Guidelines for surveying soil and land resources. Volume 2. Australian sil and land survey handbook series / Руководство по обследованию почв и земельных ресурсов. Том 2. Серия справочников по почвам и землеустройству Австралии

Information on soil and land resources is a prerequisite for informed decisions on land use and management. Procedures for acquiring and using this information are introduced and  emphasis is given to a balanced approach with elements of mapping, modelling and monitoring within the broader context of environmental change. The conceptual basis for a range of approaches to survey is introduced along with an assessment of strengths and weaknesses. A framework for dealing with scale in measurement and prediction is then introduced.Thousands of decisions are made every day in Australia on how to use land. These range from specific judgements with immediate actions – for example, a farmer deciding to fertilise a  paddock or an engineer implementing a plan for residential development – through to more  general decisions by government on policy that may ultimately affect every part of the country.  Whatever the context, information is needed for sound decisions. Decisions made without the  appropriate information leads to inefficient use of resources and environmental degradation. Decision-making about land use and management requires good information on the characteristics of soil and land, and how they respond to particular treatments. These Guidelines  for surveying soil and land resources (referred to as the Guidelines) help inform you about how  to obtain and use the necessary information. Methods for mapping and monitoring soil conditions at a range of scales in space and time are addressed. The rationale behind these Guidelines is to promote the development and implementation of consistent methods and standards for  surveys of soil and land resources in Australia. <...>