Published August 4, 2015
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Simonson, R.W. 1979. Origin of the term "Ando soils". Geoderma 22:333-335.
Smith, G.D. 1978. A preliminary proposal for the reclassification of Andepts and some andic subgroups (the Andisol proposal). N.Z. Soil Bur. Record, DSIR, Lower Hutt.
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Soil Survey Staff. 1999. Soil taxonomy: A basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys. 2nd ed. USDA Agric. Handb. 436. U.S. Gov. Print. Office, Washington,
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The International Committee on Aridisols:
Deliberations and Rationale!
Robert J. Ahrens and Hari Eswaran2
Background
At the Third International Soil Classification Workshop (Beinroth and
Osman, 1981) held in Syria and Lebanon during June 1980, several participants
felt that Aridisols, as well as many of the diagnostic horizons and features associated with Aridisols, needed revision. Due to political situations in the region
many Americans could not attend the workshop and a follow-up meeting was
held in Athens, Greece, organized by Dr. Koutalos, Director of the Soil Research
Institute of Athens. At the conclusion of the meeting Dr. A. Osman from the Arab
Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) was appointed to
chair the International Committee on Aridisols (ICOMID).
Circular Letters
Circular Letter 1
Circular Letter 1 appeared late in 1980 and echoed the concerns from the
Third International Soil Classification Workshop. The participants from the
1 This article is the second in a series to help explain the improvements to Soil Taxonomy made
during the past 10 yr. The first article on "The International Committee on Spodosols: Deliberations
and Rationale" was published in the spring 2000 issue (Vol. 41) of Soil Survey Horizons.
2 R.I. Ahrens, NRCS, Natl. Soil Surv. Center, 100 Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, NE 68508; H.
Eswaran, NRCS, NHQ, Washington, DC.