Disclaimer

This material is general in nature. It is made available on the understanding that the Land & Water Australia is not providing professional advice. Readers are advised and need to be aware that this information may be incomplete or unsuitable for use in specific situations. Before taking any action or decision based on the information available in this website, readers should seek expert professional, scientific and technical advice.

Links to other web sites are inserted for convenience and do not constitute endorsement of material at those sites.

Land & Water Australia do not assume liability of any kind whatsoever resulting from any person’s use or reliance upon the content of this website.

* You must accept the agreement to proceed further.

Home > Help diagnose my soil

Diagnose my soil

Checklist

Other factors may constrain grain yield - including inadequate nutrition, disease and poor agronomic management. If present, these factors may preclude you from correctly diagnosing soil constraints to yield. Check for possible constraints and then begin diagnosis.

            Plant symptoms 

Possible Cause

Do the leaves or stems show nutrient deficiency and/or toxicity symptoms - such as leaf burning, discolouration, abnormal growth?

Poor nutrition can be due to soil constraints or poor soil fertility. Soil and tissue test.

Read more on Soil Fertility

Nitrogen deficiency and/or wilting may also be due to disease or nematodes. Check plant roots or crowns for brown discolouration, dark lesions, or root knotting.

Crop yields may be constrained by disease and/or nematodes. Plants affected by disease often have a poor finish.

Read more on Pests and Disease

Agronomic and soil management practice influence yield. Check for plant damage caused by pests and assess best management practice.

Seek advice if you suspect agronomic management is limiting yield

Read more on Management

Read more on Soil Water

Identify potential soil constraints to production

Soil constraints resulting in poor root growth will affect water and nutrient uptake and decrease crop yield

Read more on Soil Compaction

Read more on Soil Stability

Read more on Soil Salinity

Read more on Soil pH

Unusual or extreme climatic events impact on grain yield

Return to key in a more 'average' year