Soil testing: soil testing to determine fertiliser applications – Southern region (Factsheet)
This Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) factsheet explains how to collect soil samples for laboratory testing to support crop nutrition planning in grain production systems. It recommends testing at least 20% of cropping paddocks each year before the season, with sampling targeted to different production zones within paddocks. The tests assess key nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur, and identify soil constraints such as acidity, salinity and sodicity that may need to be managed. The factsheet outlines a clear sampling strategy for both topsoil (0–10 cm) and subsoil using deep cores at 10–30 cm, 30–60 cm and 60–90 cm. It also explains how nutrient critical values are used to estimate appropriate fertiliser application rates. The GRDC also provides a related YouTube playlist, Agronomy Solutions: soil and plant testing (2019), which includes three short videos demonstrating the sampling and testing procedures described. While the factsheet was developed for the Southern Region, the factsheet is relevant to other broadacre grain-growing areas [PDF 1.5 MB, 5 pages]. #
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