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Soil attributes
Explore an underground world

Learn about what’s going in soil and why.
Understand soil properties and processes

The Soil attributes section contains information on different topics within soil biology, physics or chemistry. Pages within these topics present an overview of the current state of knowledge, explain the principles and properties of different soil attributes, and highlight insights from research and resources like case studies. Resources are suggested throughout these Pages.
- View all soil attributes
Soil management
Looking after soil for long-term sustainability

Protecting and conserving a critical resource.
Discover and apply best practice soil management

Soil management focuses on practical advice and guidelines to improve soil management. This information discusses how soil management integrates into different farming systems and considers different options that may be available to improve soil quality. Resources are linked throughout Soil Management pages.
- View all Soil management
- Controlled traffic farming
- Strategic tillage
- Soil amendments
- Agricultural lime
- Fertiliser
Soil analysis & testing
Dig deeper with analytical insights and data

Support better decision making and create value with soil monitoring and testing.
Learn how soil testing and monitoring can unlock potential

Soil analysis & testing provides information on how soil attributes and properties are measured and tested, as well as guidance on how to analyse and interpret soil test results and set up soil sampling and monitoring.
- View all Soil analysis and testing
- Soil sampling
- Soil groups
- Testing soil colour
- Testing soil texture
- Testing soil structure
- Testing soil nutrients
- Identifying soil constraints
- Measuring soil organic carbon
- Understanding trial results and on-farm experimentation
Resources
Curated collection of high-quality, evidence-based soil information

The knowledge you need, all in one place.
Explore our collection of videos, case studies, fact sheets, tools, journal articles, links and more.

The Resources section lets user explore and access a curated selection of additional resources for soil information and management. These Resources can be searched, and filtered by topic(s), format, date, and organisation so you can find what you’re looking for, or discover something new.
- Videos
- Case studies
- Fact sheets
- Reports
- Journal articles
- Tools
- External links
- Books
- Ebooks
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Hardened cereal cysts

Cereal cyst nematode

Case study

Cereal cyst nematode (Heterodera avenae) is a pest of cereal crops.

5 min read

Year: 2021

Soil biology - pests and disease

wheat seedling roots affected by rhizoctonia root rot

Rhizoctonia root rot

Case study

Rhizoctonia root rot is a fungal disease that is often a problem in sandy or calcareous soil of western and southern Australia.

5 min read

Year: 2021

Soil biology - pests and disease

Take-all disease symptoms in barley crop

Take-all

Case study

Take-all is a significant soil fungal disease that mostly affects wheat, barley, and oats.

5 min read

Year: 2021

Soil biology - pests and disease

Soil phosphorus testing: Colwell P and DGT-P

Case study

Different soil testing methods measure different pools of phosphorus in the soil.

4 min read

Year: 2023

Phosphorus

Macrofauna increase soil moisture and yield

Case study

Macropores associated with tunnelling macrofauna, such as earthworms, ants and termites, are considered a visual indicator of soil health.

4 min read

Year: 2021

University of Western Australia

Author(s): Theodore Evans

Soil biological fertility