data2.cerdi.edu.audata2.cerdi.edu.au/dataset/a5e42177-e1ee-4ce8-866e-d08aa9d1b22… · CRICOS Provider No. 00103D Page i of i Table of Contents A review of indicators of soil health

Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation

A review of indicators of soil health and function: Farmers’ needs and data management Survey results

Prepared by: Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation Status: Final Version: 1.0 Date: 31 May 2018

CRICOS Provider No. 00103D Page i of i

Table of Contents A review of indicators of soil health and function: Farmers’ needs and data management ..............................................................................................................1

Results – All participants...................................................................................................................... 1

Results – Farmers ............................................................................................................................... 37

Results – Consultants ......................................................................................................................... 68

Results – Agronomists ....................................................................................................................... 96

Results – Industry representatives .................................................................................................. 125

Results – Advisors/Extension officers ............................................................................................ 153

Results – Researchers ...................................................................................................................... 181

Appendix 1 – Survey ............................................................................................. 210

A review of indicators of soil health and function: Farmers’ needs and data management ..... 210

CRICOS Provider No. 00103D Page 1 of 231

A review of indicators of soil health and function: Farmers’ needs and data management

Results – All participants

Question 1: Which of the following best describes your role?

Which of the following best describes your role?

Role All participants (n=122)

Farmer 46

Consultant 15

Agronomist 21

Industry representative 8

Advisor/Extension officer 12

Researcher 20

No answer 0

Total 122

20

12

8

21

15

46

No answer

Researcher

Advisor/Extension officer

Industry representative

Agronomist

Consultant

Farmer

All p

artic

ipan

ts (n

=122

)



Question 2: Please indicate your age.

Please indicate your age.

Age All participants (n=122)

18 - 24 1

25 - 34 16

35 - 44 18

45 - 54 35

55 - 64 27

65 - 74 19

75 or older 6

No answer 0

Total 122

6

19

27

35

18

16

1

No answer

75 or older

65 - 74

55 - 64

45 - 54

35 - 44

25 - 34

18 - 24

All p

artic

ipan

ts (n

=122

)Please indicate your age:


Question 3

Other:

• California, United States

Question 3

State or territory All participants (n=122)

Australian Capital Territory 1

New South Wales 22

Northern Territory 0

Queensland 11

South Australia 15

Tasmania 1

Victoria 52

Western Australia 17

Other 1

No answer 2

Total 122

2

1

17

52

1

15

11

22

1

No answer

Other

Western Australia

Victoria

Tasmania

South Australia

Queensland

Northern Territory

New South Wales

Australian Capital Territory

All p

artic

ipan

ts (n

=122

)Question 3


Question 4

Other:

• Rice • Sugar Cane – our work focusses on environmental risk management across industries – cane is

receiving the most policy attention at the moment.

Question 4

Produce All participants (n=122)

Dryland (e.g. non-irrigated,

rainfed)

Irrigated Intensive (e.g. feedlots, greenhouses)

Rangeland No answer Total

Grain, oilseed, pulses

68 4 N/A N/A N/A 72

Beef cattle 13 2 0 2 N/A 17

Prime lamb 6 0 0 0 N/A 6

Dairy (cows) 4 2 1 N/A N/A 7

Wool (sheep) 5 0 0 0 N/A 5

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130

No answer

Other

Viticulture

Horticulture: permanent plantings

Horticulture: annual crops

Pigs

Sugar

Cotton

Wool (sheep)

Dairy (cows)

Prime lamb

Beef cattle

Grain, oilseed, pulsesPr

oduc

e

All p

artic

ipan

ts (n

=122

)Question 4

Dryland (e.g. non-irrigated, rainfed) Irrigated

Intensive (e.g. feedlots, greenhouses) Rangeland

No answer


Question 4



rainfed)



Cotton 0 0 N/A N/A N/A 0

Sugar 1 3 N/A N/A N/A 4

Pigs 0 0 0 N/A N/A 0


0 1 0 N/A N/A 1


1 5 0 N/A N/A 6

Viticulture 0 1 0 N/A N/A 1

Other 1 1 0 0 N/A 2

No answer N/A N/A N/A N/A 1 1

Total 99 19 1 2 1 122


Question 5

Other:

• Chickens and ducks • Farming communities intent on achieving soil health in north central Victoria • Free range game birds • Frost, regenerative agriculture • Fruit and nut trees, game birds • Horses • Landcare • Pasture improvement and pasture cropping when moisture available • Planted forest systems (land use change) • Produce by fence posts • Rice • Sheep for meat • Sheep meat • Speciality crops such as poppies, boronia, pyrethrum, flowers, medicinal herbs etc.

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130

No answer

Other

Viticulture



Pigs

Sugar

Cotton

Wool (sheep)

Dairy (cows)

Prime lamb

Beef cattle


oduc

e

All p

artic

ipan

ts (n

=122

)Question 5



No answer


Question 5



rainfed)




18 10 N/A N/A N/A 28




Wool (sheep) 44 2 0 1 N/A 47





5 19 1 N/A N/A 25


4 11 1 N/A N/A 16


Other 8 5 1 0 N/A 14


Total 179 85 7 6 15 292


Question 6

Please state certification:

• BFA • Bonsucro • Demeter • Organic and biodynamic • Possibly • No answer (n=2)

Question 6

All participants (n=122)

Yes 7

No 115

No answer 0

Total 122

115

7

No answer

No

Yes

All p

artic

ipan

ts (n

=122

)Question 6


Question 7

Question 7

Size All participants (n=122)

Less than 50 hectares 20

50 to 99 hectares 20



1,000 to 1,999 hectares 48

2,000 to 4,999 hectares 37

5,000 hectares or more 22

No answer 2

Total 229

2

22

37

48

33

47

20

20

No answer

5,000 hectares or more

2,000 to 4,999 hectares


500 to 999 hectares

100 to 499 hectares

50 to 99 hectares

Less than 50 hectares

All p

artic

ipan

ts (n

=122

)Question 7


Question 8

90.2%

16.4%

13.1%

7.4%

17.2%

5.7%

11.5%

15.6%

8.2%

8.2%

6.6%

4.1%

4.9%

7.4%

12.3%

22.1%

12.3%

13.9%

13.1%

9.8%

4.1%

15.6%

10.7%

4.1%

25.4%

1.6%

4.9%

6.6%

9.0%

18.9%

2.5%

.8%

1.6%

1.6%

13.1%

21.3%

3.3%

20.5%

13.9%

3.3%

2.5%

1.6%

50.8%

43.4%

34.4%

41.8%

26.2%

30.3%

37.7%

35.2%

40.2%

41.0%

29.5%

38.5%

39.3%

49.2%

39.3%

50.8%

36.1%

45.9%

47.5%

21.3%

8.2%

17.2%

32.8%

54.1%

15.6%

66.4%

53.3%

40.2%

47.5%

32.8%

50.0%

65.6%

54.9%

51.6%

25.4%

17.2%

33.6%

29.5%

27.0%

39.3%

72.1%

Other

Market forecast

Commodity prices

Input costs

Machinery performance

Yield/quality

Plant/animal health

Biomass

Pasture growth

Soil biology

Soil structure

Soil chemistry, nutrients

Soil moisture

Soil type, variability

Drainage, waterlogging

Contours, levels

Seasonal forecasts

Wind

Frost

Temperature

Rainfall

Agrib

usin

ess

Prod

uctio

nSo

ilsTe

rrai

nW

eath

er

All p

artic

ipan

ts (n

=122

)Question 8

No answer Never Sometimes Always


Other:

• Agronomists, marketing gurus • Available cash flow and product (solid/liquid) conditioners and fertilisers • Degree of waterlogging in wet periods, and degree of grass cover in dry periods • Distance from the market and therefore the cost of freight for a given output • Farmer health • Field variation in soil type, nutrient dispersal, etc. • Heavy mulching • Long term business objects balanced with family needs and aspirations • Mancing market events with production • Pests • Remote sensing and mapping – FarmMap4D • Resource use efficiency, crop nutrition principles, fertiliser types and use, reducing land based

emissions, irrigation, cover and biofumigation crops, organic amendments, waste water and recycled organics, pests, diseases and weeds

Question 8


Always Sometimes Never No answer

Weather Rainfall 88 26 3 5

Temperature 48 58 4 12

Frost 33 56 17 16

Wind 36 44 25 17

Seasonal forecasts 41 62 4 15

Terrain Contours, levels 21 48 26 27

Drainage, waterlogging 31 60 16 15

Soils Soil type, variability 63 48 2 9

Soil moisture 67 47 2 6

Soil chemistry, nutrients 80 36 1 5

Soil structure 61 50 3 8

Soil biology 40 49 23 10

Production Pasture growth 58 43 11 10

Biomass 49 46 8 19

Plant/animal health 65 37 6 14

Yield/quality 81 32 2 7

Agribusiness Machinery performance 19 51 31 21

Input costs 66 42 5 9


Question 8



Commodity prices 40 53 13 16

Market forecast 21 62 19 20

Other 10 2 0 110


Question 9

Other:

• Agronomist not paid • ALA, BASE, SOILQUALITY.ORG, VRO • Collect data within company • From credible biodynamic suppliers, not synthetic focused groups • GIS • Incitec Pivot database or BFDC database • Laboratory testing • pH testing • Provide and share information and data with Landcare group • Seminars, field days • Soil analyses of samples collected on farm • Twitter • Victorian Resources online

Question 9

Data source All participants (n=122)

Collect it on the farm manually 103

Collect it on the farm with sensors 33

From our own database 51

Shared from others 46

12

13

23

49

28

29

66

58

46

51

33

103

No answer

Other

From a mobile App

Freely from the internet

From a subscription or membership

From a paid advisor, agronomist or consultant

From research reports, maps, journals, experts

From extension activities

Shared from others

From our own database

Collect it on the farm with sensors

Collect it on the farm manually

All p

artic

ipan

ts (n

=122

)Question 9


Question 9

Data source All participants (n=122)

From extension activities 58

From research reports, maps, journals, experts 66

From a paid advisor, agronomist or consultant 29

From a subscription or membership 28

Freely from the internet 49

From a mobile App 23

Other 13

No answer 12


Question 10

Other:

• Brix • Daily • Grid based nutrient • Landscape function (Tongway et al. 2004) • pH (n=2) • pH CA MAG TRACE ELEMENTS • Routine soil tests • Soil test results • Soil testing

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130

Other

Other

Other

Soil-borne pests/diseases

Worms/bugs

Erosion, groundcover

Penetrometer, spade, boot heel

Waterlogging, drainage

Wetness, moisture, dryness, cracking

Organic matter

Smell, taste

Colour, texture, feel

Obs

erva

tions

All p

artic

ipan

ts (n

=122

)Question 10

Weekly Monthly Yearly Every 2 to 5 years Use rarely Never use No answer


• Structure • Trash levels • Visual signs of biology • Yield

Other:

• Echangeable Cations • Grid based acidity • NDVI • Olsson P • Precision Ag services • Satellite observations • Stage of crop growth • Structural stability • Taste of produce

Other:

• Leaf colour/pest density • Macro nutrients • Soil pathogen • Drive by observation • Cost effectiveness • Phosphorus • Profile soil test

Question 10

Observations All participants (n=122)

Weekly Monthly Yearly Every 2 to 5 years

Use rarely Never use No answer


10 21 32 20 14 1 24

Smell, taste 6 15 7 3 29 34 28

Organic matter

10 19 36 24 8 3 22


28 38 20 3 6 1 26


14 30 28 12 8 5 25


15 21 23 8 19 8 28


16 27 37 5 9 3 25

Worms/bugs 13 22 26 7 23 5 26


Question 10

Observations All participants (n=122)



Soil-borne pests/ diseases

7 14 21 12 28 13 27

Other 5 4 5 0 0 0 108

Other 2 4 3 0 0 0 113

Other 2 1 4 0 0 0 115


Question 11

Other:

• Bulk density (n=2) • Plant available water

Other:

• Soil porosity/water infiltration

Other:

• Root depth

Question 11

Physical tests




Soil moisture 22 31 20 7 8 10 24

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130

Other

Other

Other

EM38 survey

Soil strength

Soil structure

Soil temperature

Soil moisture

Phys

ical

test

s

All p

artic

ipan

ts (n

=122

)Question 11



Question 11

Physical tests




Soil temperature

11 26 9 2 29 18 27

Soil structure 4 13 41 17 11 6 30

Soil strength 1 6 17 4 38 21 35

EM38 survey 1 1 8 16 23 39 34

Other 0 1 1 0 1 0 119

Other 0 0 1 0 0 0 121

Other 0 1 0 0 0 0 121


Other:

• Carbonates • Cation exchange capacity • CEC • Range of macronutrients

Other:

• Ca and Mg for structure assessment • Exch cations • Gypsum • Soil organic carbon storage

Other:

• Micronutrients indictors • Plant available nutrients • Sodicity

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130

Other

Other

Other

Soil contaminants/toxicity

Soil EC, salinity

Soil nitrogen

Soil pH (acidity/alkalinity)

Paddock soil tests (nutrients)Ch

emic

al te

sts

All p

artic

ipan

ts (n

=122

)Question 11



Question 11

Chemical tests




Paddock soil tests (nutrients)

3 6 52 34 4 4 19

Soil pH (acidity/ alkalinity)

4 8 50 35 3 2 20

Soil nitrogen 1 9 54 21 6 7 24

Soil EC, salinity

1 5 46 36 4 6 24

Soil contaminants/ toxicity

0 1 21 11 26 27 36

Other 1 0 2 1 0 0 118

Other 1 0 2 1 0 0 118

Other 0 1 1 1 0 0 119


Other:

• Dung beetle activity • Nematodes • Pachymetra and nematode • Potentially mineralisable nitrogen • Soil biomass testing • Soil food web

Other:

• Enzyme activity

Other:

• Microbial biomass

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130

Other

Other

Other

Mycorrhizal colonisation

Bug counts

Worm counts

DNA-based tests

Respiration/decompositionBi

olog

ical

test

s

All p

artic

ipan

ts (n

=122

)Question 11



Question 11

Biological tests




Respiration/decomposition

0 3 8 6 19 50 36

DNA-based tests

0 1 5 10 20 52 34

Worm counts 2 1 8 6 30 42 33

Bug counts 1 5 8 3 27 48 30


0 2 9 5 19 57 30

Other 1 1 1 2 1 0 116

Other 0 1 0 0 0 0 121

Other 0 1 0 0 0 0 121


Other:

• Agronomic tests for indicating soil performance • Microbial population diversity and functions • Tissue testing for micronutrients • Using biomass feedback from satellite data • Water infiltration

Question 11




Other tests 0 3 1 0 1 0 117

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130

Other tests

Question 11



Question 12

Question 12


Monthly Yearly Every 2 to 5 years

Hardly ever Never No answer

14 63 19 9 0 17

10 20 30 40 50 60 70


Question 12

Monthly Yearly Every 2 to 5 years Hardly ever Never No answer


Question 13

Question 13


Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 Total

Soil Physical 24 30 29 83

Soil Chemical 47 49 36 132

Soil Biological 1 2 5 8

Vegetation indicators 22 13 12 47

Other 6 3 9 18

No answer 22 25 31 78

Word cloud

Answer Carbon CEC Cover Crop Decomposition Deep EC Ground Growth Health

Matter Moisture N Nitrogen Nutrients Organic P

Pasture pH Phosphorus Plant Soil Species Structure

Temperature Test Texture Visual Yield

22

6

22

1

47

24

25

3

13

2

49

30

31

9

12

5

36

29

No answer

Other

Vegetation indicators

Soil Biological

Soil Chemical

Soil Physical

All p

artic

ipan

ts (n

=122

)Question 13

Response 1 Response 2 Response 3


Word frequencies

Soil (n=62) pH (n=38) Moisture (n=28) Nutrients (n=22) Test (n=20) Organic (n=14) Yield (n=13) Structure (n=11) N (n=10) P (n=10) Nitrogen (n=9) Plant (n=9) Growth (n=8) Matter (n=8) Carbon (n=7) Texture (n=7) Deep (n=6) EC (n=6) Health (n=6) Visual (n=6) CEC (n=4) Cover (n=4) Crop (n=4) Decomposition (n=4) Ground (n=4) Pasture (n=4) Phosphorus (n=4) Species (n=4) Temperature (n=4) Answer (n=3)

