
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Minasny, Budiman 
A1  - McBratney, Alex. B. 
T1  - The Australian soil texture boomerang: a comparison of the Australian and USDA/FAO soil particle-size classification systems
JF  - Soil Research
JO  - Soil Res.
Y1  - 2001
VL  - 39
IS  - 6
SP  - 1443
EP  - 1451
KW  - particle size distribution, soil texture class, classification.
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/SR00065 
N2  - The different classification of particle-size fractions used in Australia compared with other countries presents a problem for the immediate adoption of the exotic pedotransfer functions. Australia adopted the international system which defined silt as particles with diameters in the range 2&#8211;20 m, while the USDA/FAO define it as 2&#8211;50 m. We present empirical equations to convert between the two systems. The USDA/FAO textural classes were also plotted in the International system&#8217;s coordinate. The USDA/FAO classes in the International system had a &#8216;boomerang&#8217; shape and only occupy 60% of the triangle. Particle-size data showed that the data are evenly distributed in the USDA/FAO triangle, while most data are concentrated in the boomerang in the International system. We therefore suggest that it would seem wise for most countries to consider adopting the particle-size limits and texture classes of the USDA/FAO system. 
ER  -

