Gain access to soil technical expertise and benefit from the latest in soil science
Support is available for landholders, farmers, natural resource managers, advisers and smart farm small grant recipients.
Regional Soil Coordinators {inset link} are focal points for soils advice and create key links to expertise around the country. They connect you with soil expertise and activities going on in your region and are based in Drought and Innovation Hubs across Australia.
Soil Science Australia has a register of accredited Soil Science professionals. These professionals are private advisers, government employees or work in a university but all have attained the knowledge and practical understanding to achieve and maintain an accreditation.
Around Australia there are non-governmental organisations and state government departments you can contact for more information about soils. Use the Organisation directory {inset link} to find the right body in your state or territory or national bodies that carryout and fund soils projects.
Soil Science Australia, with the support of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, have established a National Soil Science Extension Community of Practice (CoP) – ‘Smart Soils’ CoP. The National Soil Extension Coordinator and convener of the CoP is Abigail Jenkins.
The Smart Soils CoP is a group of extension-focused soil scientists from across Australia who meet regularly to collaborate and share knowledge. The CoP brings together the national network of drought and innovation hubs with the soil CRC, SSA member scientists and government.
The CoP creates opportunities for participants to network, share knowledge, build skills and create a bridge between soil science and practical on-the-ground application of soil sampling, soil data collection and interpretation and soil management to improve soil health.
A Certified Practicing Soil Scientist (CPSS) is the expert in all things soils with many years of training, study and on the job experience. You can look at the CPSS register and find a soils scientist
A Registered Soil Practitioner has gained a deeper understanding of a specific aspect of soil such as soil sampling and interpretation. This accreditation is for agronomists, soil extension officers, natural resource managers, grower groups project officers.
| State | Dept or Organisation | Web Address | Contact for |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | ASPAC | https://www.aspac-australasia.com/ | Australasian and plant analysis council ensures quality diagnostic and analytical services in Australia is runs workshops and provides information on lab certification & lab proficiency |
| National | irrigation Australia | https://www.irrigationaustralia.com.au/ | IAA is the peak national body representing the entire irrigation industry. It provide training, educational resources and access to certified professionals |
| National | OFT | https://www.farmtrials.com.au/ | Online Farm Trials (OFT) is a web based system that provides open and free access to on-farm, or field based, cropping research trial data and information. Established in 2013 and still in use it provides links to other resources, training videos and a user guide |
| National | Soil and landscape grid of Australia | https://www.csiro.au/en/research/natural-environment/land/soil-and-landscape-grid-of-australia | The soil and landscape grid of Australia provides detailed digital maps of the Australias soils. |
| National | State of env report | https://soe.dcceew.gov.au/ | The State of the Environment report is conducted every 5 years and provides an independent, comprehensive and evidence-based assessment of the state of Australia’s environment.The SOE reports on land and soil condition indicators such as acidity, salinity, |
| National | crop consultants Australia | https://cropconsultants.com.au/ | Crop Consultants Australia is a profession network of agronimists nad cop consultants it facilitates the transfer of knowledge to members and acts as a means of communication between members and other industry groups. It is primarily an association for those that provide agronomic advice to cotton, grains, pulse and oilseed producers in Australia. |
| National | Fertilisers Australia | https://fertilizer.org.au/ | Fertilizer Australia, is the industry association representing manufacturers, importers and distributors of fertiliser in Australia, and associated service industries. It provides fertcare training and accrediationalong with industry publications |
| farming systems groups | numerous | There are numerous farming systmes gorups around Australia that carryout soils related projects, farerm case studies and publications. These are usually regionally and or industry based. To find your local group contact the relevant industry and or local service directory. |
| State | Dept or Organisation | Web Address | Contact for |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIc | Vic govt. portal | https://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/soil-home | Victorian Resources Online soils pages |