Responses – All participants (n=122) Soil Physical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Available soil moisture • Moisture (n=10) • Organic matter • Organic matter/carbon • Probe • Soil moisture • Soil moisture at depths • Soil strength • Soil structure (n=2) • Soil texture • Soil wetting • SOM • Texture • Visual

• Erosion • Feel • Infiltration rate • Litter decomposition • Moisture (n=3) • Organic matter (n=2) • Penetrometer depth of less

300psi • Shovel (n=2) • Soil hydraulics • Soil loss and erosion • Soil moisture (n=8) • Soil moisture probe • Soil organic matter • Structure (n=2) • Texture (n=2) • Visual/touch • Water content

• Colour • Decomposition of mulch • EM survey • Humas/carbon

incorporation visual • Moisture • Moisture content • My eyes and feet! • Organic content • Organic matter (n=3) • Penetration • Penetrometer (n=2) • Rainfall and heat • Repellance • Seeding soil moisture • Soil structure (n=2) • Soil structure/water

movement • Soil temperature • Soil temperature probe • Soil texture • Soil type • Structure (n=2) • Structure, tilth • Texture (n=2)

Soil Chemical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Available nutrients • CEC • Colwell P (n=2) • Deep N • Deep Soil N, S, Bo Ec • DGT P • Grid based pH, N, P, K • N • NPKS • Nutrient • Nutrient status

• 0-10 Nutrient • Ca% of CEC • Calcium magnesium • CEC • Chemical analysis • Colwell P • Deep N • Deep soil N • Deep/shallow soil nutrient

tests • DGT P

• % Na • Acidity • All nutrients • Available Minerals • Cal/mag ratio • Chemical nutrition • EC • ESI/CEC • Macro levels • N • Nitrogen (n=4)


• Nutrients • Olsson P • Organic carbon (n=2) • pH (n=13) • pH CaCl2 • pH/EC • Phosphorus/PBI • Physical soil test • Smell of the soil • SOC • Soil chemistry + N • Soil fertility • Soil N – Deep N • Soil nutrient • Soil nutrients • Soil nutrients/pH • Soil pH (n=2) • Soil test • Soil test P and K • Soil testing for nutrients • Std major, minor nutrients

• DGT-P • EC • EConductivity • General soil test • Nitrogen (n=4) • NPK • Nutrient testing • Nutrients (n=2) • Nutrition • PBI (n=2) • pH (n=10) • pH and liming

requirements • pH testing • pH/EC • Phosphorus (n=2) • Soil chemistry/nutrition • Soil nutrients • Soil organic carbon • Soil pH • Soil test • Soil test other nutrients • Soil testing • Soil tests • Soil water

• Nitrogen levels • Nutrient status • Nutrient test • Nutrients (n=2) • Organic carbon • Organic carbon (sugar) • P levels • pH • pH and EC • pH mapping • Phosphorus • S • Salinity (n=2) • Smell (n=2) • Soil test • Soil test data • Soil test pH and structure • Soil tests (n=2)

Soil Biological Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Decomposition • Speed of decomposition

• Worm activity/numbers • Bugs • Pathagens • Pest density • Soil biology • Worm numbers

Vegetation indicators Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Biomass • Biomass produced • Condition of trees • Crop yield and quality • Crop/pasture yield • dM yield • Ground cover and species

mix • Increase in perennial grass

species • Past yield • Pasture height/yield • Pastures growth or lack of

growth • Perennial grass basal area • Plant species • Plant vigour

• Crop growth • Early season response • Ground cover (n=2) • Growth • Indicator plant species • Leaf size and surface

feeder root proliferation • Plant colour • Plant health • Plant sugars • Production • Production – growth rates • Tree health

• Annual comprehensive leaf nutrient analysis

• Crop observations • Ground cover • Growth/density • Pasture growthpalanced • Perennial grass recovery • Plant growth • Plant performance • Yield (n=3) • Yield maps


• Root depth and location • Tree health, fruit size and

fruit drop at climatic stress events

• Visual – sward appearance • Weeds • Yield (n=3) • Yield map

Other Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • CSBP soil and plant tests • No idea • Pre and post preparation • Rainfall • Stock health • Visual inspection

• Experience • History • Temperature

• 43 years of observation • Animal health (n=2) • pH/EM38/NDVI • Responsiveness • Soil observation (colour,

root growth, worms) • Temperature • Testing • Visual

No answer Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • No answer (n=22) • No answer (n=25) • No answer (n=31)


Question 14

Question 14







Other 7 3 10 20

No answer 32 36 41 109

Word cloud

Accurate Activity Analysis Available Biological Biomass Carbon CEC Content EC

Health Level Mapping Matter Moisture Monitoring N Nitrogen

Nutrient Organic P pH Plant Regular Soil Status Structure Test Water Yield

32

7

9

10

40

24

36

3

5

9

42

27

41

10

12

7

27

25

No answer

Other


Soil Biological

Soil Chemical

Soil Physical

All p

artic

ipan

ts (n

=122

)Question 14



Word frequencies

Soil (n=66) pH (n=28) Test (n=26) Nutrient (n=21) Moisture (n=20) Organic (n=19) Matter (n=12) Biological (n=8) Structure (n=8) Activity (n=7) Carbon (n=7) CEC (n=7) Nitrogen (n=7) Plant (n=7) Yield (n=7) N (n=6) Available (n=5) Mapping (n=5) P (n=5) Status (n=5) Water (n=5) Analysis (n=4) Content (n=4) EC (n=4) Health (n=4) Level (n=4) Monitoring (n=4) Regular (n=4) Accurate (n=3) Biomass (n=3)

Responses – All participants (n=122) Soil Physical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Automated probe • Bulk density (n=2) • Current PAW • EM mapping • EM survey to inform where

to take soil test on their property

• EM38 (n=2) • Moisture (n=3) • Monitor soil moisture • OC • Organic matter • pH • Repellence • Soil moisture • Soil moisture at depths • Soil structure • Structure • Structure/strength • Visual • Visual physical properties • Water holding capacity

• Erosion/soil loss • Hand held OC • Litter decomposition • Low cost EM • Moisture (n=3) • Moisture content • Organic carbon • Organic matter (n=4) • Rate of soil drainage • Root constraints • Shovel • Soil compaction • Soil moisture (n=2) • Soil organic matter • Soil structure • Soil structure/moisture

holding capacity • Soil temperature

monitoring • Soil type • Structure • Texture • Visual soil assessment

• Aeration • Compaction • Dig a hole to understand

soil physical properties at depth

• EM38 • Moisture (n=2) • Mulch decomposition • My eyes and feet! • Organic content • Organic matter (n=4) • Soil moisture • Soil moisture DUL etc. • Soil organic matter • Soil probe/moisture • Soil temperature • Soil type • Structure • Texture • Texture/PAW • Water • Water infiltration rates • Zonal management

Soil Chemical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Accurate soil moisture • Balanced nutrients • CEC • Colwell P • Cost effective on farm soil

test • Deep Soil N, S, Bo EC • Electronic pH • Grid nutrients (phosphorus

primarily) • Moisture • N fractions • N P K S

• Bi-annual soil nut test • Calcium requirements • CEC (n=3) • CEC and available

minerals • CEC/ESP • Colwell P • Complete soil test • Core samples - nutrient • Deep soil N • Elements • Grid pH • Help boost soil

• Accurate nitrogen availability

• Chemical analysis • Colwell K • Complete chemical

analysis through EAL – water soluble, extractable and total levels

• Deep soil Nitrogen • ESI/CEC • Exchangeable cations • Humus level • Microelements


• Nitrogen/pH • NPKS • Nutrient status (n=2) • Nutrient tests • Nutrition • Organic carbon • P • pH (n=7) • pH mapping • pH/EC • Phosphorus • Physical soil test • Plant available N • Potassium • SOC • Soil nutrients/pH • Soil oxygen content • Soil pH (n=2) • Soil test • Soil testing for nutrients • Total available nutrient

• Nitrogen (n=3) • Nutrient beyond 0-10 • Nutrient levels • Nutrient soil tests • Nutrients (n=2) • Olsen P • Organic carbon • PBI (n=2) • pH (n=2) • pH test • pH/EC • Phosphorus • Regular carbon content

measurement • Salinity • Simplified soil test to match

possible crop • Soil N mapping • Soil nutrient • Soil nutrients • Soil organic carbon • Soil test regularly • Soil testing • Soil testing on a regular

basis • Yearly general soil test

• Nitrogen • NPK • Nutrient status • Nutrients • Organic matter % • Pesticide residues • pH (n=6) • pH and EC • Possibly grid sampling

paddocks for VR • S • Soil chemistry/nutrition • Soil organic carbon • Soil tests

Soil Biological Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Accurate measurement of

soil fungi, bacteria and other microbes

• Biological activity • Biological activity and

diversity • Bug diversity counts • Cost effective biological

indicator • Predicta B • Soil animals • Soil Biology

quantities/values • Soil biota • Soil life

• Biocobial activity • Biological counts • Disease • DNA based tests • Microbial activity • Mycorrhizal colonisation • Mycorrizal activity • Soil biology • Soil food web

• Biological assessment • Biological testing • How to increase microbial

activity • Microbe/micro fauna

activity and health • Soil animals • Soil bourne pests/diseases • Worm and bug counts

Vegetation indicators Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Biomass/yield • Complex plant tissue

analysis • Crop yield and quality • Growth rates – CSIRO

pasture space @ paddock

• Hyperspec nutrient status • Indicator plant species • Leaf tissue test • Plant/pasture quality • Tissue tests

• Crop observations • Mapping increase in

perennial species • Multispec feed analysis –

ME CP • NDVI


level resolution or geolocated cdax

• Perennial grass basal area • Plant d/m production • Root depth • Yield • Yield monitoring

• Perennial grass recovery • Performance • Plate meter • Progressive review of

performance (Biomass) • Satellite pasture growth • Yeild monitoring • Yield • Yield variability

Other Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Any tests that would • CSBP soil and plant tests • Organic carbon/respiration • Plant available nutrients

and water • Rainfall • Regular soil biomass

testing • Stock health

• pH and structural status • Sap and DNA tests • Temperature

• 43 years of observation • A test that indicates a soils

ability to mitigate the effect climatic stress events

• Calf/may ratio • Cattle hoof health and

relation to soil testing • Health • Locality benchmarking • Mill ash/mud amendments • Soil nutrient cf yield map • Soil observation (colour,

root growth, worms) • VSA



Question 15

Word cloud

Animals Assess Available Better Biological Building Crop Cycle Depends Different Growing Health Healthy Indicators Look Management Measure Mineral Moisture

Nutrient Organic Performance pH Plants Soil Structure Test Time Useful Work

Word frequencies

Soil (n=65) Plants (n=16) Biological (n=12) Nutrient (n=12) Test (n=12) Measure (n=11) Indicators (n=10) Useful (n=9) Available (n=7) Health (n=7) Management (n=7) Organic (n=7) Better (n=6) Different (n=6) Healthy (n=6) Look (n=6) Mineral (n=6) pH (n=6) Time (n=6) Crop (n=5) Growing (n=5) Moisture (n=5) Performance (n=5) Structure (n=5) Work (n=5) Animals (n=4) Assess (n=4) Building (n=4) Cycle (n=4) Depends (n=4)

Responses – All participants (n=122) • A lot of contradiction re biological measures and effectiveness of microbes and cost effective ways

to improve the soils BIOLOGICAL workings. The use of biological e.g. carbon, humates fulvic vs humic, molassis, microbe 'food', biological microbes – VERY confusing and need the facts of what may REALLY work or even the RATES and/or time period required to notice results (plant growth/yield improvements, soil tillage).

• As I live in a high rainfall pH and nutrient run off are one of the main problems. An economical viable stabiliser would be a great help.

• Building nutrient profile map of soil to depth e.g. 0-60cm including soil moisture. • Comparison of biological performances of soil with varying organic carbon content and the impact

of herbicides on soil microflora. • For us, we have soils that are generally stable but are often acidic and low in P, As long as we

have enough ground cover to ensure we don't have soil loss, we tend to work on these two issues. • Given the erratic nature of weather events, the higher the organic matter levels, the more resilient

soils will be in regard to plant available water holding capacity, and slow release nutrient availability. Priority should be given to research into ways of raising these levels, as many soils have been mined of humus, after years of inappropriate management.

• Healthy soils = healthy plants = healthy animals = healthy humans. Therefore I judge my soil fertility program by how healthy my stock are, not by the amount of grass I grow. Proper soil fertility (not based on artificial fertilizers) results in better QUALITY pastures and healthy stock which require significantly less intervention and better conception rates, better growth rates and is generally better for the world!!

• How fast the different limes take to move through the soil. • I found it impossible to answer most of these questions accurately as our research does not follow

a single pattern. For instance our work on cotton, wheat and sheep all followed a different regime in timing and methods. However all were aimed at measuring species richness and abundance of soil, leaf litter and grass invertebrate faunas and all proved effective at indicating differences between management regimes as well as indicating production differences.


• I have been unable to solve the issue of beef and dairy cattle having cracked hoofs causing discomfort and pain. I have checked with many vets and others but no definite diagnosis. I try and buy different licks but this does not always work. The cattle's feet have been well formed etc. before the cracking.

• I think far too much emphasis is put on synthetic fertility and not enough of building soil resilience and microbiology.

• Improved ability to assess impact of current practices through assisting in establishing baseline data to enable temporal monitoring of soil condition – priority is chemical, but also physical and biological.

• In rangelands, soil chemical testing is useful to provide a broad prediction of possible deficiencies for livestock, e.g. pH may indicate low availability of some nutrients to plants with a flow on to livestock nutrients. However, detailed chemical analysis would be useful only where there are benchmark figures that land type/locality. Organic matter assessment is very useful to assess nutrient cycling in relation to adequate plant material being retained for nutrient cycling and soil structure.

• Landscape function. • Live or up to date measurements which are easily accessible would make a huge difference. A

collated database with timestamps where we can map changes over time would be very helpful. • Look to the future – what should be done. Current soil science is going no place fast, dictated as it

is by vested interests intent on maintaining the current MORE-ON (we have a bag or a bucket that will fix your latest problem) sales philosophy, that has no regard for the collateral damage caused by many of the additions. If you want to act objectively and responsibly look to the worldwide Regenerative Agriculture movement that says emulate nature and then enhance it. Read Charles Massy's "Call of the Reed Warbler" if soil science wants to be relevant in 2030.

• Looking forward to the long promised remote sensing tech delivering! • Measure various aspects of biology – depends on farm type. Measure diversity of plants in the

paddock – depends on farm type. Regular brix testing – depends on farm type. Colour of plants is a rough indicated of soil health and moisture levels.

• Measures of resilience/fragility/stress. • MIR scan for soil properties that help understand functions, i.e. pH and P buffering capacity, soil

moisture retention curves, texture profile. • Most of our analysis occurs during and immediately after the growing season to identify water

needs, sunshine hours, and micro-organism activity. • Non wetting soils and water repellent soils are a significant area of the SA Murray Mallee. They

are difficult soils to manage – fragile, highly erodible, inconsistent in their responses to wetters and ameliorants, generally low yielding because of poor and patchy germination and emergence, difficult to handle and manage.

