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The Northern Rivers soil health card – NSW (Manual)

This updated SoilCare soil testing manual was developed by Northern Rivers farmers, NSW Department of Agriculture and TAFE staff to provide farmers with field tests to monitor and assess their soil. The Northern Rivers soil health card has 10 straightforward visual soil tests that require simple equipment and can be carried out by one person in the field using the Soil health card results sheet. By testing regularly and keeping the cards, farmers can build up a record of their soil health, and understand the effect of management practices on soil condition. The methods are explained in the YouTube video, The soil health card tests [6:11]. It also includes information about the possible causes of low health scores. The SoilCare website has versions of the soil health card adapted by local farmers for different production types i.e. coffee, macadamia, coastal grazing, perennial horticulture and vegetable. While this manual was written for higher rainfall areas in north eastern NSW, the tests are relevant for farmers across Australia [17 pages, 1.7MB]. #

Contents:
Diversity of soil life
Ground cover
Penetrometer
Infiltrometer
Root development
Soil structure
Aggregate stability
Earthworms
Soil pH
Plant vigor
Some extra tests: Calico strip test for soil microbes, Bioturbation, Erosion
Soil health card results sheet

  • Audience: RSP, tertiary students, landholders, SFSG, consultants
  • State: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA
  • Author/Editor: Northern NSW farmers, NSW Department of Agriculture and TAFE staff
  • Publisher: NSW
  • Resource Type: Manual
  • Copyright Year: 2024
  • Not Provided
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Resource Last Updated: February 15, 2026

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