Soils in the Australian Landscape

by Ann Young, Robert Young

Soils are more than just dirt; they are precious and often fragile resources, whose character and use has influenced the sustainability of human settlement throughout history. Soils in the Australian Landscape provides a comprehensive and clearly explained discussion of Australian soils, with
a focus on landform development of the continent, and to the land uses across it. Soils are the skin of landforms, and the book begins by reviewing the broad patterns and evolution of landforms in Australia. The distinctive landform and climatic history of Australia-together with the great age of
most of the land surface-explains much of the variety of soils in Australia. This variety is described using the Australian Soil Classification, now adopted by all Australian governmental authorities. Special attention is given to regolith, paleosols, and indurated soils such as laterites and other
duricrusts. Other topics covered the processes and factors that form soils, and cause variations between them; how human activity has a profound influence on soils; the management of land for agriculture, forestry, pastoralism, and urban uses; fertility, land degradation, salinisation, and
contamination of soils. While its focus is primarily on Australia Soils in the Australian Landscape , also explains processes and classification systems that are applicable world-wide, adopting a broad, interdisciplinary approach towards its subject. Founded on clear and detailed explanations of
technical material, this book will be a valuable resource for all undergraduate students of geography, geoscience, environmental engineering, and agricultural, soil, and environmental sciences, as well as practising conservationists, land managers and environmental engineers.

272 pages, Paperback

First published May 9, 2002

About the author

Ann Young (born 1950) writes about natural resource topics in Australia.