• Olsson P over 12 vital for our grazing system determines carrying capacity/profitability. • Producers/agronomists/consultants/advisors required protocols to measure and monitor soil

performance. I know it has been done before and the most frustrating part is a monitoring program is funded by a government organisation, therefore, producers do not have any ownership and only see it as a free soil test etc. Resulting in producers wanting funding or subsidies to soil tests or precision ag but not fully understand the value of monitoring their soil and its performance over time.

• Rapid cheap soil analysis. • Sodicity and impediments in the soil profile, i.e. hard pans or sodic layers etc. • Soil structure is by far the most important indicator of soil health or lack of it, and soil organic

carbon is by far the most important indicator of soil structure. Both pH and EC are mitigating factors in terms of soil performance. The pH issues are largely subsoil alkalinity (natural) as opposed to acidification.

• Some assessment of the physical status of the soil would always be useful in deciding management options.

• Testing needs to be low cost and real time in preference as decisions in a grazing system are made on the go. When doing a grazing plan I don’t want to wait a week for soil test results to set up next 3 months.


• Testing plant nutrients. • The limiting factor in our area is mostly related to waterlogging in winter and early spring, anything

(except raised beds) which could help with that problem would be well received. • The microbial health of the soil is important however I do not know of a test to measure this? • The soil look especially when dry can show how acid it is. Especially old rice ground. • The values of total minerals and that available is a large driver. Without biology the gap between

total and available minerals and proteins widens. An indicator of key indicators or biology carriers that are missing would be useful as many reports are solely focused on NPK (driven solely by fert sales) yet in some cases a missing or locked up mineral or biology density is the actual key. Injecting more NPK is ineffective if unavailable to the plant or more importantly is detrimental to soil biology. If we promote and assist the biology to increase density then the plants will be given the opportunity of available minerals and proteins.

• There is more to it than just three observations/measurements. • These are some of key soil resources, which would be linked well with high performance soils (in

response to management systems), plant/crop yield and profitability to farmers. • To concentrate on soils without reference to vegetation and moisture is an absurdity. It is actively

growing plants (with access to appropriate moisture) that make soil form or build. To test the quality of soils (as distinct from "mineral earth" as the firefighters call it) it is necessary to analyse the mineral density and nutrient content of the plants growing on the soil, the meat and milk produced by animals feeding on the said plants and the strength of the fibres grown by the plants or animals dependent on the soil. If shortcomings in these measurements are discerned, corrections and additions can be tailored by subsequent soil testing.

• Trend data of soil depth, pH, micro nutrient changes, structural changes. • Use soil animals, i.e. microarthropods as "health" indicators. • We are a very small scale berry farm who garden organically but not certified on sandy free

draining soils, I would love to be able to know the diversity of the soil biome with a simple test and how much humas we're building year on year through mulching.

• We grow avocados in a cool Mediterranean climate where the district average production is one quarter of the theoretical maximum and a major problem is very small fruit. We have a trial into its fourth year where two 200 meter rows have had all soil removed and replaced one mixed with three rates of charcoal. This is in conjunction with Warren Catchment Council and Professor Stephen Joseph of UNSW Engineering. The first commercial crop is on the trees 2.65 times the fruit on the control row. This soil engineering is ridiculously economic even on the first crop but it has posed more questions than it has answered. Since I planted the first avocados in this district in 1981 the production has developed to now be 45% of Australia's total. Our state Department of Agriculture is uninterested, any suggestions would be very welcome. It looks like completely re-engineering soil for high value crops is very economic, but what is optimum is far from determined.

• We look at a number of Holistic Management processes – water cycle, nutrient cycle, community dynamics and energy flows.

• We talk about soil health as something to achieve, but don't have a clear path on how to deliver improved soil health within economical constants.

• We try to maintain maximum soil cover. • We use a dig stick to gather soils samples, may be a better way of doing this? Then converting

our soils tests into a better way of understanding what's is going on? • Whilst there is a lot of feel good talk about soil health – useful indicators with a sound basis in

terms of outcomes predicted are not yet available. Organic matter is a very coarse measure with some correlation to outcomes for soil structure and nutrient delivery.

• Yield of crops and pasture. • No answer (n=75)


Results – Farmers



Role Farmer (n=46)

Farmer 46

Consultant 0

Agronomist 0



Researcher 0

No answer 0

Total 46

46

No answer

Researcher



Agronomist

Consultant

Farmer

Farm

er (n

=46)





Age Farmer (n=46)

18 - 24 0

25 - 34 4

35 - 44 6

45 - 54 7

55 - 64 12

65 - 74 14

75 or older 3

No answer 0

Total 46

3

14

12

7

6

4

No answer

75 or older

65 - 74

55 - 64

45 - 54

35 - 44

25 - 34

18 - 24

Farm

er (n

=46)

Please indicate your age:


Question 3: Where is your main farming enterprise located?

Where is your main farming enterprise located?

State or territory Farmer (n=46)


New South Wales 10


Queensland 1

South Australia 5

Tasmania 0

Victoria 21

Western Australia 8

Other 0

No answer 1

Total 46

1

8

21

5

1

10

No answer

Other

Western Australia

Victoria

Tasmania

South Australia

Queensland

Northern Territory

New South Wales


Farm

er (n

=46)

Where is your main farming enterprise located?


Question 4: What is the PRIMARY focus of your main farming enterprise?

Other:

• Rice

What is the PRIMARY focus of your main farming enterprise?

Produce Farmer (n=46)


rainfed)




16 0 N/A N/A N/A 16






10 20 30 40 50

No answer

Other

Viticulture



Pigs

Sugar

Cotton

Wool (sheep)

Dairy (cows)

Prime lamb

Beef cattle


oduc

e

Farm

er (n

=46)




No answer





rainfed)






0 0 0 N/A N/A 0


1 3 0 N/A N/A 4


Other 0 1 0 0 N/A 1


Total 35 10 0 0 1 46


Question 5: What other focus, if any, do you have on your main farming enterprise?

Other:

• Free range game birds • Fruit and nut trees, game birds • Pasture improvement and pasture cropping when moisture available • Produce by fence posts • Sheep meat

What other focus, if any, do you have on your main farming enterprise?



rainfed)




7 1 N/A N/A N/A 8




10 20 30 40 50

No answer

Other

Viticulture



Pigs

Sugar

Cotton

Wool (sheep)

Dairy (cows)

Prime lamb

Beef cattle


oduc

e

Farm

er (n

=46)




No answer





rainfed)



Wool (sheep) 10 0 0 0 N/A 10





0 4 0 N/A N/A 4


1 2 0 N/A N/A 3


Other 3 2 0 0 N/A 5


Total 35 14 0 1 10 60


Question 6: Does your main farming enterprise have certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?


• Demeter

Does your main farming enterprise have certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?

Farmer (n=46)

Yes 1

No 45

No answer 0

Total 46

45

1

No answer

No

Yes

Farm

er (n

=46)

Does your main farming enterprise have certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?


Question 7: What is the total size of your main farming enterprise?

What is the total size of your main farming enterprise?

Size Farmer (n=46)


50 to 99 hectares 3



1,000 to 1,999 hectares 11

2,000 to 4,999 hectares 6


No answer 0

Total 46

2

6

11

3

17

3

4

No answer




500 to 999 hectares

100 to 499 hectares

50 to 99 hectares


Farm

er (n

=46)

What is the total size of your main farming enterprise?


Question 8: What data or information do you use to make management decisions on your main farming enterprise?

87.0%

10.9%

8.7%

2.2%

15.2%

4.3%

6.5%

15.2%

8.7%

10.9%

8.7%

8.7%

8.7%

13.0%

13.0%

21.7%

10.9%

8.7%

13.0%

10.9%

2.2%

15.2%

8.7%

2.2%

15.2%

2.2%

2.2%

10.9%

13.0%

8.7%

2.2%

2.2%

4.3%

4.3%

21.7%

28.3%

4.3%

15.2%

23.9%

2.2%

2.2%

54.3%

39.1%

30.4%

43.5%

28.3%

28.3%

34.8%

23.9%

39.1%

43.5%

28.3%

32.6%

41.3%

39.1%

28.3%

52.2%

50.0%

43.5%

47.8%

10.9%

10.9%

19.6%

43.5%

65.2%

26.1%

65.2%

63.0%

39.1%

54.3%

41.3%

45.7%

60.9%

54.3%

41.3%

26.1%

21.7%

32.6%

26.1%

19.6%

39.1%

87.0%

Other

Market forecast

Commodity prices

Input costs


Yield/quality

Plant/animal health

Biomass

Pasture growth

Soil biology

Soil structure


Soil moisture



Contours, levels

Seasonal forecasts

Wind

Frost

Temperature

Rainfall

Agrib

usin

ess

Prod

uctio

nSo

ilsTe

rrai

nW

eath

er

Farm

er (n

=46)

What data or information do you use to make management decisions on your main farming enterprise?



Other:

• Available cash flow and product (solid/liquid) conditioners and fertilisers • Degree of waterlogging in wet periods, and degree of grass cover in dry periods • Distance from the market and therefore the cost of freight for a given output • Heavy mulching • Mancing market events with production • Remote sensing and mapping – FarmMap4D

What data or information do you use to make management decisions on your main farming enterprise?

Farmer (n=46)




Frost 9 20 11 6

Wind 12 23 7 4










Biomass 18 16 5 7







Other 5 1 0 40


Question 9: How would you normally get (source) information and data about the SOIL on your farm?

Other:

• Agronomist not paid • From credible biodynamic suppliers, not synthetic focused groups • Laboratory testing • pH testing • Provide and share information and data with Landcare group

How would you normally get (source) information and data about the SOIL on your farm?

Data source Farmer (n=46)



From our own farming enterprise database 16

Shared from other farmers (e.g. neighbours, friends, family)

13

From extension activities (e.g. field days, newsletters)

23

From research reports, maps, journals, experts (e.g. government, universities)

18

3

5

3

19

16

17

18

23

13

16

6

40

No answer

Other

From a mobile App (e.g. SoilMapp, SoilWaterApp,etc.)

Freely from the internet (e.g. website, email feed,Twitter, etc.)

From a subscription or membership (e.g. to a growergroup or industry group)

From a paid advisor, agronomist or consultant

From research reports, maps, journals, experts (e.g.government, universities)

From extension activities (e.g. field days,newsletters)

Shared from other farmers (e.g. neighbours, friends,family)

From our own farming enterprise database



Farm

er (n

=46)




Data source Farmer (n=46)

From a paid advisor, agronomist or consultant 17

From a subscription or membership (e.g. to a grower group or industry group)

16

Freely from the internet (e.g. website, email feed, Twitter, etc.)

19

From a mobile App (e.g. SoilMapp, SoilWaterApp, etc.)

3

Other 5

No answer 3


Question 10: What SOIL OBSERVATIONS do you use to judge the performance of the soils on your farm, and how often do you collect them?

Other:

• Brix • Landscape function (Tongway et al. 2004) • pH • Soil testing • Visual signs of biology

Other:

• Olsson P

10 20 30 40 50

Other

Other

Other


Worms/bugs





Organic matter

Smell, taste


Obs

erva

tions

Farm

er (n

=46)

What SOIL OBSERVATIONS do you use to judge the performance of the soils on your farm, and how often do you collect them?



• Precision Ag services • Taste of produce

Other:

• Leaf colour/pest density • Macro nutrients

What SOIL OBSERVATIONS do you use to judge the performance of the soils on your farm, and how often do you collect them?

Observations Farmer (n=46)




3 12 13 5 5 1 7

Smell, taste 4 12 4 2 6 11 7

Organic matter

3 11 14 5 4 2 7


14 14 6 0 2 1 9


6 14 6 2 5 5 8


9 11 8 3 2 3 10


11 13 8 1 3 2 8

Worms/bugs 9 13 10 2 3 2 7


4 8 8 1 11 5 9

Other 2 2 1 0 0 0 41

Other 0 2 1 0 0 0 43

Other 0 1 1 0 0 0 44


Question 11: What SOIL TESTS do you use to judge the performance of the soils on your farm, and how often do you collect them?

Other:

• Bulk density

What SOIL TESTS do you use to judge the performance of the soils on your farm, and how often do you collect them?

Physical tests

Farmer (n=46)



Soil moisture 10 11 6 2 4 4 9

Soil temperature

2 9 5 0 15 5 10

Soil structure 1 9 15 3 5 2 11

10 20 30 40 50

Other

Other

Other

EM38 survey

Soil strength

Soil structure

Soil temperature

Soil moisture

Phys

ical

test

s

Farm

er (n

=46)





Physical tests

Farmer (n=46)



Soil strength 0 4 4 1 17 8 12

EM38 survey 0 0 2 1 5 25 13

Other 0 0 1 0 0 0 45

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 46

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 46



Chemical tests

Farmer (n=46)




0 1 19 14 4 3 5


0 2 20 13 3 2 6


Soil EC, salinity

0 0 17 12 2 6 9

10 20 30 40 50

Other

Other

Other


Soil EC, salinity

Soil nitrogen



Chem

ical

test

s

Farm

er (n

=46)





Chemical tests

Farmer (n=46)




0 0 8 4 9 14 11

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 46

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 46

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 46


Other:

• Dung beetle activity • Soil biomass testing


Biological tests

Farmer (n=46)




0 2 4 3 4 21 12

DNA-based tests

0 0 2 3 4 26 11

Worm counts 1 1 6 4 9 15 10

10 20 30 40 50

Other

Other

Other


Bug counts

Worm counts

DNA-based tests


Biol

ogic

al te

sts

Farm

er (n

=46)





Biological tests

Farmer (n=46)



Bug counts 0 2 7 2 9 16 10


0 1 7 3 4 22 9

Other 1 0 1 0 0 0 44

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 46

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 46


Other:

• Using biomass feedback from satellite data


Farmer (n=46)



Other tests 0 1 0 0 0 0 45

10 20 30 40 50

Other tests




Question 12: How often would you look back at your past soil information, observations or tests to use it in farming decisions?

How often would you look back at your past soil information, observations or tests to use it in farming decisions?

Farmer (n=46)



5 27 7 2 0 5

10 20 30

Farmer (n=46)

How often would you look back at your past soil information, observations or tests to use it in farming decisions?



Question 13: In your current farming enterprise, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that you use?

In your current farming enterprise, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that you use?

Farmer (n=46)






Other 4 1 6 11

No answer 8 9 11 28

Word cloud

Analysis Animal Available Chemical Cover Decomposition Deep Fruit Grass Ground

Growth Health Leaf Levels Mapping Matter Moisture N

Nitrogen Nutrient Organic P Perennial pH Plant

Soil Species Testing Visual Yield

8

4

12

1

10

11

9

1

7

2

15

12

11

6

7

1

10

11

No answer

Other


Soil Biological

Soil Chemical

Soil Physical

Farm

er (n

=46)

In your current farming enterprise, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that you use?



