Soil water Archives - WA Soil Knowledge Base

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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
- Courses
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Courses

EasyClay Calculator

Tool or calculator

EasyClay Calculator

Soil management

Before spending the time and money spreading clay, it is important to know how much you need based on...

Tool or calculator

APSoil

APSoil is a database of soil water characteristics enabling estimation of Plant Available Water Capacity for individual soils and...

Report or other publication

Soil water – methods to predict plant available water capacity (PAWC) using soil-landscape associations

Report or other publication

Water-Smart Farming Manual

This GRDC manual describes the latest research on maximising your rainfall and provides new strategies for increasing your yield,...

Report or other publication

To rip on or off the old rip line: a paddock-scale study on deep ripping and topsoil inclusion in a dry season

Strategic tillage

Video

Impact of dry disturbance on water repellent soil

Soil water repellence

01:18

Disturbing repellent soil when dry can lead to more severe expression of the problem.

Video

Water-holding capacity of soil organic matter

Soil biological attributes

02:11

Organic matter is increasingly important as an influence on water holding capacity as clay content declines.

Video

Soil water repellence: the essentials

Soil water repellence

02:33

This video provides an outline of the causes, impacts and management of soil water repellence.

Mulches – examples of impact

Sodic and alkaline soil

Benefits of surface mulches