| Vic | Dept of Agriculture Victoria/ Victorian Resources Online ; Ag Vic/VRO | https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/soil | soil pages of Victorian Dept of Agriculture |
| Vic | Environment Protection Authority; EPA | https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/environmental-information/environmental-public-health/contaminated-land-and-your-health | contaminated lands information |
| VIc | Vic catchments | https://viccatchments.com.au/about-us/our-cma-regions/ | Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) are responsible for the integrated planning and coordination of land, water and biodiversity management in each catchment and land protection regions. Victoria is divided into 10 catchment and land protection regions. Various CMAs some have more soils info than others, check Goulburn broken ( https://www.gbcma.vic.gov.au/our-region/land_and_biodiversity/land_health ) and NCCMA and NECMA ( https://www.necma.vic.gov.au/Solutions-Resources/Sustainable-Agriculture) |
| VIc | Dept of Agriculture Victoria/ Victorian Resources Online ; Ag Vic/VRO | https://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/soil_health_sem | Victorian Resources online review of extension materials (2007) |
| VIc | Vic Catchments | https://soilhealth.ccmaknowledgebase.vic.gov.au/ | Vic Catchments soil knowledge base |
| Vic | Southern farming systems; sfs | Probe-Trax (sfs.org.au) | Southern farming systems prob trax soil probe system for PAW |
| State | Dept or Organisation | Web Address | Contact for |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Office of Environment & Heritage; OEH | https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/land-and-soil/information/espade | access to NSW Digital soil data and map tool: eSpade |
| NSW | Dept. Primary Industries; DPI | https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/soils | Agricultural and horticultural soils information. Also registration for Soil Network of Knowledge (SNoK) webinars and quarterly soils publication All the Dirt |
| NSW | Dept. Planning and environment: DP&E | https://data.nsw.gov.au/data/dataset/australian-soil-classification-asc-soil-type-map-of-nsweaa10 | Dept planning and environment provides access to soil data resources and a data portal |
| NSW | Soil Knowledge Network; SKN | https://www.nswskn.com/links-2/ | the Soil Knowledge Network is a citizen science group of skilled retired soil scientists managed by OEH, with emphasis on soil mapping and pedology |
| NSW | Soils Near Me | https://soilsnearme.app/info/1001 | Soils Near me is an app for NSW and shows the dominant soil types across NSW using the Australian Soil Classification (ASC), 2nd Edition |
| NSW | Office of Environment & Heritage; OEH | https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/land-and-soil/managing-land-and-soil#:~:text=SoilWatch%20is%20a%20soil%20health,condition%20across%20New%20South%20Wales. | Managing land and soil Provie info on soil health indicators. The soil watch program and relevant NSW legislation |
| NSW | Soil Conservation Service NSW | https://www.scs.nsw.gov.au/ | NSW Soil Conservation Service |
| NSW | Sharing and Enabling Environmental Data; SEED | https://datasets.seed.nsw.gov.au/dataset/acid-sulfate-soils-risk0196c | Use SEED in NSW data set for Acid Sulfate Soil (ASS) Risk |
| NSW | Sharing and Enabling Environmental Data; SEED | https://datasets.seed.nsw.gov.au/dataset | SEED NSW data set catalogue. This includes data sets and maps for ASC, Great soil groups, soil condition, soil health and links with eSpade |
| NSW | NSW Environmental Protection Authority; EPA | https://app.epa.nsw.gov.au/prclmapp/searchregister.aspx | contaminated land records for NSW |
| NSW | NSW Environmental Protection Authority; EPA | https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/contaminated-land | information on managing contaminated lands |
| State | Dept or Organisation | Web Address | Contact for |
|---|---|---|---|
| TAS | Dept. of Natural Resources and Environment; DNR&E | https://nre.tas.gov.au/agriculture/land-management-and-soils/soil-management/acid-sulfate-soils | ASS |
| TAS | Dept. of Natural Resources and Environment; DNR&E | https://nre.tas.gov.au/agriculture/ | Agriculture section of DNRandE has info on agronomy, research and land management |
| TAS | NRM north, south and cradle coast | https://nre.tas.gov.au/agriculture/land-management-and-soils/about-land-management | These regional Natural Resource Management providers run many soil related projects and produce publications |
| TAS | Dept. of Natural Resources and Environment; DNR&E | https://nre.tas.gov.au/agriculture/land-management-and-soils | land management and soil section of DNR & E |
| TAS | Environment Protection Authority; EPA | https://epa.tas.gov.au/environment/land | contaminated lands information |
| TAS | farmpoint | https://farmpoint.tas.gov.au/environment/soils | Tasmanian government information portal for farmers and their advisors (home page https://farmpoint.tas.gov.au/ govt portal) |
