This book provides an introduction to soil properties, processes, and their significance for land use and management. It includes a well-illustrated compendium of the most common soils in Australia, showing soil profiles and their associated landscapes and detailing usage and soil properties. It explains how Australian soils have evolved, giving a practical context for current day land management. The eBook is available from eRetailers (e.g. Apple Store, Google Play) or with institutional access through CSIRO Publishing. #
Contents:
Introduction
Properties of soil
The evolution of Australian soils
Characteristic Australian landscapes
Soil function within ecosystems
Land use, soil change and future management
Compendium of Australian soils
Rationale and format
Anthroposols – soils formed by humans
Calcarosols – soils dominated by carbonate
Chromosols – neutral to alkaline soils with sharp increases in texture
Dermosols – structured B horizons and minor changes in texture
Ferrosols – high iron levels and minor changes in texture
Hydrosols – wet soils
Kandosols – strongly weathered earths with minor changes in texture
Kurosols – acid soils with sharp increases in texture
Organosols – organic soils
Podosols – soils with accumulations of organic matter, iron, and aluminium
Rudosols – minimally developed soils
Sodosols – alkaline and sodic soils with sharp increases in texture
Tenosols – slightly developed soils
Vertosols – cracking clays