Word frequencies

Soil (n=19) Moisture (n=11) pH (n=9) Testing (n=8) Nutrient (n=7) Plant (n=6) Growth (n=5) Organic (n=5) Visual (n=5) Decomposition (n=4) Health (n=4) Matter (n=4) Yield (n=4) Cover (n=3) Deep (n=3) Grass (n=3) Ground (n=3) N (n=3) P (n=3) Perennial (n=3) Species (n=3) Analysis (n=2) Animal (n=2) Available (n=2) Chemical (n=2) Fruit (n=2) Leaf (n=2) Levels (n=2) Mapping (n=2) Nitrogen (n=2)

Responses - Farmer (n=46) Soil Physical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Available soil moisture • Moisture (n=5) • Organic matter • Probe • Soil moisture • Soil structure • Visual

• Erosion • Infiltration rate • Litter decomposition • Moisture • Organic matter • Penetrometer depth of less

300psi • Shovel • Soil moisture (n=2) • Soil organic matter • Texture • Visual/touch

• Decomposition of mulch • Humas/carbon

incorporation visual • My eyes and feet! • Organic content • Organic matter • Penetration • Rainfall and heat • Seeding soil moisture • Soil structure • Soil temperature • Soil texture

Soil Chemical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • CEC • Colwell P • Nutrient • Olsson P • pH (n=2) • Soil N – Deep N • Soil nutrient • Soil nutrients • Soil testing for nutrients

• 0-10 Nutrient • Chemical analysis • Deep N • Deep/shallow soil nutrient

tests • EC • EConductivity • Nitrogen (n=2) • pH (n=4) • pH testing • Soil testing • Soil tests

• Available Minerals • Cal/mag ratio • Chemical nutrition • Macro levels • P levels • pH mapping • S • Salinity (n=2) • Soil tests

Soil Biological Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Decomposition • Speed of decomposition

• Worm activity/numbers • Worm numbers

Vegetation indicators Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Biomass produced • Condition of trees • Ground cover and species

mix

• Crop growth • Ground cover (n=2) • Growth • Leaf size and surface

feeder root proliferation

• Annual comprehensive leaf nutrient analysis

• Growth/density • Pasture growthpalanced • Perennial grass recovery


• Increase in perennial grass species

• Past yield • Pastures growth or lack of

growth • Perennial grass basal area • Plant species • Plant vigour • Tree health, fruit size and

fruit drop at climatic stress events

• Weeds • Yield

• Plant colour • Plant sugars

• Plant performance • Yield • Yield maps

Other Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • CSBP soil and plant tests • Pre and post preparation • Stock health • Visual inspection

• Experience • 43 years of observation • Animal health (n=2) • pH/EM38/NDVI • Testing • Visual



Question 14: In an ideal world, what are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you would like to use?

In an ideal world, what are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you would like to use?

Farmer (n=46)






Other 4 1 6 11

No answer 13 15 17 45

Word cloud

Accurate Activity Available Biological Biomass Carbon Content Counts

Decomposition Effect Grass Health Increase Level Map Matter Microbe Microbial

Moisture Nitrogen Nutrient Organic Perennial Performance pH

Plant Soil Test Visual Yield

13

4

3

5

13

8

15

1

3

16

11

17

6

7

2

5

9

No answer

Other


Soil Biological

Soil Chemical

Soil Physical

Farm

er (n

=46)

In an ideal world, what are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you would like to use?



Word frequencies

Soil (n=24) Test (n=14) Nutrient (n=9) Organic (n=7) pH (n=7) Moisture (n=6) Activity (n=5) Matter (n=5) Available (n=4) Content (n=4) Accurate (n=3) Biological (n=3) Health (n=3) Nitrogen (n=3) Perennial (n=3) Plant (n=3) Visual (n=3) Yield (n=3) Biomass (n=2) Carbon (n=2) Counts (n=2) Decomposition (n=2) Effect (n=2) Grass (n=2) Increase (n=2) Level (n=2) Map (n=2) Microbe (n=2) Microbial (n=2) Performance (n=2)

Responses - Farmer (n=46) Soil Physical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Automated probe • EM38 • Moisture • Organic matter • pH • Soil moisture • Visual • Visual physical properties

• Hand held OC • Litter decomposition • Moisture • Moisture content • Organic matter • Rate of soil drainage • Root constraints • Shovel • Soil temperature

monitoring • Structure • Visual soil assessment

• Aeration • Moisture • Mulch decomposition • My eyes and feet! • Organic content • Organic matter • Soil organic matter • Water • Zonal management

Soil Chemical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Accurate soil moisture • Balanced nutrients • Cost effective on farm soil

test • Electronic pH • Nitrogen/pH • Organic carbon • P • pH • Plant available N • Soil oxygen content • Soil test • Soil testing for nutrients • Total available nutrient

• Bi-annual soil nut test • CEC and available

minerals • Core samples - nutrient • Elements • Help boost soil • Nitrogen • Nutrient beyond 0-10 • Nutrient levels • Nutrient soil tests • pH • pH test • Regular carbon content

measurement • Salinity • Simplified soil test to match

possible crop • Soil nutrient • Soil testing

• Accurate nitrogen availability

• Humus level • Organic matter % • pH • S


Soil Biological Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Accurate measurement of

soil fungi, bacteria and other microbes

• Biological activity • Bug diversity counts • Soil Biology

quantities/values • Soil life

• Biological counts • Microbial activity • Mycorrizal activity

• How to increase microbial activity

• Microbe/micro fauna activity and health

Vegetation indicators Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Complex plant tissue

analysis • Perennial grass basal area • Yield

• Mapping increase in perennial species

• NDVI • Perennial grass recovery • Performance • Progressive review of

performance (Biomass) • Satellite pasture growth • Yield

Other Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Any tests that would • CSBP soil and plant tests • Regular soil biomass

testing • Stock health

• Sap and DNA tests • 43 years of observation • A test that indicates a soils

ability to mitigate the effect climatic stress events

• Calf/may ratio • Cattle hoof health and

relation to soil testing • Locality benchmarking • Soil nutrient cf yield map



Question 15: Please provide any other comments or thoughts you have that would help us better understand the properties that could be used to measure and monitor the agricultural performance of soil.

Word cloud

Animals Available Better Biology Building Crop Density Depends Different Economic

Engineering Farm Fertility First Given Grazing Growing Healthy Help Indicated Levels

Many Measure Mineral Moisture Nutrient Plants Soil Testing Year

Word frequencies

Soil (n=26) Plants (n=12) Testing (n=8) Better (n=6) Biology (n=6) Healthy (n=6) Mineral (n=6) Available (n=5) Growing (n=5) Nutrient (n=5) Crop (n=4) Depends (n=4) Farm (n=4) Fertility (n=4) Measure (n=4) Year (n=4) Animals (n=3) Building (n=3) Density (n=3) Different (n=3) Economic (n=3) Engineering (n=3) First (n=3) Given (n=3) Grazing (n=3) Help (n=3) Indicated (n=3) Levels (n=3) Many (n=3) Moisture (n=3)

Responses - Farmer (n=46) • As I live in a high rainfall pH and nutrient run off are one of the main problems. An economical

viable stabiliser would be a great help. • For us, we have soils that are generally stable but are often acidic and low in P, As long as we

have enough ground cover to ensure we don't have soil loss, we tend to work on these two issues. • Given the erratic nature of weather events, the higher the organic matter levels, the more resilient

soils will be in regard to plant available water holding capacity, and slow release nutrient availability. Priority should be given to research into ways of raising these levels, as many soils have been mined of humus, after years of inappropriate management.

• Healthy soils = healthy plants = healthy animals = healthy humans. Therefore I judge my soil fertility program by how healthy my stock are, not by the amount of grass I grow. Proper soil fertility (not based on artificial fertilizers) results in better QUALITY pastures and healthy stock which require significantly less intervention and better conception rates, better growth rates and is generally better for the world!!

• How fast the different limes take to move through the soil. • I have been unable to solve the issue of beef and dairy cattle having cracked hoofs causing

discomfort and pain. I have checked with many vets and others but no definite diagnosis. I try and buy different licks but this does not always work. The cattle's feet have been well formed etc. before the cracking.

• I think far too much emphasis is put on synthetic fertility and not enough of building soil resilience and microbiology.

• Landscape function. • Live or up to date measurements which are easily accessible would make a huge difference. A

collated database with timestamps where we can map changes over time would be very helpful.


• Measure various aspects of biology – depends on farm type. Measure diversity of plants in the paddock – depends on farm type. Regular brix testing – depends on farm type. Colour of plants is a rough indicated of soil health and moisture levels.

• Most of our analysis occurs during and immediately after the growing season to identify water needs, sunshine hours, and micro-organism activity.

• Olsson P over 12 vital for our grazing system determines carrying capacity/profitability. • Testing needs to be low cost and real time in preference as decisions in a grazing system are

made on the go. When doing a grazing plan I don’t want to wait a week for soil test results to set up next 3 months.

• Testing plant nutrients. • The limiting factor in our area is mostly related to waterlogging in winter and early spring, anything

(except raised beds) which could help with that problem would be well received. • The values of total minerals and that available is a large driver. Without biology the gap between

total and available minerals and proteins widens. An indicator of key indicators or biology carriers that are missing would be useful as many reports are solely focused on NPK (driven solely by fert sales) yet in some cases a missing or locked up mineral or biology density is the actual key. Injecting more NPK is ineffective if unavailable to the plant or more importantly is detrimental to soil biology. If we promote and assist the biology to increase density then the plants will be given the opportunity of available minerals and proteins.

• To concentrate on soils without reference to vegetation and moisture is an absurdity. It is actively growing plants (with access to appropriate moisture) that make soil form or build. To test the quality of soils (as distinct from "mineral earth" as the firefighters call it) it is necessary to analyse the mineral density and nutrient content of the plants growing on the soil, the meat and milk produced by animals feeding on the said plants and the strength of the fibres grown by the plants or animals dependent on the soil. If shortcomings in these measurements are discerned, corrections and additions can be tailored by subsequent soil testing.

• We are a very small scale berry farm who garden organically but not certified on sandy free draining soils, I would love to be able to know the diversity of the soil biome with a simple test and how much humas we're building year on year through mulching.

• We grow avocados in a cool Mediterranean climate where the district average production is one quarter of the theoretical maximum and a major problem is very small fruit. We have a trial into its fourth year where two 200 meter rows have had all soil removed and replaced one mixed with three rates of charcoal. This is in conjunction with Warren Catchment Council and Professor Stephen Joseph of UNSW Engineering. The first commercial crop is on the trees 2.65 times the fruit on the control row. This soil engineering is ridiculously economic even on the first crop but it has posed more questions than it has answered. Since I planted the first avocados in this district in 1981 the production has developed to now be 45% of Australia's total. Our state Department of Agriculture is uninterested, any suggestions would be very welcome. It looks like completely re-engineering soil for high value crops is very economic, but what is optimum is far from determined.

• We look at a number of Holistic Management processes – water cycle, nutrient cycle, community dynamics and energy flows.

• We try to maintain maximum soil cover. • We use a dig stick to gather soils samples, may be a better way of doing this? Then converting

our soils tests into a better way of understanding what's is going on? • Yield of crops and pasture. • No answer (n=23)


Results – Consultants



Role Consultant (n=15)

Farmer 0

Consultant 15

Agronomist 0



Researcher 0

No answer 0

Total 15

15

No answer

Researcher



Agronomist

Consultant

Farmer

Cons

ulta

nt (n

=15)





Age Consultant (n=15)

18 - 24 0

25 - 34 2

35 - 44 2

45 - 54 6

55 - 64 3

65 - 74 2

75 or older 0

No answer 0

Total 15

2

3

6

2

2

No answer

75 or older

65 - 74

55 - 64

45 - 54

35 - 44

25 - 34

18 - 24

Cons

ulta

nt (n

=15)



Question 3: Where is your main workplace located?

Where is your main workplace located?

State or territory Consultant (n=15)


New South Wales 0


Queensland 4

South Australia 2

Tasmania 1

Victoria 6

Western Australia 1

Other 0

No answer 1

Total 15

1

1

6

1

2

4

No answer

Other

Western Australia

Victoria

Tasmania

South Australia

Queensland

Northern Territory

New South Wales


Cons

ulta

nt (n

=15)



Question 4: What type of agricultural enterprise comprises the majority of your work (in terms of time spent)?

What type of agricultural enterprise comprises the majority of your work (in terms of time spent)?

Produce Consultant (n=15)


rainfed)




7 0 N/A N/A N/A 7







10 20

No answer

Other

Viticulture



Pigs

Sugar

Cotton

Wool (sheep)

Dairy (cows)

Prime lamb

Beef cattle


Prod

uce

Cons

ulta

nt (n

=15)




No answer





rainfed)





0 1 0 N/A N/A 1


0 1 0 N/A N/A 1


Other 0 0 0 0 N/A 0


Total 11 2 0 2 0 15


Question 5: What other types of agricultural enterprises, if any, do you advise or service?

Other:

• Horses • Speciality crops such as poppies, boronia, pyrethrum, flowers, medicinal herbs etc.

What other types of agricultural enterprises, if any, do you advise or service?



rainfed)




3 0 N/A N/A N/A 3





10 20

No answer

Other

Viticulture



Pigs

Sugar

Cotton

Wool (sheep)

Dairy (cows)

Prime lamb

Beef cattle


Prod

uce

Cons

ulta

nt (n

=15)




No answer





rainfed)







1 3 0 N/A N/A 4


1 2 0 N/A N/A 3


Other 1 1 0 0 N/A 2


Total 35 18 0 4 1 58


Question 6: Do you specialise in farming enterprises that have certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?


• No answer

Do you specialise in farming enterprises that have certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?

Consultant (n=15)

Yes 1

No 14

No answer 0

Total 15

14

1

No answer

No

Yes

Cons

ulta

nt (n

=15)



Question 7: In general, what size of farming enterprise do you advise or service?

In general, what size of farming enterprise do you advise or service?

Size Consultant (n=15)


50 to 99 hectares 4






No answer 0

Total 40

4

7

6

7

8

4

4

No answer




500 to 999 hectares

100 to 499 hectares

50 to 99 hectares


Cons

ulta

nt (n

=15)



Question 8: What data or information do you typically use to advise a client about farm management decisions?

86.7%

26.7%

13.3%

6.7%

20.0%

13.3%

20.0%

13.3%

6.7%

6.7%

6.7%

13.3%

20.0%

26.7%

33.3%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

33.3%

20.0%

6.7%

46.7%

6.7%

13.3%

6.7%

6.7%

6.7%

6.7%

46.7%

13.3%

13.3%

6.7%

33.3%

53.3%

33.3%

26.7%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

33.3%

46.7%

46.7%

13.3%

46.7%

20.0%

60.0%

66.7%

46.7%

13.3%

53.3%

46.7%

26.7%

13.3%

6.7%

13.3%

53.3%

6.7%

80.0%

60.0%

46.7%

53.3%

40.0%

46.7%

86.7%

46.7%

80.0%

20.0%

6.7%

20.0%

6.7%

13.3%

20.0%

46.7%

Other

Market forecast

Commodity prices

Input costs


Yield/quality

Plant/animal health

Biomass

Pasture growth

Soil biology

Soil structure


Soil moisture



Contours, levels

Seasonal forecasts

Wind

Frost

Temperature

Rainfall

Agrib

usin

ess

Prod

uctio

nSo

ilsTe

rrai

nW

eath

er

Cons

ulta

nt (n

=15)

What data or information do you typically use to advise a client about farm management decisions?



Other:

• Field variation in soil type, nutrient dispersal, etc. • Resource use efficiency, crop nutrition principles, fertiliser types and use, reducing land based

emissions, irrigation, cover and biofumigation crops, organic amendments, waste water and recycled organics, pests, diseases and weeds


Consultant (n=15)



Temperature 3 7 2 3

Frost 2 8 2 3

Wind 1 2 7 5










Biomass 7 3 2 3




Input costs 8 5 1 1



Other 2 0 0 13


Question 9: How would you normally get (source) information and data about the SOIL on a client’s farm?

Other:

• GIS

How would you normally get (source) information and data about the SOIL on a client’s farm?