| TAS | Tasmania Inst of Agricultural Research; TIAR | https://www.utas.edu.au/tia | University of Tasmania research institute with a mandate to deliver research, industry development and education for the agri-food industry of Tasmania. |
| State | Dept or Organisation | Web Address | Contact for |
|---|---|---|---|
| QLD | Qld Environment , Land & Water; EL&W | https://www.qld.gov.au/environment | QLD governments environment, land and water with links to agriculture and primary industries. Land and vegetation management and GBR also sustainable ag subset at https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/agriculture/sustainable-farming |
| QLD | QLD, Dept. Agriculture an fisheries; QDAF | https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/agriculture | QLD Dept of Agriculture and Fisheries has information on agronomy and research conducted |
| QLD | Department Environment and Science | https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/our-environment | Dept Env and Science has information on contaminated land, planning guidelines, ecosystem health monitoring and GBR |
| QLD | QLD globe | http://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ | Online interactive soil mapping portal |
| QLD | Soil And Land Information; SALI | https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/queensland-soil-survey-sites-sali_site | The Soil and Land Information (SALI) Platform is Queensland Government’s corporate repository for the input, management and security of soils data and information. land suitability, chemistry |
| QLD | Qld govt. portal | https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/soil/soil-data | soils data, mapping, survey and land evaluation information |
| QLD | Qld govt. portal | https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/soil/soil-testing/types | Australian Soil Classification (ASC) map and descriptions for QLD |
| State | Dept or Organisation | Web Address | Contact for |
|---|---|---|---|
| WA | Dept. Primary Industries, regional Development; DPIRD | https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/identifying-wa-soils/soil-classification-western-australia | information on the constraints and characteristics of each soil group, soil profile images and maps showing where soil groups are located in Western Australia. Landholders can use this information to assess land capability for a range of agricultural industries and to help develop soil management plans. |
| WA | WA Environmental protection Authority; EPA | https://www.epa.wa.gov.au/policies-guidance/land | The land section of WA EPA has environmental factor guidelines for land for EIA and information on state policy and legislation |
| WA | Ag and Food | https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/wa-soil-health-strategy | The Western Australian Soil Health Strategy sets the strategic direction that will guide policy, research, investment, and on-ground actions that support the management, protection, improve the partnerships and improvement of soil functions and associated ecosystem services for the next 10 years within WA. |
| WA | Ag and Food | https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/managing-soils/mysoil | MySoil is a simple tool to identify soil types. Growers can use soil identification to improve soil management and reduce the impact of soil constraints. MySoil summarises thousands of soils into 15 broad soil types. Each broad soil type has similar characteristics and management requirements. The information is a starting point for estimating yield potential and for managing soil constraints to improve crop production. |
| WA | chem centre WA | https://www.chemcentre.wa.gov.au/ | chemical analysis and forensic science services |
| WA | Dept water & Environmental Regulation; DWER | https://estuaries.dwer.wa.gov.au/soil-wise/ | Soil wise is a collaborative project to help farmers and land managers improve their soil health and nutrient management. The aim is to promote best practice sustainable agriculture so that farmers can increase productivity and profitability, whilst protecting and improving the condition of natural resources. it is part of long running integrated Dept Water & Environmental Regulation program based in the Peel River catchment – Healthy estuaries. It has developed extension activities, educational material, field days, workshops and webinars |
| WA | Soils West | https://soilswest.org.au/ | The SoilsWest alliance is an independent entity focused on providing a pathway for the discovery and development of soil research to improve both profitability and soil resource management across the Western Australian grains industry. Centred from 2021 at Murdoch University, this partnership was founded between the University of Western Australia and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). It is where you can find the soil quality e books online and project reports from the research conducted. |
