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.

Articles

  • To make sound decisions on managing saline sites, you need to know the source of salt, how salinisation is occurring, the landscape context, and most importantly, the actual salt concentration of t

  • Wheatbelt valley secondary salinity

    Salinity affects growth by reducing plant root ability to extract water from the soil, and chloride toxicity.

  • Permanent raised beds are a practical and economic means of managing some waterlogged sites in wetter areas of the Western Australian grainbelt.

  • Poor weed and pea germination due to wet saline soil

    Field peas are sensitive to waterlogging and moderately sensitive to soil salinity. Soil salinity affects plant growth by reducing the roots ability to extract water from the soil.

  • Reduced emergence and smaller plants that die earlier near saline areas

    Salinity affects plant growth by reducing the root's ability to extract water from the soil. Salinity damage varies from season to season due to variations in the soil salt concentration.