Data source Consultant (n=15)



From our own business database 4

Shared from other agronomists or consultants 6


4


8

Engage paid sub-consultants or service providers to collect it

2

3

1

3

4

3

2

8

4

6

4

5

12

No answer

Other




Engage paid sub-consultants or service providers tocollect it



Shared from other agronomists or consultants

From our own business database



Cons

ulta

nt (n

=15)




Data source Consultant (n=15)


3


4


3

Other 1

No answer 3


Question 10: What SOIL OBSERVATIONS do you typically use to judge the performance of the soils on a client’s farm, and how often would you use them?

Other:

• Grid based nutrient • pH CA MAG TRACE ELEMENTS

Other:

• Grid based acidity

Other:

• Soil pathogen

10 20

Other

Other

Other


Worms/bugs





Organic matter

Smell, taste


Obs

erva

tions

Cons

ulta

nt (n

=15)

What SOIL OBSERVATIONS do you typically use to judge the performance of the soils on a client’s farm, and how often would you use them?




Observations Consultant (n=15)




1 0 5 4 0 0 5

Smell, taste 0 1 3 0 2 2 7

Organic matter

0 1 4 5 0 0 5


1 3 2 2 1 0 6


1 3 1 4 0 0 6


0 2 3 1 3 0 6


0 3 4 1 3 0 4

Worms/bugs 0 3 3 1 2 0 6


0 0 3 3 3 1 5

Other 0 0 2 0 0 0 13

Other 0 0 1 0 0 0 14

Other 0 0 1 0 0 0 14


Question 11: What SOIL TESTS do you typically use to judge the performance of the soils on a client’s farm, and how often would you collect them?

What SOIL TESTS do you typically use to judge the performance of the soils on a client’s farm, and how often would you collect them?

Physical tests

Consultant (n=15)




Soil temperature

1 3 0 0 3 2 6



EM38 survey 0 0 0 3 3 3 6

10 20

Other

Other

Other

EM38 survey

Soil strength

Soil structure

Soil temperature

Soil moisture

Phys

ical

test

s

Cons

ulta

nt (n

=15)





Physical tests

Consultant (n=15)



Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 15

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 15

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 15



Chemical tests

Consultant (n=15)




0 1 5 5 0 0 4


0 1 5 4 0 0 5


Soil EC, salinity

0 0 6 5 0 0 4

10 20

Other

Other

Other


Soil EC, salinity

Soil nitrogen



Chem

ical

test

s

Cons

ulta

nt (n

=15)





Chemical tests

Consultant (n=15)




0 0 1 1 3 3 7

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 15

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 15

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 15


Other:

• Soil food web


Biological tests

Consultant (n=15)




0 0 2 0 5 2 6

DNA-based tests

0 0 1 2 3 4 5

Worm counts 0 0 0 1 6 2 6

Bug counts 0 0 0 0 5 4 6

10 20

Other

Other

Other


Bug counts

Worm counts

DNA-based tests


Biol

ogic

al te

sts

Cons

ulta

nt (n

=15)





Biological tests

Consultant (n=15)




0 0 1 1 3 5 5

Other 0 0 0 1 0 0 14

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 15

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 15



Consultant (n=15)



Other tests 0 0 0 0 0 0 15

10 20

Other tests




Question 12: How often would you typically look back at past soil information, observations or tests when advising a client in farming decisions?

How often would you typically look back at past soil information, observations or tests when advising a client in farming decisions?

Consultant (n=15)



1 8 1 1 0 4

10

Consultant (n=15)




Question 13: In your opinion, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that you currently use to advise your clients?

Other: Response 3

• Soil observation (colour, root growth, worms)

In your opinion, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that you currently use to advise your clients?

Consultant (n=15)






Other 0 0 1 1

No answer 4 5 5 14

Word cloud

Chemistry Colour Growth Moisture N Nutrients pH Root Soil Word frequencies

Soil (n=8) pH (n=4) Nutrients (n=3) Chemistry (n=2) Colour (n=2) Growth (n=2) Moisture (n=2) N (n=2) Root (n=2)

4

3

6

2

5

3

3

4

5

1

1

1

3

4

No answer

Other


Soil Biological

Soil Chemical

Soil Physical

Cons

ulta

nt (n

=15)




Responses - Consultant (n=15) Soil Physical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • SOM • Texture

• Feel • Organic matter • Soil moisture (n=2)

• Colour • Penetrometer • Repellance • Soil structure/water

movement

Soil Chemical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Grid based pH, N, P, K • pH (n=2) • SOC • Soil chemistry + N • Soil nutrients/pH

• Ca% of CEC • Calcium magnesium • Soil chemistry/nutrition

• All nutrients • Nutrient status • Smell

Soil Biological Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Soil biology

Vegetation indicators Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Pasture height/yield • Root depth and location • Visual – sward appearance

• Early season response • Indicator plant species • Production – growth rates

• Ground cover

Other Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Soil observation (colour,

root growth, worms)



Question 14: What are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you would ideally like to use to advise your clients?

What are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you would ideally like to use to advise your clients?

Consultant (n=15)






Other 0 0 1 1

No answer 6 6 6 18

Word cloud

Analysis Chemical Growth Level Nutrient Nutrition Organic pH Root

Soil Testing

Word frequencies

Soil (n=7) pH (n=4) Analysis (n=3) Chemical (n=2) Growth (n=2) Level (n=2) Nutrient (n=2) Nutrition (n=2) Organic (n=2) Root (n=2) Testing (n=2)

6

2

6

1

6

3

1

5

6

1

2

1

5

No answer

Other


Soil Biological

Soil Chemical

Soil Physical

Cons

ulta

nt (n

=15)




Responses - Consultant (n=15) Soil Physical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Current PAW • Low cost EM

• Organic carbon • Organic matter • Soil structure/moisture

holding capacity • Soil type

Soil Chemical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • N P K S • Nutrition • pH (n=2) • SOC • Soil nutrients/pH

• Chemical analysis • Complete chemical

analysis through EAL – water soluble, extractable and total levels

• Deep soil Nitrogen • pH • Soil chemistry/nutrition

Soil Biological Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Soil food web • Biological testing

Vegetation indicators Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Growth rates – CSIRO

pasture space @ paddock level resolution or geolocated cdax

• Root depth

• Hyperspec nutrient status • Indicator plant species • Tissue tests

• Multispec feed analysis – ME CP

• Plate meter

Other Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Soil observation (colour,

root growth, worms)




Word cloud

Analysis Assess Changes Chemical Cycling Difficult Livestock Low Manage

Nutrient pH Plant Soil Structural Useful

Word frequencies

Soil (n=7) Nutrient (n=5) Useful (n=3) Analysis (n=2) Assess (n=2) Changes (n=2) Chemical (n=2) Cycling (n=2) Difficult (n=2) Livestock (n=2) Low (n=2) Manage (n=2) pH (n=2) Plant (n=2) Structural (n=2)

Responses - Consultant (n=15) • In rangelands, soil chemical testing is useful to provide a broad prediction of possible deficiencies

for livestock, e.g. pH may indicate low availability of some nutrients to plants with a flow on to livestock nutrients. However, detailed chemical analysis would be useful only where there are benchmark figures that land type/locality. Organic matter assessment is very useful to assess nutrient cycling in relation to adequate plant material being retained for nutrient cycling and soil structure.

• Looking forward to the long promised remote sensing tech delivering! • Non wetting soils and water repellent soils are a significant area of the SA Murray Mallee. They

are difficult soils to manage – fragile, highly erodible, inconsistent in their responses to wetters and ameliorants, generally low yielding because of poor and patchy germination and emergence, difficult to handle and manage.

• Rapid cheap soil analysis. • Trend data of soil depth, pH, micro nutrient changes, structural changes. • No answer (n=10)


Results – Agronomists



Role Agronomist (n=21)

Farmer 0

Consultant 0

Agronomist 21



Researcher 0

No answer 0

Total 21

21

No answer

Researcher



Agronomist

Consultant

Farmer

Agro

nom

ist (n

=21)





Age Agronomist (n=21)

18 - 24 1

25 - 34 4

35 - 44 4

45 - 54 9

55 - 64 3

65 - 74 0

75 or older 0

No answer 0

Total 21

3

9

4

4

1

No answer

75 or older

65 - 74

55 - 64

45 - 54

35 - 44

25 - 34

18 - 24

Agro

nom

ist (n

=21)




Other:

• California, United States


State or territory Agronomist (n=21)


New South Wales 4


Queensland 1

South Australia 8

Tasmania 0

Victoria 4

Western Australia 3

Other 1

No answer 0

Total 21

1

3

4

8

1

4

No answer

Other

Western Australia

Victoria

Tasmania

South Australia

Queensland

Northern Territory

New South Wales


Agro

nom

ist (n

=21)





Produce Agronomist (n=21)


rainfed)




16 2 N/A N/A N/A 18







10 20 30

No answer

Other

Viticulture



Pigs

Sugar

Cotton

Wool (sheep)

Dairy (cows)

Prime lamb

Beef cattle


Prod

uce

Agro

nom

ist (n

=21)




No answer





rainfed)





0 0 0 N/A N/A 0


0 0 0 N/A N/A 0


Other 0 0 0 0 N/A 0


Total 19 2 0 0 0 21



Other:

• Landcare




rainfed)




1 2 N/A N/A N/A 3





10 20 30

No answer

Other

Viticulture



Pigs

Sugar

Cotton

Wool (sheep)

Dairy (cows)

Prime lamb

Beef cattle


Prod

uce

Agro

nom

ist (n

=21)




No answer





rainfed)







1 7 0 N/A N/A 8


0 3 0 N/A N/A 3


Other 0 1 0 0 N/A 1


Total 33 24 0 0 1 58


Question 6: Do you specialise in farming enterprises that have certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?


• Bonsucro • Organic and biodynamic


Agronomist (n=21)

Yes 2

No 19

No answer 0

Total 21

19

2

No answer

No

Yes

Agro

nom

ist (n

=21)





Size Agronomist (n=21)


50 to 99 hectares 7



1,000 to 1,999 hectares 10

2,000 to 4,999 hectares 11


No answer 0

Total 59

7

11

10

11

8

7

5

No answer




500 to 999 hectares

100 to 499 hectares

50 to 99 hectares


Agro

nom

ist (n

=21)



Question 8: What data or information do you typically use to advise a client about farm management decisions?

100.0%

9.5%

4.8%

4.8%

9.5%

9.5%

4.8%

4.8%

4.8%

9.5%

9.5%

14.3%

9.5%

9.5%

23.8%

23.8%

4.8%

42.9%

9.5%

4.8%

28.6%

14.3%

33.3%

28.6%

52.4%

47.6%

52.4%

42.9%

19.0%

23.8%

57.1%

52.4%

42.9%

38.1%

23.8%

33.3%

33.3%

61.9%

42.9%

52.4%

38.1%

71.4%

61.9%

42.9%

14.3%

23.8%

38.1%

4.8%

81.0%

57.1%

38.1%

38.1%

23.8%

61.9%

76.2%

66.7%

66.7%

23.8%

14.3%

38.1%

19.0%

19.0%

28.6%

57.1%

Other

Market forecast

Commodity prices

Input costs


Yield/quality

Plant/animal health

Biomass

Pasture growth

Soil biology

Soil structure


Soil moisture



Contours, levels

Seasonal forecasts

Wind

Frost

Temperature

Rainfall

Agrib

usin

ess

Prod

uctio

nSo

ilsTe

rrai

nW

eath

er

Agro

nom

ist (n

=21)





Agronomist (n=21)




Frost 4 15 0 2

Wind 4 8 6 3










Biomass 8 12 0 1







Other 0 0 0 21


Question 9: How would you normally get (source) information and data about the SOIL on a client’s farm?

Other:

• Twitter


Data source Agronomist (n=21)



From our own business database 9

Shared from other agronomists or consultants 6


9


9

Engage paid sub-consultants or service providers to collect it

3

3

1

5

4

3

9

9

6

9

7

18

No answer

Other




Engage paid sub-consultants or service providers tocollect it



Shared from other agronomists or consultants

From our own business database



Agro

nom

ist (n

=21)




Data source Agronomist (n=21)


0


4


5

Other 1

No answer 3


Question 10: What SOIL OBSERVATIONS do you typically use to judge the performance of the soils on a client’s farm, and how often would you use them?

10 20 30

Other

Other

Other


Worms/bugs





Organic matter

Smell, taste


Obs

erva

tions

Agro

nom

ist (n

=21)





Observations Agronomist (n=21)




0 4 6 5 1 0 5

Smell, taste 0 2 0 0 7 7 5

Organic matter

1 3 4 8 1 0 4


5 6 5 1 0 0 4


3 6 6 2 0 0 4


4 2 1 3 4 2 5


1 4 7 1 2 0 6

Worms/bugs 0 4 5 2 5 0 5


0 4 3 4 4 1 5

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 21

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 21

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 21


Question 11: What SOIL TESTS do you typically use to judge the performance of the soils on a client’s farm, and how often would you collect them?


Physical tests

Agronomist (n=21)




Soil temperature

3 5 2 2 4 1 4



EM38 survey 0 0 1 3 7 4 6

10 20 30

Other

Other

Other

EM38 survey

Soil strength

Soil structure

Soil temperature

Soil moisture

Phys

ical

test

s

Agro

nom

ist (n

=21)





Physical tests

Agronomist (n=21)



Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 21

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 21

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 21



Chemical tests

Agronomist (n=21)




0 0 9 9 0 0 3


0 0 9 9 0 0 3


Soil EC, salinity

0 0 8 10 0 0 3

10 20 30

Other

Other

Other


Soil EC, salinity

Soil nitrogen



Chem

ical

test

s

Agro

nom

ist (n

=21)





Chemical tests

Agronomist (n=21)




0 0 5 3 3 4 6

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 21

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 21

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 21


Other:

• Pachymetra and nematode


Biological tests

Agronomist (n=21)




0 0 0 0 5 11 5

DNA-based tests

0 0 0 3 6 7 5

Worm counts 0 0 0 0 6 10 5

Bug counts 0 0 0 0 3 13 5

10 20 30

Other

Other

Other


Bug counts

Worm counts

DNA-based tests


Biol

ogic

al te

sts

Agro

nom

ist (n

=21)





Biological tests

Agronomist (n=21)




0 0 0 0 3 13 5

Other 0 0 0 1 0 0 20

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 21

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 21



Agronomist (n=21)



Other tests 0 0 0 0 0 0 21

10 20 30

Other tests




Question 12: How often would you typically look back at past soil information, observations or tests when advising a client in farming decisions?


Agronomist (n=21)



1 13 2 2 0 3

10 20

Agronomist (n=21)




Question 13: In your opinion, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that you currently use to advise your clients?

Other: Response 2

• History

Other: Response 3

• Responsiveness


Agronomist (n=21)






Other 0 1 1 2

No answer 4 4 6 14

4

3

11

3

4

1

2

9

5

6

1

1

1

9

3

No answer

Other


Soil Biological

Soil Chemical

Soil Physical

Agro

nom

ist (n

=21)




Word cloud

Colwell DGT Moisture N Nitrogen P pH Plant Smell

Soil Structure Test Texture Yield

Word frequencies

Soil (n=10) pH (n=8) P (n=5) DGT (n=3) Moisture (n=3) Nitrogen (n=3) Structure (n=3) Yield (n=3) Colwell (n=2) N (n=2) Plant (n=2) Smell (n=2) Test (n=2) Texture (n=2)

Responses - Agronomist (n=21) Soil Physical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Moisture • Moisture • Soil wetting

• Soil hydraulics • Soil moisture • Structure • Texture • Water content

• Soil structure • Structure, tilth • Texture

Soil Chemical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Colwell P • Deep Soil N, S, Bo Ec • DGT P • Organic carbon • pH (n=3) • pH CaCl2 • Smell of the soil • Soil fertility • Soil pH

• Colwell P • DGT P • DGT-P • General soil test • Nutrients • PBI • pH (n=2) • Phosphorus

• % Na • ESI/CEC • N • Nitrogen (n=2) • Nitrogen levels • pH • Smell • Soil test data

Soil Biological Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Pathagens

Vegetation indicators Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Crop/pasture yield • dM yield • Yield

• Plant health • Production

• Plant growth


Other Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • History • Responsiveness



Question 14: What are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you would ideally like to use to advise your clients?


