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Soil essentials: managing your farm’s primary asset (Book)

This book explains the basics of soil and soil management, focusing on the importance of soil biology for plant health, how to interpret soil tests and how to sustainably manage common soil issues on Australian farms. This book explains the principles of soil management, how to interpret soil tests and how to sustainably manage a wide range of soil issues commonly encountered on Australian farms. Topics include plant nutrients in the soil, soil chemistry, soil salinity, soil fertility, soil biology, soil structure, soil compaction and soil erosion. This book is no longer available in a print edition but can be accessed as a eBook with institutional access [PDF, 192 pages]. #

Contents:
The nature of Australian soils
Soil pH
Nutrient balance in the soil
Carbon in the soil
Nitrogen in the soil
Phosphorus in the soil
Potassium in the soil
Magnesium in the soil
Trace elements in the soil
Soil cations
Sulphur in the soil
Aluminium in the soil
Soil sodicity
Soil analysis results
Encouraging soil biological activity
Earthworms
Biological farming
Components of soil fertility
When to apply fertilisers to plants
Soil erosion
Repairing and preventing soil erosion
Soil compaction
Soil structural decline
Water movement in the soil
Urbanisation in rural areas

  • Audience: RSP, tertiary students, landholders, consultants, SFSG
  • State: NSW, ACT, VIC, NT, SA, TAS, QLD, WA
  • Author/Editor: R Hall
  • Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
  • Resource Type: Book
  • Copyright Year: 2008
  • ISBN/ISDN: 9780643090521
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Resource Last Updated: August 9, 2023

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This is a carefully curated database of important soil resources. The data base is not exhaustive but rather a library of what we believe are the most useful for the audience we are trying to serve – you. Where numerous items cover the same content, we have chosen the one we believe to be the best.

Each resource has been added after careful consideration against our selection criteria; including but not limited to its scientific validity, accessibility, and readability. The library does not include scientific journal literature as this is available via a number of other channels and is not considered to be the material the core audience for this list wants.

SSA reminds user of these resources that they are a guide only and due to regular advances in our understanding of soil science it is important to check the suitability of the information for your purpose with an appropriately qualified professional such as a RSP.

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We welcome your suggestions about valuable soil resources that could be included in the Smart Soils Resource Library. Please read this information before proceeding. Please remember, this Resource Library does not include scientific journal articles.

New resources are evaluated by Soil Science Australia’s membership of soil specialists.

Each new library resource is added after careful consideration, it must:
1. demonstrate good quality soil science. The resources must be scientifically valid. Case studies that contribute significantly to the understanding of soil management in Australian regions are also accepted.
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