Dr. Stewart Wilson
Dr. Stewart Wilson
Dr. Wilson's Areas of Focus
Pedology · Soil Genesis and Mineralogy · Phosphorus Biogeochemistry · Digital Soil Mapping · Soil Data Science · Geoinformatics · Vineyard Soils
About Dr. Stewart G. Wilson
I am a proud graduate of the California public school system, with my journey winding through California public high school, a California community college, a California State University and the University of California. I earned a A.S. from College of the Redwoods and a B.S. in Wildland Soil Science from Humboldt State University. I hold two masters degrees from the University of California-Davis, one in Soils and Biogeochemistry and one in Geography (GIS and modeling). I hold a Ph.D. in Soils and Biogeochemistry from the University of California-Davis. I am a certified associate professional soil scientist, and have worked in viticulture, in consulting, at an agtech startup, in government for USDA-NRCS and in academics.
My research broadly focuses on how soils form and are distributed across the landscape. My emphasis is on how the formation and distribution of soils informs management and the cycling of elements critical to life on earth. I use traditional mineralogical and biogeochemical methods to investigate how soils form and nutrients are cycled, along with geoinformatics, soil data science and machine learning to understand where soils and soil processes exits on earth. My research focuses on how soil formation influences biogeochemistry and soil mineralogy, using machine learning to understand how soil properties are spatially distributed and sustainable management of vineyard soils. When I’m not working, I enjoy hiking with my family, gardening, mountain biking, surfing and snowboarding.
Funny, kind, relatable, made coding exciting, explained everything well, created a learning environment which fostered creativity and passion for [Digital Soil Mapping].
He is very enthusiastic about the subject and treats his students respectfully. In the field, he is very good at explaining things clearly. I don't think there could've been a better person to teach this class.
Dr. Wilson is very knowledgeable about his field and is excited to teach it.
Dr. Wilson is an amazing professor. I came into Cal Poly as an EESS student more interested in Earth Science and having zero interest in soil science. This class and his teaching completely changed my point of view, and I am now in love with soil science and would like to pursue it in my future. He is very clear, he holds the attention of the class well, his labs are interesting and fun, and he risked his life like Harry Potter to show us some cool soils!
Dr. Wilson I really enjoyed taking your class and you are one of the best teachers I have had at Cal Poly!
This class was my favorite class by far that I have taken at Cal Poly and has made me want to continue trying to pursue a double major in both Forestry and Soil Science. I feel like I learn best through experience in the field and this course reinforced that feeling through a fun and educational learning environment.
Selected Publications
Wilson, S. G., Foster, E. J., O’Neill, F., Banuelos, A., Cook, A., Paustain, K., ... & Carey, C. J. (2025). Soil organic carbon better described by soil mineralogy and exchangeable cations than oak restoration in California rangelands. Catena, 260, 109453.
Wilson, S. G., Lee, A., Sistla, S., & Decock, C. (2025). Soil development and compost application rate impacts short-term soil health outcomes along a rangeland chronosequence. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 1-16.
Wilson, S. G., & Prentice, S. (2024). Digital soil mapping of soil burn severity. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 88(4), 1045-1067. (cover article)
Wilson, S. G., Rees, G. L., & O'Geen, A. T. (2024). A super learner ensemble to map potassium fixation in California vineyard soils. Geoderma, 445, 116824.
Wilson, S.G., Steenwerth, K., & O'Geen, A. (2023). Mapping phosphorus sorption and availability in California vineyard soils using an ensemble of machine learning models. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 87(1), 119-139.
Wilson, S. G., Dahlgren, R. A., Margenot, A. J., Rasmussen, C., & O'Geen, A. T. (2022). Expanding the Paradigm: The influence of climate and lithology on soil phosphorus. Geoderma, 421, 115809.
Selected Presentation
Wilson, S. G., & O'Geen, T. (2019, January). Predictive Phosphorus Mapping in California Vineyard Soils with Machine Learning. In SSSA International Soils Meeting. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA.
Open: M - F 8am - 5pm