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

Soil Quality ebook series

12 December 2017

A digital soil quality book series digs up soil information and data from across Western Australia, providing real world context to some of the science underpinning management of soils, making the
Measuring soil salinity

1 April 2015

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
Diagnosing salinity in canola

12 May 2014

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

8 May 2014

Canola is more susceptible to waterlogging than cereals after the seed has imbibed (absorbed water before germination).
Soil sampling and testing on a small property

11 November 2013

Accurate soil tests allow small landholders to make sound decisions about fertiliser management for productive crops and pastures.
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.
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.
Waterlogging in Western Australia

19 May 2017

Waterlogging in winter in the agricultural areas of Western Australia (WA) reduces crop yields.
Grade banks for managing surface water

11 November 2013

Grade banks are used to intercept and divert surface water run-off into storage or waterways, to limit soil erosion.
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.