Agronomist (n=21)






Other 0 0 1 1

No answer 7 7 9 23

Word cloud

Biological CEC Colwell Grid Mapping Moisture N Nutrients P pH

Phosphorus Soil Test

7

1

1

7

5

7

1

2

10

1

9

1

1

1

5

4

No answer

Other


Soil Biological

Soil Chemical

Soil Physical

Agro

nom

ist (n

=21)




Word frequencies

Soil (n=10) pH (n=5) Moisture (n=4) Colwell (n=3) Mapping (n=3) P (n=3) Test (n=3) Biological (n=2) CEC (n=2) Grid (n=2) N (n=2) Nutrients (n=2) Phosphorus (n=2)

Responses - Agronomist (n=21) Soil Physical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Bulk density • EM mapping • Moisture • OC • Repellence

• Soil compaction • Moisture • Soil moisture DUL etc. • Soil probe/moisture • Texture/PAW

Soil Chemical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Colwell P • Deep Soil N, S, Bo EC • Grid nutrients (phosphorus

primarily) • pH mapping • Potassium • Soil pH (n=2)

• CEC • Colwell P • Complete soil test • Grid pH • Nutrients • Olsen P • PBI • Phosphorus • Soil N mapping • Yearly general soil test

• Colwell K • ESI/CEC • Nitrogen • Pesticide residues • pH

Soil Biological Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Predicta B • Biocobial activity

• Soil biology • Biological assessment

Vegetation indicators Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Plant d/m production • Leaf tissue test • Yeild monitoring

Other Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Health




Word cloud

Especially Health Measure Soil Word frequencies

Soil (n=8) Health (n=3) Especially (n=2) Measure (n=2)

Responses - Agronomist (n=21) • Building nutrient profile map of soil to depth e.g. 0-60cm including soil moisture. • Comparison of biological performances of soil with varying organic carbon content and the impact

of herbicides on soil microflora. • The microbial health of the soil is important however I do not know of a test to measure this? • The soil look especially when dry can show how acid it is. Especially old rice ground. • There is more to it than just three observations/measurements. • We talk about soil health as something to achieve, but don't have a clear path on how to deliver

improved soil health within economical constants. • No answer (n=15)


Results – Industry representatives



Role Industry representative (n=8)

Farmer 0

Consultant 0

Agronomist 0



Researcher 0

No answer 0

Total 8

8

No answer

Researcher



Agronomist

Consultant

Farmer

Indu

stry

repr

esen

tativ

e (n

=8)





Age Industry representative (n=8)

18 - 24 0

25 - 34 1

35 - 44 0

45 - 54 4

55 - 64 3

65 - 74 0

75 or older 0

No answer 0

Total 8

3

4

1

No answer

75 or older

65 - 74

55 - 64

45 - 54

35 - 44

25 - 34

18 - 24

Indu

stry

repr

esen

tativ

e (n

=8)





State or territory Industry representative (n=8)


New South Wales 2


Queensland 1

South Australia 0

Tasmania 0

Victoria 3

Western Australia 1

Other 0

No answer 0

Total 8

1

3

1

2

1

No answer

Other

Western Australia

Victoria

Tasmania

South Australia

Queensland

Northern Territory

New South Wales


Indu

stry

repr

esen

tativ

e (n

=8)



Question 4: What is the main type of agricultural enterprise that your organisation represents (in terms of time spent)?

Other:

• Sugar Cane – our work focusses on environmental risk management across industries – cane is receiving the most policy attention at the moment.

What is the main type of agricultural enterprise that your organisation represents (in terms of time spent)?

Produce Industry representative (n=8)


rainfed)




6 1 N/A N/A N/A 7




10

No answer

Other

Viticulture



Pigs

Sugar

Cotton

Wool (sheep)

Dairy (cows)

Prime lamb

Beef cattle


Prod

uce

Indu

stry

repr

esen

tativ

e (n

=8)




No answer





rainfed)








0 0 0 N/A N/A 0


0 0 0 N/A N/A 0


Other 1 0 0 0 N/A 1


Total 7 1 0 0 0 8


Question 5: What other types of agricultural enterprises, if any, does your organisation represent?

Other:

• Chickens and ducks • Rice

What other types of agricultural enterprises, if any, does your organisation represent?



rainfed)




3 2 N/A N/A N/A 5





10

No answer

Other

Viticulture



Pigs

Sugar

Cotton

Wool (sheep)

Dairy (cows)

Prime lamb

Beef cattle


Prod

uce

Indu

stry

repr

esen

tativ

e (n

=8)




No answer





rainfed)







1 2 0 N/A N/A 3


1 2 0 N/A N/A 3


Other 0 1 1 0 N/A 2


Total 25 14 4 1 0 44


Question 6: Do you represent farming enterprises that have certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?


• BFA

Do you represent farming enterprises that have certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?

Industry representative (n=8)

Yes 1

No 7

No answer 0

Total 8

7

1

No answer

No

Yes

Indu

stry

repr

esen

tativ

e(n

=8)

Do you represent farming enterprises that have certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?


Question 7: In general, what size of farming enterprise does your organisation represent?

In general, what size of farming enterprise does your organisation represent?

Size Industry representative (n=8)


50 to 99 hectares 1






No answer 1

Total 17

1

2

2

4

3

3

1

1

No answer




500 to 999 hectares

100 to 499 hectares

50 to 99 hectares


Indu

stry

repr

esen

tativ

e (n

=8)

In general, what size of farming enterprise does your organisation represent?


Question 8: As an industry representative, what data or information would you typically use to understand agricultural management in your industry?

100.0%

12.5%

12.5%

12.5%

12.5%

12.5%

25.0%

12.5%

12.5%

12.5%

25.0%

12.5%

37.5%

25.0%

25.0%

50.0%

37.5%

25.0%

25.0%

12.5%

12.5%

12.5%

25.0%

37.5%

62.5%

12.5%

37.5%

62.5%

37.5%

50.0%

62.5%

75.0%

25.0%

100.0%

62.5%

75.0%

75.0%

50.0%

87.5%

100.0%

87.5%

75.0%

50.0%

12.5%

75.0%

50.0%

25.0%

62.5%

100.0%

Other

Market forecast

Commodity prices

Input costs


Yield/quality

Plant/animal health

Biomass

Pasture growth

Soil biology

Soil structure


Soil moisture



Contours, levels

Seasonal forecasts

Wind

Frost

Temperature

Rainfall

Agrib

usin

ess

Prod

uctio

nSo

ilsTe

rrai

nW

eath

er

Indu

stry

repr

esen

tativ

e (n

=8)

As an industry representative, what data or information would you typically use to understand agricultural management in your industry?



As an industry representative, what data or information would you typically use to understand agricultural management in your industry?




Temperature 5 3 0 0

Frost 2 5 0 1

Wind 4 3 1 0










Biomass 6 2 0 0




Input costs 6 2 0 0



Other 0 0 0 8


Question 9: How would you normally get (source) information and data about the SOILS in your agricultural industry?

How would you normally get (source) information and data about the SOILS in your agricultural industry?

Data source Industry representative (n=8)

Collect it on farms manually or from farmers 6

Collect it on farms with sensors 2

From our own industry databases 4

Shared from other industry representatives 3


6


6

From engaging paid advisors, agronomists or consultants to collect it

1

From subscriptions or memberships (e.g. international industry groups)

3

2

3

3

3

1

6

6

3

4

2

6

No answer

Other

From mobile Apps (e.g. SoilMapp, SoilWaterApp,etc.)

Freely from the internet (e.g. websites, email feeds,Twitter, etc.)

From subscriptions or memberships (e.g.international industry groups)

From engaging paid advisors, agronomists orconsultants to collect it



Shared from other industry representatives

From our own industry databases

Collect it on farms with sensors

Collect it on farms manually or from farmers

Indu

stry

repr

esen

tativ

e (n

=8)




Data source Industry representative (n=8)

Freely from the internet (e.g. websites, email feeds, Twitter, etc.)

3

From mobile Apps (e.g. SoilMapp, SoilWaterApp, etc.)

3

Other 0

No answer 2


Question 10: In your industry, what are the most common SOIL OBSERVATIONS that would be typically used to judge the performance of the soils on farms, and how often would they be used?

Other:

• Daily • Soil test results

Other:

• Satellite observations

Other:

10

Other

Other

Other


Worms/bugs





Organic matter

Smell, taste


Obs

erva

tions

Indu

stry

repr

esen

tativ

e (n

=8)

In your industry, what are the most common SOIL OBSERVATIONS that would be typically used to judge the performance of the soils on farms, and how

often would they be used?



• Drive by observation

In your industry, what are the most common SOIL OBSERVATIONS that would be typically used to judge the performance of the soils on farms, and how often would they be used?

Observations Industry representative (n=8)




1 1 1 2 1 0 2

Smell, taste 1 0 0 0 3 2 2

Organic matter

1 0 2 3 0 0 2


2 2 1 0 1 0 2


1 2 2 0 1 0 2


1 1 1 1 2 0 2


1 2 3 0 0 0 2

Worms/bugs 1 0 1 0 4 0 2


1 0 2 1 1 1 2

Other 1 0 1 0 0 0 6

Other 0 1 0 0 0 0 7

Other 0 0 1 0 0 0 7


Question 11: In your industry, what are the most common SOIL TESTS that would be typically used to judge the performance of the soils on farms, and how often would they be used?

In your industry, what are the most common SOIL TESTS that would be typically used to judge the performance of the soils on farms, and how often would they be used?

Physical tests





Soil temperature

1 2 0 0 2 0 3



10

Other

Other

Other

EM38 survey

Soil strength

Soil structure

Soil temperature

Soil moisture

Phys

ical

test

s

Indu

stry

repr

esen

tativ

e (n

=8)

In your industry, what are the most common SOIL TESTS that would be typically used to judge the performance of the soils on farms, and how often

would they be used?




Physical tests




EM38 survey 0 1 0 2 1 0 4

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 8

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 8

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 8


Other:

• CEC • Range of macronutrients

Other:

• Ca and Mg for structure assessment • Exch cations

Other:

• Micronutrients indictors

10

Other

Other

Other


Soil EC, salinity

Soil nitrogen



Chem

ical

test

s

Indu

stry

repr

esen

tativ

e (n

=8)


would they be used?




Chemical tests





1 0 1 3 0 0 3


1 0 1 3 0 0 3


Soil EC, salinity

0 0 1 3 0 0 4


0 0 1 0 2 1 4

Other 1 0 0 1 0 0 6

Other 1 0 0 1 0 0 6

Other 0 0 0 1 0 0 7



Biological tests





0 0 0 0 2 2 4

DNA-based tests

0 0 0 1 1 2 4


Bug counts 0 1 0 0 2 2 3


0 0 0 0 2 2 4

10

Other

Other

Other


Bug counts

Worm counts

DNA-based tests


Biol

ogic

al te

sts

Indu

stry

repr

esen

tativ

e (n

=8)


would they be used?




Biological tests




Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 8

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 8

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 8


Other:

• Tissue testing for micronutrients





Other tests 0 0 0 0 1 0 7

10

Other tests


would they be used?



Question 12: How often would you look back at past soil information, observations or tests in assessing soil performance in your industry?

How often would you look back at past soil information, observations or tests in assessing soil performance in your industry?




2 2 1 0 0 3

10


How often would you look back at past soil information, observations or tests in assessing soil performance in your industry?



Question 13: In your opinion, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that farmers in your industry would currently use?

In your opinion, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that farmers in your industry would currently use?







Other 0 0 0 0

No answer 3 3 3 9

Word cloud

Moisture Nutrients pH Soil Test Yield

Word frequencies

Soil (n=7) Test (n=4) Moisture (n=2) Nutrients (n=2) pH (n=2) Yield (n=2)

3

2

2

1

3

1

3

1

3

4

1

No answer

Other


Soil Biological

Soil Chemical

Soil Physical

Indu

stry

repr

esen

tativ

e (n

=8)

In your opinion, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that farmers in your industry would currently use?



Responses - Industry representative (n=8) Soil Physical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Soil moisture at depths • Moisture • Soil type

Soil Chemical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • pH • Soil test P and K

• Deep soil N • Phosphorus • Soil test other nutrients

• Nitrogen • Nutrients • Soil test pH and structure • Soil tests

Soil Biological Response 1 Response 2 Response 3

Vegetation indicators Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Crop yield and quality • Yield

• Tree health

Other Response 1 Response 2 Response 3



Question 14: What are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you would ideally like to see farmers in your industry use?

What are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you would ideally like to see farmers in your industry use?







Other 0 1 0 1

No answer 3 4 4 11

Word cloud

Moisture Nutrient pH Soil Status Yield

Word frequencies

Soil (n=3) Moisture (n=2) Nutrient (n=2) pH (n=2) Status (n=2) Yield (n=2)

3

2

2

1

4

1

2

1

4

2

2

No answer

Other


Soil Biological

Soil Chemical

Soil Physical

Indu

stry

repr

esen

tativ

e (n

=8)

What are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you would ideally like to see farmers in your industry use?



Responses - Industry representative (n=8) Soil Physical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Soil moisture at depths • Moisture • Organic matter

• Soil type

Soil Chemical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Nutrient status • pH

• CEC • Deep soil N

• Exchangeable cations • Nutrients


Vegetation indicators Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Crop yield and quality • Yield monitoring

Other Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • pH and structural status




Word cloud

Outcomes Soil Word frequencies

Soil (n=3) Outcomes (n=2)

Responses - Industry representative (n=8) • Improved ability to assess impact of current practices through assisting in establishing baseline

data to enable temporal monitoring of soil condition – priority is chemical, but also physical and biological.

• Whilst there is a lot of feel good talk about soil health – useful indicators with a sound basis in terms of outcomes predicted are not yet available. Organic matter is a very coarse measure with some correlation to outcomes for soil structure and nutrient delivery.

• No answer (n=6)


Results – Advisors/Extension officers



Role Advisor/Extension officer (n=12)

Farmer 0

Consultant 0

Agronomist 0



Researcher 0

No answer 0

Total 12

12

No answer

Researcher



Agronomist

Consultant

Farmer

Advi

sor/

Exte

nsio

n of

ficer

(n=1

2)





Age Advisor/Extension officer (n=12)

18 - 24 0

25 - 34 1

35 - 44 4

45 - 54 3

55 - 64 2

65 - 74 2

75 or older 0

No answer 0

Total 12

2

2

3

4

1

No answer

75 or older

65 - 74

55 - 64

45 - 54

35 - 44

25 - 34

18 - 24

Advi

sor/

Exte

nsio

n of

ficer

(n=1

2)Please indicate your age:




State or territory Advisor/Extension officer (n=12)


New South Wales 3


Queensland 2

South Australia 0

Tasmania 0

Victoria 7

Western Australia 0

Other 0

No answer 0

Total 12

7

2

3

No answer

Other

Western Australia

Victoria

Tasmania

South Australia

Queensland

Northern Territory

New South Wales


Advi

sor/

Exte

nsio

n of

ficer

(n=1

2)Where is your main workplace located?




