Soil Essentials: Managing Your Farm's Primary Asset (Landlinks Press)

Soil Essentials is a practical reference for farmers and land managers covering soil issues commonly encountered at the farm level. Written in a straightforward style, it explains the principles of soil management and the interpretation of soil tests, and how to use this information to address long-term soil and enterprise viability. This book demonstrates how minerals, trace elements, organic matter, soil organisms and fertilizers affect soil, plant and animal health. It shows how to recognise soil decline, and how to repair soils affected by nutrient imbalances, depleted soil microbiology, soil erosion, compaction, structural decline, soil sodicity and salinity. The major problem soils – sodic soils, light sandy soils, heavy clay soils and acid sulphate soils – are all examined.With this information, farmers and land managers will be able to consider the costs and financial benefits of good soil management. Contents 8 Preface 6 Chapter 1 The nature of Australian soils 10 Chapter 2 Soil pH 16 Chapter 3 Nutrient balance in the soil 22 Chapter 4 Carbon in the soil 30 Chapter 5 Nitrogen in the soil 34 Chapter 6 Phosphorus in the soil 38 Chapter 7 Potassium in the soil 44 Chapter 8 Magnesium in the soil 48 Chapter 9 Trace elements in the soil 52 Chapter 10 Soil cations 56 Chapter 11 Sulphur in the soil 60 Chapter 12 Aluminium in the soil 66 Chapter 13 Soil sodicity 70 Chapter 14 Soil analysis results 76 Chapter 15 Encouraging soil biological activity 80 Chapter 16 Earthworms 84 Chapter 17 Biological farming 88 Chapter 18 Components of soil fertility 94 Chapter 19 When to apply fertilisers to plants 102 Chapter 20 Soil erosion 108 Chapter 21 Repairing and preventing soil erosion 130 Chapter 22 Soil compaction 134 Chapter 23 Soil structural decline 138 Chapter 24 Water movement in soil 142 Chapter 25 Urbanisation in rural areas 148 Appendices 154 Appendix 1 Preferred pH(water) ranges for some agricultural crops 154 Appendix 2 The pH (H2O) scale 155 Appendix 3 Electrical conductivity (in dS/m) 156 Appendix 4 Salt tolerance of some agricultural crops showing maximum ECe values in dS/m for no yield reduction 157 Appendix 5 Total soluble salts 158 Appendix 6 Chloride (as % NaCl) 159 Appendix 7 Organic carbon (%) and total nitrogen (%) 160 Appendix 8 The nitrogen cycle 161 Appendix 9 The chemistry of the carbon cycle 162 Appendix 10 Mathematical conversions 163 Appendix 11 The organic matter cycle 165 Appendix 12 The different processes of slaking and dispersion 166 Appendix 13 Organic matter levels relative to rainfall for surface soils (0–10 cm) 167 Appendix 14 Nutrient deficiencies in plants: a quick guide 168 Appendix 15 Average nutrient content of animal manures (as a percentage) 169 Appendix 16 Mineral elements in plants 170 Appendix 17 The average composition of the plant 171 Appendix 18 The influence of chemical fertilisers on pH 172 Appendix 19 Physical properties of soil 173 Appendix 20 The four main types of structure that occur in mineral soils 174 Appendix 21 Plant–soil–water relationships 175 Appendix 22 Readily available water required 176 Appendix 23 Cumulative infiltration of water 177 Appendix 24 Average infiltration rates for some soil types 178 Appendix 25 Assessing soil texture by feel 179 Appendix 26 Texturing soils using a soil bolus 180 Appendix 27 Soil colour 182 References 184 Index 186 Preface, by Roger Hall 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 soil Urbanisation in rural areas Appendix 1: Preferred pH(water) ranges for some agricultural crops Appendix 2: The pH (H2O) scale Appendix 3: Electrical conductivity (in dS/m) Appendix 4: Salt tolerance of some agricultural crops showing maximum ECe values in dS/m for no yield reduction Appendix 5: Total soluble salts Appendix 6: Chloride (as % NaCl) Appendix 7: Organic carbon (%) and total nitrogen (%) Appendix 9: The nitrogen cycle Appendix 9: The chemistry of the carbon cycle Appendix 10: Mathematical conversions Appendix 11: The organic matter cycle Appendix 12: The different processes of slaking and dispersion Appendix 13: Organic matter levels relative to rainfall for surface soils (0–10 cm) Appendix 14: Nutrient deficiencies in plants: a quick guide Appendix 15: Average nutrient content of animal manures (as a percentage) Appendix 16: Mineral elements in plants Appendix 17: The average composition of the plant Appendix 18: The influence of chemical fertilisers on pH Appendix 19: Physical properties of soil Appendix 20: The four main types of structure that occur in mineral soils Appendix 21: Plant–soil–water relationships Appendix 22: Readily available water required Appendix 23: Cumulative infiltration of water Appendix 24: Average infiltration rates for some soil types Appendix 25: Assessing soil texture by feel Appendix 26: Texturing soils using a soil bolus Appendix 27: Soil colour References

soil Essentials Is A Practical Reference For Farmers And Land Managers Covering Soil Issues Commonly Encountered At The Farm Level. Written In A Straightforward Style, It Explains The Principles Of Soil Management And The Interpretation Of Soil Tests, And How To Use This Information To Address Long-term Soil And Enterprise Viability.

this Book Demonstrates How Minerals, Trace Elements, Organic Matter, Soil Organisms And Fertilizers Affect Soil, Plant And Animal Health. It Shows How To Recognise Soil Decline, And How To Repair Soils Affected By Nutrient Imbalances, Depleted Soil Microbiology, Soil Erosion, Compaction, Structural Decline, Soil Sodicity And Salinity. The Major Problem Soils – Sodic Soils, Light Sandy Soils, Heavy Clay Soils And Acid Sulphate Soils – Are All Examined.

with This Information, Farmers And Land Managers Will Be Able To Consider The Costs And Financial Benefits Of Good Soil Management.

"Soil essentials is a practical reference for farmers and land managers covering the problems that are commonly encountered at the farm level. It explains the results of soil tests and shows how to use this information to improve the management of soils and the profitability of farming enterprises."--Publisher