Update and expansion of the soil and landscape grid of Australia

• Since 2015, SLGA has set a benchmark in soil mapping, with updated, freely available data now used nationally and globally. • SLGA has been upgraded, improving 11 soil attributes and adding 13 new products, like soil carbon and microbial data. • Version 2 builds a framework for national soil monitoring, enhancing our understanding of Australia’s soils and landscapes. • This update builds on 80+ years of soil mapping, showing a commitment to innovation, with work on SLGA Version 3 underway. The Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia (SLGA) has been significantly updated and expanded. The initial version, released in 2015, provided the first continental-scale characterization of soil resources adhering to GlobalSoilMap specifications. It featured digital maps for 11 key soil attributes (including bulk density, organic carbon, soil texture, pH, available water capacity, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, effective cation exchange capacity, and soil thickness) at a 90 m × 90 m spatial resolution and served as a widely accessed national resource with substantial global influence. The updated version, developed between 2018 and 2023, includes enhancements to the original 11 soil attributes and introduces 13 additional products. These additions improve the representation of key soil characteristics, such as soil carbon composition, soil microbial distribution, and soil moisture fluxes, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of Australia’s soil and landscape resources. The updated data and methodologies offer a robust foundation for developing a national soil monitoring program and other applications. The advancements in the SLGA and its associated data systems are detailed, and all products are freely available for public use.