Produce Advisor/Extension officer (n=12)


rainfed)




5 1 N/A N/A N/A 6







10 20

No answer

Other

Viticulture



Pigs

Sugar

Cotton

Wool (sheep)

Dairy (cows)

Prime lamb

Beef cattle


Prod

uce

Advi

sor/

Exte

nsio

n of

ficer

(n=1

2)




No answer





rainfed)





0 0 0 N/A N/A 0


0 1 0 N/A N/A 1


Other 0 0 0 0 N/A 0


Total 9 3 0 0 0 12



Other:

• Farming communities intent on achieving soil health in north central Victoria • Sheep for meat




rainfed)




1 1 N/A N/A N/A 2





10 20

No answer

Other

Viticulture



Pigs

Sugar

Cotton

Wool (sheep)

Dairy (cows)

Prime lamb

Beef cattle


Prod

uce

Advi

sor/

Exte

nsio

n of

ficer

(n=1

2)




No answer





rainfed)







0 0 1 N/A N/A 1


0 1 1 N/A N/A 2


Other 2 0 0 0 N/A 2


Total 23 5 2 0 2 32


Question 6: Do you specialise in advising or educating farming enterprises about certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?

Do you specialise in advising or educating farming enterprises about certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?

Advisor/Extension officer (n=12)

Yes 0

No 12

No answer 0

Total 12

12

No answer

No

Yes

Advi

sor/

Exte

nsio

nof

ficer

(n=1

2)Do you specialise in advising or educating farming enterprises about

certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?




Size Advisor/Extension officer (n=12)


50 to 99 hectares 2






No answer 1

Total 24

1

2

4

6

3

4

2

2

No answer




500 to 999 hectares

100 to 499 hectares

50 to 99 hectares


Advi

sor/

Exte

nsio

n of

ficer

(n=1

2)In general, what size of farming enterprise do you advise or service?


Question 8: What data or information do you typically use to provide advice or education on farm management decisions?

91.7%

25.0%

25.0%

16.7%

25.0%

16.7%

8.3%

8.3%

8.3%

8.3%

16.7%

41.7%

33.3%

25.0%

8.3%

16.7%

8.3%

16.7%

50.0%

8.3%

8.3%

8.3%

25.0%

25.0%

8.3%

25.0%

8.3%

33.3%

33.3%

8.3%

16.7%

8.3%

58.3%

66.7%

58.3%

25.0%

25.0%

41.7%

41.7%

33.3%

58.3%

25.0%

50.0%

41.7%

41.7%

41.7%

16.7%

50.0%

33.3%

33.3%

75.0%

33.3%

8.3%

50.0%

41.7%

41.7%

33.3%

16.7%

75.0%

50.0%

50.0%

58.3%

33.3%

16.7%

41.7%

8.3%

8.3%

50.0%

Other

Market forecast

Commodity prices

Input costs


Yield/quality

Plant/animal health

Biomass

Pasture growth

Soil biology

Soil structure


Soil moisture



Contours, levels

Seasonal forecasts

Wind

Frost

Temperature

Rainfall

Agrib

usin

ess

Prod

uctio

nSo

ilsTe

rrai

nW

eath

er

Advi

sor/

Exte

nsio

n of

ficer

(n=1

2)

What data or information do you typically use to provide advice or education on farm management decisions?



Other:

• Farmer health

What data or information do you typically use to provide advice or education on farm management decisions?




Temperature 1 9 1 1

Frost 1 4 4 3

Wind 0 4 4 4










Biomass 5 5 1 1




Input costs 1 7 2 2



Other 0 1 0 11


Question 9: How would you normally get (source) information and data about the SOIL for providing advice or education to a farming enterprise?

Other:

• Incitec Pivot database or BFDC database • Soil analyses of samples collected on farm • Victorian Resources online

How would you normally get (source) information and data about the SOIL for providing advice or education to a farming enterprise?

Data source Advisor/Extension officer (n=12)

Collect it on the farm manually or from the farmer

11

Collect it on the farm from sensors 5

From our own organisation’s database 8

Shared from other advisors or extension officers 8


9


10

1

3

4

8

4

4

10

9

8

8

5

11

No answer

Other



From subscriptions or memberships (e.g. to groweror industry groups)

From engaging paid advisors, agronomists orconsultants to collect it



Shared from other advisors or extension officers

From our own organisation’s database

Collect it on the farm from sensors

Collect it on the farm manually or from the farmer

Advi

sor/

Exte

nsio

n of

ficer

(n=1

2)




Data source Advisor/Extension officer (n=12)

From engaging paid advisors, agronomists or consultants to collect it

4

From subscriptions or memberships (e.g. to grower or industry groups)

4


8


4

Other 3

No answer 1


Question 10: What SOIL OBSERVATIONS do you typically use to judge the performance of the soils on a farm, and how often would you use them?

Other:

• Structure • Trash levels • Yield

Other:

• Stage of crop growth • Structural stability

10 20

Other

Other

Other


Worms/bugs





Organic matter

Smell, taste


Obs

erva

tions

Advi

sor/

Exte

nsio

n of

ficer

(n=1

2)

What SOIL OBSERVATIONS do you typically use to judge the performance of the soils on a farm, and how often would you use them?



Other:

• Cost effectiveness

What SOIL OBSERVATIONS do you typically use to judge the performance of the soils on a farm, and how often would you use them?

Observations Advisor/Extension officer (n=12)




3 2 2 1 1 0 3

Smell, taste 1 0 0 1 5 2 3

Organic matter

4 1 2 2 1 0 2


3 5 3 0 0 0 1


3 2 5 1 0 0 1


1 2 3 0 4 0 2


3 2 4 1 1 0 1

Worms/bugs 1 1 3 1 4 0 2


1 1 1 2 4 1 2

Other 1 2 0 0 0 0 9

Other 1 1 0 0 0 0 10

Other 1 0 0 0 0 0 11


Question 11: What SOIL TESTS do you typically use to judge the performance of the soils on a farm, and how often would you advise the farmer to collect them?

What SOIL TESTS do you typically use to judge the performance of the soils on a farm, and how often would you advise the farmer to collect them?

Physical tests





Soil temperature

1 3 1 0 2 3 2



EM38 survey 0 0 1 3 4 3 1

10 20

Other

Other

Other

EM38 survey

Soil strength

Soil structure

Soil temperature

Soil moisture

Phys

ical

test

s

Advi

sor/

Exte

nsio

n of

ficer

(n=1

2)





Physical tests




Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 12

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 12

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 12



Chemical tests





1 0 8 1 0 1 1


1 1 5 4 0 0 1


Soil EC, salinity

0 2 4 5 0 0 1

10 20

Other

Other

Other


Soil EC, salinity

Soil nitrogen



Chem

ical

test

s

Advi

sor/

Exte

nsio

n of

ficer

(n=1

2)What SOIL TESTS do you typically use to judge the performance of the soils on

a farm, and how often would you advise the farmer to collect them?




Chemical tests





0 1 1 1 6 1 2

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 12

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 12

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 12



Biological tests





0 0 0 1 2 5 4

DNA-based tests

0 0 0 1 3 5 3


Bug counts 0 0 1 1 5 3 2


0 0 0 1 4 5 2

10 20

Other

Other

Other


Bug counts

Worm counts

DNA-based tests


Biol

ogic

al te

sts

Advi

sor/

Exte

nsio

n of

ficer

(n=1

2)What SOIL TESTS do you typically use to judge the performance of the soils on

a farm, and how often would you advise the farmer to collect them?




Biological tests




Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 12

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 12

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 12






Other tests 0 0 0 0 0 0 12

10 20

Other tests




Question 12: How often would you typically look back at past soil information, observations or tests when advising or educating about farm management decisions?

How often would you typically look back at past soil information, observations or tests when advising or educating about farm management decisions?




2 6 3 0 0 1

10


How often would you typically look back at past soil information, observations or tests when advising or educating about farm management

decisions?



Question 13: In your opinion, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that farmers currently use?

In your opinion, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that farmers currently use?







Other 0 0 0 0

No answer 1 1 1 3

Word cloud

Answer Carbon EC Moisture Nutrient Organic

pH Probe Soil Structure Test Yield

Word frequencies

Soil (n=10) pH (n=5) Test (n=5) Carbon (n=4) Moisture (n=4) Nutrient (n=4) Organic (n=4) Answer (n=3) Structure (n=3) EC (n=2) Probe (n=2) Yield (n=2)

1

1

7

3

1

6

5

1

1

6

4

No answer

Other


Soil Biological

Soil Chemical

Soil Physical

Advi

sor/

Exte

nsio

n of

ficer

(n=1

2)

In your opinion, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that farmers currently use?



Responses - Advisor/Extension officer (n=12) Soil Physical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Moisture • Organic matter/carbon • Soil structure

• Shovel • Soil loss and erosion • Soil moisture • Soil moisture probe • Structure

• EM survey • Moisture • Soil temperature probe • Structure

Soil Chemical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Deep N • Nutrients • Organic carbon • pH • Physical soil test • Soil pH • Std major, minor nutrients

• CEC • Nutrient testing • pH • pH and liming

requirements • Soil organic carbon • Soil test

• Acidity • EC • Nutrient test • Organic carbon (sugar) • pH and EC • Soil test


Vegetation indicators Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Yield map • Yield

Other Response 1 Response 2 Response 3

No answer Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • No answer • No answer • No answer


Question 14: What are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you would ideally like to see farmers use?

What are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you would ideally like to see farmers use?







Other 0 0 2 2

No answer 1 1 1 3

Word cloud

Biological CEC Moisture Organic pH Physical Properties Soil Structure Tests

Word frequencies

Soil (n=14) Tests (n=6) Moisture (n=4) Structure (n=4) CEC (n=3) pH (n=3) Biological (n=2) Organic (n=2) Physical (n=2) Properties (n=2)

1

2

4

5

1

1

5

5

1

2

1

3

5

No answer

Other


Soil Biological

Soil Chemical

Soil Physical

Advi

sor/

Exte

nsio

n of

ficer

(n=1

2)

What are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you would ideally like to see farmers use?



Responses - Advisor/Extension officer (n=12) Soil Physical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • EM survey to inform where

to take soil test on their property

• EM38 • Soil structure • Structure • Structure/strength

• Erosion/soil loss • Moisture • Soil moisture (n=2) • Soil structure

• Compaction • Dig a hole to understand

soil physical properties at depth

• Organic matter • Soil moisture • Soil temperature

Soil Chemical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • CEC • Nutrient tests • pH • Physical soil test

• Calcium requirements • CEC • CEC/ESP • Soil organic carbon • Soil testing on a regular

basis

• pH • pH and EC • Soil tests

Soil Biological Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Biological activity and

diversity • Cost effective biological

indicator

• DNA based tests • Soil bourne pests/diseases

Vegetation indicators Response 1 Response 2 Response 3

Other Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Mill ash/mud amendments

• VSA

No answer Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • No answer • No answer • No answer



Word cloud

Biological Carbon Effective Far Funded Important Improve Indicator Measure Microbes

Monitoring Performance pH Producers Required Resulting Soil Structure Test Time Use Work

Word frequencies

Soil (n=12) Biological (n=4) Microbes (n=3) Monitoring (n=3) Performance (n=3) Producers (n=3) Carbon (n=2) Effective (n=2) Far (n=2) Funded (n=2) Important (n=2) Improve (n=2) Indicator (n=2) Measure (n=2) pH (n=2) Required (n=2) Resulting (n=2) Structure (n=2) Test (n=2) Time (n=2) Use (n=2) Work (n=2)

Responses - Advisor/Extension officer (n=12) • A lot of contradiction re biological measures and effectiveness of microbes and cost effective ways

to improve the soils BIOLOGICAL workings. The use of biological e.g. carbon, humates fulvic vs humic, molassis, microbe 'food', biological microbes – VERY confusing and need the facts of what may REALLY work or even the RATES and/or time period required to notice results (plant growth/yield improvements, soil tillage).

• Producers/agronomists/consultants/advisors required protocols to measure and monitor soil performance. I know it has been done before and the most frustrating part is a monitoring program is funded by a government organisation, therefore, producers do not have any ownership and only see it as a free soil test etc. Resulting in producers wanting funding or subsidies to soil tests or precision ag but not fully understand the value of monitoring their soil and its performance over time.

• Soil structure is by far the most important indicator of soil health or lack of it, and soil organic carbon is by far the most important indicator of soil structure. Both pH and EC are mitigating factors in terms of soil performance. The pH issues are largely subsoil alkalinity (natural) as opposed to acidification.

• Some assessment of the physical status of the soil would always be useful in deciding management options.

• No answer (n=8)


Results – Researchers



Role Researcher (n=20)

Farmer 0

Consultant 0

Agronomist 0



Researcher 20

No answer 0

Total 20

20

No answer

Researcher



Agronomist

Consultant

Farmer

Rese

arch

er (n

=20)





Age Researcher (n=20)

18 - 24 0

25 - 34 4

35 - 44 2

45 - 54 6

55 - 64 4

65 - 74 1

75 or older 3

No answer 0

Total 20

3

1

4

6

2

4

No answer

75 or older

65 - 74

55 - 64

45 - 54

35 - 44

25 - 34

18 - 24

Rese

arch

er (n

=20)





State or territory Researcher (n=20)


New South Wales 3


Queensland 2

South Australia 0

Tasmania 0

Victoria 11

Western Australia 4

Other 0

No answer 0

Total 20

4

11

2

3

No answer

Other

Western Australia

Victoria

Tasmania

South Australia

Queensland

Northern Territory

New South Wales


Rese

arch

er (n

=20)



Question 4: What type of agricultural enterprise comprises the majority of your research (in terms of time spent)?

What type of agricultural enterprise comprises the majority of your research (in terms of time spent)?

Produce Researcher (n=20)


rainfed)




18 0 N/A N/A N/A 18







10 20 30

No answer

Other

Viticulture



Pigs

Sugar

Cotton

Wool (sheep)

Dairy (cows)

Prime lamb

Beef cattle


Prod

uce

Rese

arch

er (n

=20)




No answer





rainfed)





0 0 0 N/A N/A 0


0 0 0 N/A N/A 0


Other 0 0 0 0 N/A 0


Total 18 1 1 0 0 20


Question 5: On what other types of agricultural enterprises, if any, do you undertake research?

Other:

• Frost, regenerative agriculture • Planted forest systems (land use change)

On what other types of agricultural enterprises, if any, do you undertake research?



rainfed)




3 4 N/A N/A N/A 7





10 20 30

No answer

Other

Viticulture



Pigs

Sugar

Cotton

Wool (sheep)

Dairy (cows)

Prime lamb

Beef cattle


Prod

uce

Rese

arch

er (n

=20)




No answer





rainfed)







2 3 0 N/A N/A 5


1 1 0 N/A N/A 2


Other 2 0 0 0 N/A 2


Total 28 10 1 0 1 40


Question 6: Does your research specialise in farming enterprises that have certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?


• Possibly • No answer

Does your research specialise in farming enterprises that have certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?

Researcher (n=20)

Yes 2

No 18

No answer 0

Total 20

18

2

No answer

No

Yes

Rese

arch

er (n

=20)

Does your research specialise in farming enterprises that have certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?


Question 7: In general, what size of farming enterprise does your research relate to?

In general, what size of farming enterprise does your research relate to?

Size Researcher (n=20)


50 to 99 hectares 3



1,000 to 1,999 hectares 11



No answer 0

Total 43

5

7

11

6

7

3

4

No answer




500 to 999 hectares

100 to 499 hectares

50 to 99 hectares


Rese

arch

er (n

=20)

In general, what size of farming enterprise does your research relate to?


Question 8: From your research, what data or information do you believe are typically used to make on-farm management decisions?

