The Australian Soil Classification[1] is the classification system currently used to describe and classify soils in Australia.[2][3] It is a general-purpose, hierarchical classification system, and consists of five categorical levels from the most general to the most specific: Order, Suborder, Great Group, Subgroup, and Family.[4] An online key is available.[5] The Australian Soil Classification supersedes other classification systems previously developed for Australian soils, including the Factual Key[6][7] (1960) and the Handbook of Australian Soils[8] (1968).
The Australian Soil Classification was developed by Ray Isbell, a retired soil scientist with CSIRO, and first published in 1996. A revised first edition was published in 2002, a second edition in 2010 and a third edition in March 2021. Since Ray Isbell's death in 2001 the National Committee on Soil and Terrain has led the updates and improvements to the classification and this committee is now listed as a co-author with Ray Isbell.
- ^ "Australian Soil Classification (as Online Key)". CSIRO. March 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ Isbell, Raymond F. (1996). The Australian Soil Classification (1st ed.). Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 0-643-05813-3.
- ^ Isbell, Raymond F. (2002). The Australian Soil Classification (Revised ed.). Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 0-643-06898-8.
- ^ CSIRO. "How to Classify". The Australian Soil Classification. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ The National Committee on Soil and Terrain (2 June 2021). "The Australian Soil Classification". Soil Science Australia. Archived from the original on 2021-05-10. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ Northcote, Keith H. (1960). A factual key for the recognition of Australian soils. Divisional Report No. 4/60. CSIRO Division of Soils.
- ^ Northcote, Keith H. (1971). A factual key for the recognition of Australian soils (3rd ed.). Glenside, South Australia: Rellim Technical Publications.
- ^ Stace, H.C.T.; Hubble, G.D.; Brewer, R; Northcote, K.H.; Sleeman, J.R.; Mulcahy, M.J.; Hallsworth, E.G. (1968). A Handbook of Australian Soils. Glenside, South Australia: Rellim Technical Publications.