Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Soil Research Soil Research Society
Soil, land care and environmental research
RESEARCH ARTICLE

The need for better links between pedology and soil carbon research in Australia

A. J. W. Biggs A B D and M. J. Grundy C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Natural Resources and Water, Queensland, PO Box 318, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.

B University of Queensland, School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia.

C CSIRO Land and Water, Indooroopilly, Qld 4068, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: andrew.biggs@derm.qld.gov.au

Australian Journal of Soil Research 48(1) 1-6 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR09064
Submitted: 14 April 2009  Accepted: 4 September 2009   Published: 26 February 2010

Abstract

Considerable soil carbon research has occurred in Australia in recent years. A review of published literature suggests there are gaps in both the collection of associated data and the long-term storage of soil carbon data, thus limiting the potential use of these data beyond the original purpose. A more co-operative approach between researchers and pedologists is essential to ensure maximum value is obtained from research investment. Further capacity needs to develop to capture data from all sources and especially non-government scientists. ASRIS can be the national focal point; it is recommended that it be more effectively utilised as a data management tool for Australian soil carbon data.


References


ACIL (1996) The development of an economic framework and instruments for assessing the benefits and costs of land resource assessment in Australia. Report to the Australian Collaborative Land Evaluation Program (ACLEP). ACIL Economics and Policy Pty Ltd.

Batjes NH (2008) Mapping soil carbon stocks of Central Africa using SOTER. Geoderma 146, 58–65.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Bird M, Kracht O, Derrien D, Zhou Y (2003) The effect of soil texture and roots on the stable carbon isotope composition of soil organic carbon. Australian Journal of Soil Research 41, 77–94.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Bui EN , McKenzie NJ , Jacquier DW , Gregory LJ (2008) Synthesis studies: making the most of existing data. In ‘Guidelines for surveying soil and land resources’. (Eds N McKenzie, M Grundy, R Webster, A Ringrose-Voase) pp. 407–418. (CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Vic.)

Cowie BA, Thornton CM, Radford BJ (2007) The Brigalow Catchment Study: I. Overview of a 40-year study of the effects of land clearing in the brigalow bioregion of Australia. Australian Journal of Soil Research 45, 479–495.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Dalal RC, Chan KY (2001) Soil organic matter in rainfed cropping systems of the Australian cereal belt. Australian Journal of Soil Research 39, 435–464.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Dalal RC, Harms B, Krull E, Wang W (2005) Total soil organic matter and its labile pools following mulga (Acacia aneura) clearing for pasture development and cropping 1. Total and labile carbon. Australian Journal of Soil Research 43, 13–20.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Harms BP, Dalal RC, Cramp AP (2005) Changes in soil carbon and soil nitrogen after tree clearing in the semi-arid rangelands of Queensland. Australian Journal of Botany 53, 639–650.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Isbell RF (1996) ‘The Australian soil classification.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Vic.)

Janik LJ, Skjemstad JO, Shepherd KD, Spouncer LR (2007) The prediction of soil carbon fractions using mid-infrared-partial least square analysis. Australian Journal of Soil Research 45, 73–81.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Jenkinson DS (1990) The turnover of organic carbon and nitrogen in soil. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 329, 361–368.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Kidston E , McDonald W (1995) Soil information transfer and evaluation system (SITES). Australian Collaborative Land Evaluation Program, CSIRO, Canberra.

McBratney AB, Mendonça Santos ML, Minasny B (2003) On digital soil mapping. Geoderma 117, 3–52.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

McBratney AB, Minasny B, Viscarra Rossel R (2006) Spectral soil analysis and inference systems: a powerful combination for solving the soil data crisis. Geoderma 136, 272–278.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

McDonald RC , Isbell RF , Speight JG , Walker J , Hopkins MS (1990) ‘Australian soil and land survey field handbook.’ 2nd edn (Inkata Press: Melbourne, Vic.)

McKenzie N , Coughlan K , Cresswell H (Eds) (2002 a) ‘Soil physical measurement and interpretation for land evaluation.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Vic.)

McKenzie N , Henderson B , McDonald W (2002 b) Monitoring soil change: principles and practices for Australian conditions. CSIRO, Technical Report No. 18/02, Canberra, ACT.

McKenzie N , Ryan P , Fogarty P , Wood J (2000) Sampling, measurement and analytical protocols for carbon estimation in soil, litter and coarse woody debris. Australian Greenhouse Office National Carbon Accounting System, Technical Report No. 14, Canberra, ACT.

McKenzie NJ , Jacquier DW , Maschmedt DJ , Griffin EA , Brough DM (2005) ASRIS (Australian Soil Resource Information System) technical specifications Version 1.5. National Committee on Soil and Terrain Information and the Australian Collaborative Land Evaluation Program (ACLEP), Canberra, ACT.

McKenzie NJ , McDonald WS , Murtha GG (1995) Network of Australian soil and land reference sites – design and specification. Australian Collaborative Land Evaluation Program (ACLEP), Canberra.

Mendham DS, O’Connell AM, Grove TS (2002) Organic matter characteristics under native forest, long-term pasture, and recent conversion to Eucalyptus plantations in Western Australia: microbial biomass, soil respiration, and permanganate oxidation. Australian Journal of Soil Research 40, 859–872.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Minasny B, McBratney AB, Mendonça-Santos ML, Odeh IOA, Guyon B (2006) Prediction and digital mapping of soil carbon storage in the Lower Namoi Valley. Australian Journal of Soil Research 44, 233–244.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

NCST (National Committee on Soil and Terrain) (2009) ‘Australian soil and land survey field handbook.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Vic.)

NLWRA (2001) Australian dryland salinity assessment 2000. Natural Heritage Trust, Canberra.

Northcote KH (1979) ‘A factual key to the recognition of Australian soils.’ (Rellim Technical Publications Pty Ltd: Coffs Harbour, NSW)

Rayment GE , Higginson FR (1992) ‘Australian laboratory handbook of soil and water chemical methods.’ (Inkata Press: Melbourne, Vic.)

Richards G , Evans D , Reddin A , Leitch J (2005) National carbon accounting system. The FullCAM Carbon accounting Model Version 3.0. Australian Greenhouse Office, Canberra, ACT.

Roxburgh SH, Mackey BG, Dean C, Randall L, Lee A, Austin J (2006) Organic carbon partitioning in soil and litter in subtropical woodlands and open forests: a case study from the Brigalow Belt, Queensland. The Rangeland Journal 28, 115–125.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Ryan PJ , Wilson PR (2008) Field operations. In ‘Guidelines for surveying soil and land resources’. (Eds N McKenzie, M Grundy, R Webster, A Ringrose-Voase) pp. 241–262. (CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Vic.)

Sanders R (2003) Leichardt Downs LRA benefit-cost analysis. Land and Regional Planning, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Brisbane, Qld.

Skjemstad JO, Dalal RC, Janik LJ, McGowan JA (2001) Changes in chemical nature of soil organic carbon in Vertisols under wheat in south-eastern Queensland. Australian Journal of Soil Research 39, 343–359.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Skjemstad JO, Spouncer LR, Cowie B, Swift RS (2004) Calibration of the Rothamsted organic carbon turnover model (RothC ver. 26.3), using measurable soil organic carbon pools. Australian Journal of Soil Research 42, 79–88.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Stace HCT , Hubble GD , Brewer R , Northcote KH , Sleeman JR , Mulcahy MJ , Hallsworth EG (1968) ‘A handbook of Australian soils.’ (Rellim Technical Publications: Glenside, S. Aust.)