85.0%

25.0%

25.0%

20.0%

25.0%

15.0%

30.0%

35.0%

10.0%

10.0%

15.0%

5.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

15.0%

5.0%

5.0%

5.0%

5.0%

5.0%

5.0%

5.0%

35.0%

10.0%

5.0%

10.0%

55.0%

35.0%

15.0%

55.0%

45.0%

40.0%

40.0%

50.0%

35.0%

55.0%

50.0%

60.0%

60.0%

60.0%

45.0%

65.0%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

15.0%

20.0%

40.0%

65.0%

15.0%

40.0%

25.0%

25.0%

35.0%

20.0%

20.0%

45.0%

40.0%

25.0%

15.0%

20.0%

20.0%

75.0%

75.0%

75.0%

75.0%

Other

Market forecast

Commodity prices

Input costs


Yield/quality

Plant/animal health

Biomass

Pasture growth

Soil biology

Soil structure


Soil moisture



Contours, levels

Seasonal forecasts

Wind

Frost

Temperature

Rainfall

Agrib

usin

ess

Prod

uctio

nSo

ilsTe

rrai

nW

eath

er

Rese

arch

er (n

=20)

From your research, what data or information do you believe are typically used to make on-farm management decisions?



Other:

• Agronomists, marketing gurus • Long term business objects balanced with family needs and aspirations • Pests

From your research, what data or information do you believe are typically used to make on-farm management decisions?

Researcher (n=20)




Frost 15 4 0 1

Wind 15 4 0 1










Biomass 5 8 0 7







Other 3 0 0 17


Question 9: How would you normally get (source) information and data about the SOIL for a research project at an agricultural site?

Other:

• ALA, BASE, SOILQUALITY.ORG, VRO • Collect data within company • Seminars, field days

How would you normally get (source) information and data about the SOIL for a research project at an agricultural site?

Data source Researcher (n=20)

Collect it on farm or on-site manually, or from farmers

16

Collect it from on-farm/on-site sensors 8

From my own research database (including students)

10

Shared from other researchers 10


7


15

3

5

11

2

2

15

7

10

10

8

16

No answer

Other


Freely from the internet (e.g. ANDS, TERN, ASRIS,etc.)

From subscriptions or memberships (e.g. to groweror industry groups)

Engage paid consultants or service providers tocollect it



Shared from other researchers

From my own research database (including students)

Collect it from on-farm/on-site sensors

Collect it on farm or on-site manually, or fromfarmers

Rese

arch

er (n

=20)




Data source Researcher (n=20)

Engage paid consultants or service providers to collect it

2

From subscriptions or memberships (e.g. to grower or industry groups)

2

Freely from the internet (e.g. ANDS, TERN, ASRIS, etc.)

11


5

Other 3

No answer 0


Question 10: What SOIL OBSERVATIONS do you typically use to judge the agricultural performance of the soils at a site, and how often would you use them?

Other:

• pH • Routine soil tests

Other:

• Echangeable Cations • NDVI

10 20

Other

Other

Other


Worms/bugs





Organic matter

Smell, taste


Obs

erva

tions

Rese

arch

er (n

=20)

What SOIL OBSERVATIONS do you typically use to judge the agricultural performance of the soils at a site, and how often would you use them?



Other:

• Phosphorus • Profile soil test

What SOIL OBSERVATIONS do you typically use to judge the agricultural performance of the soils at a site, and how often would you use them?

Observations Researcher (n=20)




2 2 5 3 6 0 2

Smell, taste 0 0 0 0 6 10 4

Organic matter

1 3 10 1 2 1 2


3 8 3 0 2 0 4


0 3 8 3 2 0 4


0 3 7 0 4 3 3


0 3 11 1 0 1 4

Worms/bugs 2 1 4 1 5 3 4


1 1 4 1 5 4 4

Other 1 0 1 0 0 0 18

Other 1 0 1 0 0 0 18

Other 1 0 1 0 0 0 18


Question 11: What SOIL TESTS do you typically use to judge the agricultural performance of the soils at a site, and how often would you collect them?

Other:

• Bulk density • Plant available water

Other:

• Soil porosity/water infiltration

Other:

• Root depth

10 20

Other

Other

Other

EM38 survey

Soil strength

Soil structure

Soil temperature

Soil moisture

Phys

ical

test

s

Rese

arch

er (n

=20)

What SOIL TESTS do you typically use to judge the agricultural performance of the soils at a site, and how often would you collect them?




Physical tests

Researcher (n=20)




Soil temperature

3 4 1 0 3 7 2



EM38 survey 1 0 4 4 3 4 4

Other 0 1 0 0 1 0 18

Other 0 0 1 0 0 0 19

Other 0 1 0 0 0 0 19


Other:

• Carbonates • Cation exchange capacity

Other:

• Gypsum • Soil organic carbon storage

Other:

• Plant available nutrients • Sodicity

10 20

Other

Other

Other


Soil EC, salinity

Soil nitrogen



Chem

ical

test

s

Rese

arch

er (n

=20)





Chemical tests

Researcher (n=20)




1 4 10 2 0 0 3


2 4 10 2 0 0 2


Soil EC, salinity

1 3 10 1 2 0 3


0 0 5 2 3 4 6

Other 0 0 2 0 0 0 18

Other 0 0 2 0 0 0 18

Other 0 1 1 0 0 0 18


Other:

• Nematodes • Potentially mineralisable nitrogen

Other:

• Enzyme activity

Other:

• Microbial biomass


Biological tests

Researcher (n=20)




0 1 2 2 1 9 5

10 20

Other

Other

Other


Bug counts

Worm counts

DNA-based tests


Biol

ogic

al te

sts

Rese

arch

er (n

=20)





Biological tests

Researcher (n=20)



DNA-based tests

0 1 2 0 3 8 6


Bug counts 1 2 0 0 3 10 4


0 1 1 0 3 10 5

Other 0 1 0 0 1 0 18

Other 0 1 0 0 0 0 19

Other 0 1 0 0 0 0 19


Other:

• Agronomic tests for indicating soil performance • Microbial population diversity and functions • Water infiltration


Researcher (n=20)



Other tests 0 2 1 0 0 0 17

10 20

Other tests




Question 12: How often would you typically look back at past soil information, observations or tests in your research?

How often would you typically look back at past soil information, observations or tests in your research?

Researcher (n=20)



3 7 5 4 0 1

10

Researcher (n=20)

How often would you typically look back at past soil information, observations or tests in your research?



Question 13: In your opinion, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that farmer would currently use?

Other: Response 1

• No idea • Rainfall

Other: Response 2

• Temperature

Other: Response 3

• Temperature

In your opinion, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that farmer would currently use?

Researcher (n=20)






Other 2 1 1 4

No answer 2 3 5 10

2

2

1

11

4

3

1

13

3

5

1

2

2

4

6

No answer

Other


Soil Biological

Soil Chemical

Soil Physical

Rese

arch

er (n

=20)

In your opinion, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that farmer would currently use?



Word cloud

EC Matter Moisture Nitrogen Nutrients Organic

PBI pH Phosphorus Soil Temperature Texture

Word frequencies

pH (n=10) Soil (n=8) Moisture (n=6) Nutrients (n=5) Nitrogen (n=3) Organic (n=3) EC (n=2) Matter (n=2) PBI (n=2) Phosphorus (n=2) Temperature (n=2) Texture (n=2)

Responses - Researcher (n=20) Soil Physical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Moisture (n=2) • Soil strength • Soil texture

• Moisture • Soil moisture (n=2)

• Moisture content • Organic matter (n=2) • Penetrometer • Structure • Texture

Soil Chemical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Available nutrients • N • NPKS • Nutrient status • pH (n=4) • pH/EC • Phosphorus/PBI • Soil test

• Nitrogen (n=2) • NPK • Nutrients • Nutrition • PBI • pH (n=3) • pH/EC • Soil nutrients • Soil pH • Soil water

• Nitrogen • Nutrients • Organic carbon • Phosphorus

Soil Biological Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Bugs

• Pest density

Vegetation indicators Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Biomass • Crop observations

• Yield

Other Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • No idea • Temperature • Temperature


• Rainfall



Question 14: Ideally, what are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you think a farmer should use?

Ideally, what are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you think a farmer should use?

Researcher (n=20)






Other 3 1 0 4

No answer 2 3 4 9

Word cloud

Animals Carbon EC Matter Moisture Nitrogen

Nutrients Organic pH Plant

Soil Status Texture Water Yield

2

3

1

2

8

4

3

1

1

2

9

4

4

2

2

7

5

No answer

Other


Soil Biological

Soil Chemical

Soil Physical

Rese

arch

er (n

=20)

Ideally, what are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you think a farmer should use?



Word frequencies

Soil (n=8) Organic (n=7) pH (n=7) Nutrients (n=5) Matter (n=4) Carbon (n=3) Moisture (n=3) Water (n=3) Animals (n=2) EC (n=2) Nitrogen (n=2) Plant (n=2) Status (n=2) Texture (n=2) Yield (n=2)

Responses - Researcher (n=20) Soil Physical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Bulk density • Moisture • Monitor soil moisture • Water holding capacity

• Organic matter (n=2) • Soil organic matter • Texture

• EM38 • Organic matter • Structure • Texture • Water infiltration rates

Soil Chemical Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Moisture • N fractions • NPKS • Nutrient status • pH (n=2) • pH/EC • Phosphorus

• Nitrogen (n=2) • Nutrients • Organic carbon • PBI • pH • pH/EC • Soil nutrients • Soil test regularly

• Microelements • NPK • Nutrient status • pH (n=2) • Possibly grid sampling

paddocks for VR • Soil organic carbon

Soil Biological Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Soil animals • Soil biota

• Disease • Mycorrhizal colonisation

• Soil animals • Worm and bug counts

Vegetation indicators Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Biomass/yield • Plant/pasture quality • Crop observations

• Yield variability

Other Response 1 Response 2 Response 3 • Organic carbon/respiration • Plant available nutrients

and water • Rainfall

• Temperature




Word cloud

Current Differences Follow Indicating Look Management Measures Profile Regime

Response Science Sodic Soil Want Well

Word frequencies

Soil (n=9) Differences (n=3) Indicating (n=3) Current (n=2) Follow (n=2) Look (n=2) Management (n=2) Measures (n=2) Profile (n=2) Regime (n=2) Response (n=2) Science (n=2) Sodic (n=2) Want (n=2) Well (n=2)

Responses - Researcher (n=20) • I found it impossible to answer most of these questions accurately as our research does not follow

a single pattern. For instance our work on cotton, wheat and sheep all followed a different regime in timing and methods. However all were aimed at measuring species richness and abundance of soil, leaf litter and grass invertebrate faunas and all proved effective at indicating differences between management regimes as well as indicating production differences.

• Look to the future – what should be done. Current soil science is going no place fast, dictated as it is by vested interests intent on maintaining the current MORE-ON (we have a bag or a bucket that will fix your latest problem) sales philosophy, that has no regard for the collateral damage caused by many of the additions. If you want to act objectively and responsibly look to the worldwide Regenerative Agriculture movement that says emulate nature and then enhance it. Read Charles Massy's "Call of the Reed Warbler" if soil science wants to be relevant in 2030.

• Measures of resilience/fragility/stress. • MIR scan for soil properties that help understand functions, i.e. pH and P buffering capacity, soil

moisture retention curves, texture profile. • Sodicity and impediments in the soil profile, i.e. hard pans or sodic layers etc. • These are some of key soil resources, which would be linked well with high performance soils (in

response to management systems), plant/crop yield and profitability to farmers. • Use soil animals, i.e. microarthropods as "health" indicators. • No answer (n=13)


Appendix 1 – Survey

A review of indicators of soil health and function: Farmers’ needs and data management

Cooperative Research Centre for High Performance Soils Thank you for expressing interest in the review of indicators for soil health and function being undertaken by the Cooperative Research Centre for High Performance Soils (Soil CRC).

Associate Professor Peter Dahlhaus, together with research colleagues from Federation University Australia (Dr Nathan Robinson, Dr Megan Wong, Ms Jennifer Corbett and Ms Meghan Taylor), is undertaking this project to build a better understanding of the physical, chemical and biological properties that could be used to measure and monitor the agricultural performance of soil.

As someone who understands the role of soils in agriculture, we would like to invite you to be involved and to provide your insights into these issues. Your input will help this research project to understand why some indicators might be more useful than others, and more importantly, what would or would not work on-farm.

This online survey will take about 15 minutes to complete. There are 15 questions to answer. A hardcopy version of this survey is also available for download.

The results of this survey will be available in early June 2018 on the Soil CRC website. The results will guide future CRC projects by providing a comprehensive review of the relevance of reliable, easily measurable and practical indicators of agricultural soil health and function.

The Plain Language Information Statement outlining important information about this research is available to review in full.

This project has received approval from the Federation University Australia’s Human Research Ethics Committee (project number: A18-007).

For further information about this research contact one of the following researchers:

Associate Professor Peter Dahlhaus Email: [email protected] Ph: (03) 5341 3994

Dr Nathan Robinson Email: [email protected]

Dr Megan Wong Email: [email protected]

Section 1 1.1 Which of the following best describes your role?

☐ Farmer ☐ Consultant ☐ Agronomist ☐ Industry representative ☐ Advisor/Extension officer ☐ Researcher

1.1 Please indicate your age:

☐ 18 – 24 ☐ 25 – 34 ☐ 35 – 44 ☐ 45 – 54 ☐ 55 – 64 ☐ 65 – 74 ☐ 75 or older

http://www.soilcrc.com.au/

https://survey.cerdi.edu.au/upload/surveys/383155/files/SoilCRC_PLIS.pdf

mailto:[email protected]




Section 2: Farmers Only answer this section if you selected ‘Farmers’ in question 1.1.

Where you have farms in different locations, please answer the following questions about your MAIN farm only.

2.3 Where is your main farming enterprise located? Please enter a locality and postcode.

_________________________________________

2.4 What is the PRIMARY focus of your main farming enterprise? Please choose one answer:

Dryland (e.g. non-

irrigated, rainfed) Irrigated


Produce Grain, oilseed, pulses ☐ ☐

Beef cattle ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Prime lamb ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Dairy (cows) ☐ ☐ ☐

Wool (sheep) ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Cotton ☐ ☐

Sugar ☐ ☐

Pigs ☐ ☐ ☐

Horticulture: annual crops ☐ ☐ ☐

Horticulture: permanent plantings ☐ ☐ ☐

Viticulture ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

2.5 What other focus, if any, do you have on your main farming enterprise? Dryland

(e.g. non-irrigated, rainfed) Irrigated







Cotton ☐ ☐

Sugar ☐ ☐

Pigs ☐ ☐ ☐




Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

2.6 Does your main farming enterprise have certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?

☐ No ☐ Yes - Please state certification: _____________


2.7 What is the total size of your main farming enterprise?

☐ Less than 50 hectares ☐ 50 to 99 hectares ☐ 100 to 499 hectares ☐ 500 to 999 hectares ☐ 1,000 to 1,999 hectares ☐ 2,000 to 4,999 hectares ☐ 5,000 hectares or more

2.8 What data or information do you use to make management decisions on your main farming enterprise? Please choose the appropriate response for each item:

Always Sometimes Never Weather Rainfall ☐ ☐ ☐

Temperature ☐ ☐ ☐

Frost ☐ ☐ ☐

Wind ☐ ☐ ☐

Seasonal forecasts ☐ ☐ ☐ Terrain Contours, levels ☐ ☐ ☐

Drainage, waterlogging ☐ ☐ ☐ Soils Soil type, variability ☐ ☐ ☐

Soil moisture ☐ ☐ ☐

Soil chemistry, nutrients ☐ ☐ ☐

Soil structure ☐ ☐ ☐

Soil biology ☐ ☐ ☐ Production Pasture growth ☐ ☐ ☐

Biomass ☐ ☐ ☐

Plant/animal health ☐ ☐ ☐

Yield/quality ☐ ☐ ☐ Agribusiness Machinery performance ☐ ☐ ☐

Input costs ☐ ☐ ☐

Commodity prices ☐ ☐ ☐

Market forecast ