Soils

Western Australia’s agriculture sector needs access to quality soil that can sustain long-term productivity and growth. The department is leading the way in developing management practices to maximise soil productivity and minimise land degradation. The department also provides technical information on managing soil constraints, including acidity, water repellence, subsoil compaction, erosion along with nutrient management. We also support agriculture through soil and land condition monitoring, condition assessment and providing management strategies and tools to improve soil condition.

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Articles

  • Photograph of a dispersive soil profile in a pit showing the mottled zone below the dense grey clay top layer.

    Dispersive (sodic) soils in Western Australia

    23 May 2017

    Dispersive soils are common in the agricultural areas of Western Australia, where they occur mainly as duplex or gradational profiles.

  • Dispersing (sodic) waterlogged soil

    Managing waterlogged dispersive (sodic) soils

    2 February 2011

    Waterlogging causes clay to disperse in sodic soils, leading to soil structure collapse.

  • Dispersing (sodic) waterlogged soil

    Managing dispersive (sodic) soils

    11 November 2015

    Dispersive (sodic) soils are common in the south-west agricultural area of Western Australia, where they occur mainly as duplex or gradational profiles.

  • Photograph of a dispersive soil profile in a pit showing the mottled zone below the dense grey clay top layer.

    Dispersive (sodic) soils: the science

    12 June 2017

    This page explains the factors that influence the degree of dispersion in sodic soils: soil structure (aggregate stability), cation exchange capacity, calcium to magnesium ratio, exchangeable sodiu

  • Identifying dispersive (sodic) soils

    10 November 2015

    It is not always easy to identify the degree of dispersion or sodicity in soils. The choice of suitable management depends on knowing the soil sodicity and whether dispersion is a problem.

  • Taproot pinched (1) with only a single lateral root (2) penetrating the subsoil down an old root channel

    Soil aggregate stability

    4 October 2017

    Soil aggregate stability is the ability of a soil to regulate the movement and storage of air and water throughout the soil profile.

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