Welcome
to ACLEP

Out of the Scientist's Garden: A Story of Water and Food
(by Richard Stirzaker)

Out of the Scientist's Garden is written for anyone who wants to understand food and water a little better - for those growing vegetables in a garden, food in a subsistence plot or crops on vast irrigated plains. It is also for anyone who has never grown anything before but has wondered how we will feed a growing population in a world of shrinking resources.

This new publication is available from CSIRO Publishing is for $29.95. Click here to read the book review.

Managing Australia’s Soils: A policy discussion paper Summary of submissions from public consultation
(by the National Committee on Soil and Terrain)

In 2006, The National Committee on Soil and Terrain (NCST) requested agreement from the Natural Resource Policies and Programs Committee (NRPPC) to develop a strategic approach to managing Australia’s soil and land resources

In October 2008, the 83-page discussion paper, Managing Australia’s Soils: A policy discussion paper, prepared by Andrew Campbell, was sent to approximately 450 stakeholders for comment. Download the full report or the executive summary.

The Soils of Southern South Australia
(by James Hall, David Maschmedt and Bruce Billing)

This new 446 page, full-colour, South Australian Dept of Water, Land & Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC) publication describes the soil resources of SA’s productive and diverse temperate zone (commonly known as the ‘agricultural areas’), summarising concepts and data specifically relating to soil type. In particular, the nature, diversity, distribution, limitations and potential of these resources are described.
Read more ...

19th World Congress of Soil Science

The 19th World Congress of Soil Science to be held 1-6 August 2010 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Congress, held every four years, presents a global forum at which all those involved in Soil Science can meet with scientists, researchers, academics and professionals to discuss and find Soil Solutions for a Changing World.
www.19wcss.org.au

The Digital Atlas of Australian Soils can now be downloaded from ASRIS

The Atlas of Australian Soils (Northcote et al 1960 – 68) was digitized by the Bureau of Rural Sciences in 1991 and has been available from the Australian Natural Resources Data Library for some time. Although this dataset has many limitations and there have been many efforts to provide better data, it is still in demand, primarily due to its complete coverage of the country. To assist with access to the data and to the various interpretations of the mapping units, and also provide some understanding of uses and limitations of the data, it can now also be downloaded from ASRIS.
[Download]

Australian Soil and Land Survey Field Handbook (3rd Edition) is now available from CSIRO Publishing

The much anticipated third edition of the Australian Soil and Land Survey Field Handbook has been released to the delight of practitioners and educators.

The Field Handbook (commonly known as the ‘Yellow Book’) is an essential resource for soil scientists, ecologists, geomorphologists, educators and students and has enjoyed remarkable success as part of the popular Australian Soil and Land Survey Handbook Series which covers all aspects of land resource survey in Australia.

The latest edition includes revised chapters on location and vegetation as well as some new landform elements.

The Field Handbook specifies methods and terminology for soil and land surveys and is widely used throughout Australia, providing the reference set of definitions for the characterisation of landform, vegetation, land surface, soil and substrate.

The 264-page book is available from CSIRO Publishing for $64.95.