Chemical, physical or biological properties in the top and subsoil can negatively affect plant growth by imposing limitiations on the ability of the soil to support optimal plant growth, as well as constrain the ability of plants to utilise soil water and nutrient resources efficiently. These constraints may include salinity, soil pH, nutrient deficiencies and/or toxicities, sodicity, compaction or inherent gravel/rock layers, pathogen/nematodes causing diseases and low microbial activities that constrain soil function. The complexity of these processes means that In any soil, one or more of these constraints may be affecting plant growth at any one time, and a logical framework is required to assess the most constraining factors first to begin the process of improving soil condition.

Plant growth and production is ultimately determined by the most limiting factor, and with increasing costs and declining terms of trade it is essential that we approach soil management not only with our long and short term goals in mind, but also increasingly by maintaining profitable and sustainable production within desired environmental outcomes. It may be that we need to take some sideways steps in order to achieve our ultimate goal.

It is rare that we are able to provide a 'recipe' for agronomic or soil management as every farm and every farm business has different philosophies and learning background. Therefore the first step is to develop appropriate site-specific management - the first step of which is determining the most limiting constraints to production. This means investigating all aspects of our farming systems, from plans for capital investment to labour management, agronomy and soil management. In this case, we are focussing on in-field soil testing and observation - a soil profile from a pit or soil core can be used to examine different layers of soil and maximum rooting depth. Field based or laboratory based sampling tests for salinity, sodicity, acidity and alkalinity are relatively simple and cheap to perform and allow for the identification of the presence of a soil constraint in different layers of a soil profile.

Tools (Link)

The tools provided on this website are easy to use, simple calculators and keys to determining potential constraints to production. The information and links provided should be viewed as a first step to seeking more specific information suitable to on-farm paddock decisions regarding soil management. Your local agronomists, consultants and government agencies are best able to discuss site specific solutions.

Case studies (Link)

In many cases, growers value the experiences of other growers in targeting a specific problem or working through various management scenarios to offer solutions. Often the adaptation of techniques and implementation of strategies is more in line with their own practical experience, than the sometimes inflexible solutions proposed by researchers and industry. The initial case studies provided here are practical examples of how other landholders have undertaken soil management, and the impact of that management on other aspects of their farming system and profitability.

External links (Link)

These external links provide a direct route to more detailed calculators and tools considered useful to the growers and landholders. They can be used to benchmark soil quality indicators, assess economic responses to management such as green manuring and provide more detailed models to simulate soil carbon, nitrogen availability and water.