| WA | Commissioner of soil and land conservation and the soil and land conservation council of WA | https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-land-water/functions-and-duties-commissioner-soil-and-land-conservation-western-australia | Details about the WA soil commissioners role and jurisdiction. |
| WA | https://www.der.wa.gov.au/your-environment/contaminated-sites/58-finding-information-on-contaminated-sites-in-western-australia | DWER site perhaps in KB instead: https://www.wa.gov.au/service/environment/acid-sulfate-soils |
| State | Dept or Organisation | Web Address | Contact for |
|---|---|---|---|
| NT | NR maps | https://depws.nt.gov.au/rangelands/information-and-requests/land-soil-vegetation-information | Provides useful information on land, soil and vegetation across the Northern Territory (NT) in the form of maps, datasets and reports. There are links to mapping related publications and technical summaries of NT Soils. Applications for NT soil maps can be made here |
| NT | Territory NRM | https://www.territorynrm.org.au/nt-healthy-soils-hub | this NGO hosts NT healthy soils hub which has information on the activities, resources and events dedicated to preserving and facilitating healthy soils throughout the territory. |
| NT | Dept. Environment, Parks and Water Security; DEPWS | https://depws.nt.gov.au/rangelands | The rangelands section of DEPWS has technical notes and factsheets on soils and publications on land suitability |
| NT | NT state govt portal | https://nt.gov.au/environment/soil-land-vegetation | NT govt portal has direct links to contact for land / soil management, erosion control planning and soil and land mapping |
| NT | Northern Territory Environmental Protection Authority; NTEPA | https://ntepa.nt.gov.au/ | the NTEPA has information on Acid Sulfate Soils and PFAS |
| NT | NT govt portal | https://nt.gov.au/industry/agriculture | this NT government section has information on managing pastoral land, cropland preparation and soil carbon |
| State | Dept or Organisation | Web Address | Contact for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SA | Primary industries & Regions South Australia; PIRSA | https://www.agbureau.com.au/projects/soil-management | Dept Primary Industries and regions is a key economic development agency in the Government of South Australia, with responsibility for the prosperity of the state’s primary industries and regions. They cover all major Agricultural industries and soils issues related to these. |
| SA | Landscape boards SA | https://www.landscape.sa.gov.au/ | Nine individual regional bodies responsible for delivering practical, on-ground programs to manage landscapes. They invest landscape levies into regional priority issues as well as leveraging Australian Government funding towards managing and protecting our productive and natural landscapes. |
| SA | South Australia Research and Development Inst; SARDI | see PIRSA | South Australian Research and Development Inst. It is the research arm of PIRSA. SARDI’s agronomy research program develops innovative strategies to optimise crop and soil management. The focus is dryland broadacre farming systems and covers soil carbon, nutrition, amelioration of constraints. SARDI also provides molecular diagnostic (DNA) tests such as Predicta and agronomist accreditations programs for these analyses. |
| SA | Department of Environment and Water; DEW | https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/soil-and-land-management | South Australia department responsible for national parks and other natural resources in SA. DEW has a Soil and Land Management section that provides info on the solos of SA, their sustainable management and monitoring of soil health and condition |
| SA | SA state govt portal | https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/soil-type | datasets for SA soils mapping |
| SA | Ag bureau of SA | https://www.agbureau.com.au/projects/soil-management | the SA Ag Bureau produced the Best practice manual for the addition of clay to sandy soils in 2011. They carry out projects in Soil carbon, sandy soils, soil constraints such as acidity and Sodicity |
Most states and territories have government departments that can supply you with:
In addition there are also non-government organisations that focus on soils; farming systems groups and volunteer-based groups such as Landcare help develop, promote and contribute to better soil management practices. Take a look at the org directory {inset link} to find the relevant organisation for you.
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The latest news and events for soil practitioners
Soil Science Australia – April 2023 Soil Science Australia is training soil professionals to help farmers build soil performance. Soil Science Australia recently held Registered
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Soil Science Australia is the national soil science body and a not-for-profit professional incorporated association for soil scientists and people interested in the responsible management of Australia’s soil resources.
