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

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    Carbon farming management options in Western Australia

    13 November 2013

    The aim of carbon farming is to sequester more carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as part of Australia's response to climate change.

  • Carry graders excavating a pit for clay spreading

    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.

  • Spreading lime onto spring pasture at South Bodallin.

    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.

  • Field day with growers discussing benefits of managing soil acidity at Holt Rock

    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

  • Modified deep-ripper used to inject lime at depth

    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.

  • Combine harvester operating in a cereal crop

    Causes of soil acidity

    3 December 2013

    Soil acidification occurs naturally very slowly as soil is weathered, but this process is accelerated by productive agriculture.

  • pH changes in a soil profile illustrated by universal pH indicator

    Soil pH

    3 December 2013

    A small decrease in soil pH represents a large increase in soil acidity.

  • Limestone mine near Myalup.

    Lime sources

    3 December 2013

    Agricultural lime is any product that is used to increase the pH of soil. In Western Australia, the three main sources are limesand, limestone and dolomitic lime.

  • Poor nodulation and lower biomass production in sub-clover plants that failed to effectively nodulate due to soil acidity.

    Effects of soil acidity

    3 December 2013

    Aluminium toxicity in the subsurface is the major problem associated with soil acidity in Western Australia.

  • Different types of lime products displayed in small buckets

    Lime quality

    3 December 2013

    Carbonate from calcium carbonate (or magnesium carbonate) neutralises acid in the soil.

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