The Department of Agriculture and Food has released a new report to help farmers and other managers to identify and describe the potential of their soils.
The resource management technical report, titled ‘Soil Groups of Western Australia’, has been compiled by the department’s soils staff in response to a need for better soils information for agriculture.
Department research officer Shahab Pathan said the report would assist landholders with sustainable resource use for long-term profitability.
“It provides a simple and easy-to-understand way to recognise and name the most common soils in Western Australia,” Dr Pathan said.
“The report has information on the constraints and characteristics of each soil group that affects agricultural productivity, a soil profile picture and a map showing where the soil group occurs.
“This information can be used to assess land capability for a range of agricultural industries and to help soil management plans.”
The information is also available as a series of factsheets.
An online interactive soil key is also being developed and will be available later this year.
The ‘Soil Groups of Western Australia’ report is located on the Department of Agriculture and Food website at agric.wa.gov.au
Media contact: Jodie Thomson, media liaison +61 (0)8 9368 3937