoted the creation of the Soil Science Section of the Institució Catalana d’Estudis Agraris [Catalan Institution for Agricultural Studies] and encouraged the activities of the Catalan soil science community through conferences, field excursions and outreach initiatives.

He was admitted to the Institut d’Estudis Catalans on 24 February 1997 as a full member of its Science and Technology Section, in the field of Earth Sciences. Between 2009 and 2017, he served as president of the Sociedad Española de la Ciencia del Suelo [Spanish Society of Soil Science], of which he later became honorary president. From this position, he promoted major initiatives such as the Spanish Journal of Soil Science, the Soil Science Documentation Centre and a range of projects aimed at raising awareness of the importance of soils.

He was awarded honorary membership of the Col·legi Oficial d’Enginyers Agrònoms de Catalunya (COEAC) and was also an honorary member of the Orfeó Català de Mèxic. His distinctions included the Agriculture Medal of the Department of Agriculture of the Government of Catalonia, the Lleida General Studies Medal, the Medal of the Catalan Association of Public Universities (ACUP), and the Medal of the City of Lleida.

Jaume Porta stands out both for his scientific contributions and for his capacity for leadership and institution building. A demanding and visionary professor, he played a decisive role in establishing Catalan soil science on the international stage and left a lasting legacy in research, teaching, university governance and science communication.

Source

Alcañiz, J. M., Aran, M., Boixadera, J., García-Calderón, N. E., García-Rodeja, E., Martínez-Casasnovas, J. A., Ortiz-Bernad, I., Poch, R. M. and Villar, J. M. (2024), ‘A Tribute to Jaume Porta Casanellas and his Influence on Soil Science’, Spanish Journal of Soil Science, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/sjss.2024.13563

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