Soil management

Crop production in Western Australia presents a variety of management problems arising directly from the inherent properties of the soils. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development conducts and supports research into managing the structure, waterholding capacity and fertility of these soils and can provide technical information to assist landholders make better management decisions.

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.

  • Map of the agricultural area of Western Australia showing soil organic carbon concentrations in known areas

    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.

  • 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.

  • Crop yellowing and raised beds at North Stirling

    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 near Kendenup

    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.

  • 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.

  • classic symptoms of severe soil compaction pointed out in a loamy sand profile

    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.

  • Surface application of agricultural lime using a tow-behind spreader

    Developing a liming program

    27 November 2013

    Soil acidification is an inevitable and ongoing consequence of productive agriculture.

  • 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

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