This study describes the development of a systematic approach to identifying important soil morphological and vegetation field indicators. The objective was to use the indicators to target land management in degraded landscapes in a specific region. The authors linked soil–landscape features to the main soil and water processes operating within the landscape. In Australia, they used this information to develop a set of field indicators (e.g. soil colour) within a user-friendly soil classification key that was linked to land-use options to form the basis of a manual. Information written in this format helped farmers and regional advisers to identify options for remediation of waterlogged and saline areas and to improve planning at property and catchment scales. The authors identified a series of steps to be taken in producing the manual. Steps 1 to 5 describe the soil layers and construct them in toposequences, which are then used to map soil types in key surrounding areas. Steps 6 to 9 involve the local community in developing the manual.

This chapter describes how manuals were produced for two badly degraded areas in southern Australia (the Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia and an area in western Victoria) and suggests how they can be applied elsewhere. Descriptive soil information and pictures taken along toposequences are used to identify key soil features. The use of coloured cross-sectional diagrams and photographs of soil and vegetation helps local groups to understand complex scientific processes and terminology, and see how best management practices can be used to advantage. A similar approach using indicators such as soil colour and morphology was developed in Luancheng County on the North China Plain. Scientists in this region linked their data to farmers’ observations to provide a set of indicators to help farmers manage their land more effectively.