Managing soils

Soil productivity is largely determined by its ability to provide water and nutrients to plants along with the way the soil constraints are being managed by growers. In many instances a particular soil will be constrained by more than one physical or chemical characteristic. In many cases, there are practical and profitable management options to reduce the effects of a constraint, leading to improved yields and profitability. Recognising soil constraints and their potential impact on agricultural systems is difficult, but very important. The department can provide the technical information needed for growers to understand the condition and properties of their soils, and develop management strategies to increase productivity and profitability and improve soil condition.

Articles

Soil organic carbon in Western Australian

17 November 2016

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is inherently low in Western Australian soils – limited by climate and soil type – with some potential to increase through management.
Claying to ameliorate soil water repellence

25 January 2011

Claying involves adding and incorporating clay-rich subsoil into water repellent topsoil to overcome the repellence.
Managing waterlogging in crops and pastures in South West Western Australia

1 February 2011

Waterlogging causes significant reductions in plant growth in some years and some environments in the high rainfall (greater than 600 mm annual rainfall) areas of South West Western Australia.
Waterlogging – the science

9 February 2011

Waterlogging is a common problem in the agricultural soils of south-west Western Australia in the wetter months of winter.
MySoil

31 January 2012

MySoil is a simple tool to identify soil types. Growers can use soil identification to improve soil management and reduce the impact of soil constraints.
Applying lime

27 November 2013

If you are deep-ripping, ploughing or spading to remove subsurface compaction or another constraint, it is a good idea to incorporate lime in the same operation.
Identifying soil compaction

20 December 2010

Confident identification of soil compaction to restrict crop or pasture growth uses diagnosis combining visual symptoms of plant, root and soil features.
Developing a liming program

27 November 2013

Soil acidification is an inevitable and ongoing consequence of productive agriculture.
Benefits of maintaining an appropriate pH profile

27 November 2013

Liming to recover an acidic soil to an appropriate pH can result in significant production benefits, however a response to liming indicates that previous production has been lost due to an acidic t
Complementary strategies to liming

27 November 2013

The rate of soil acidification due to agriculture can be reduced but not eliminated. Liming will always be needed to prevent the soil from becoming too acidic.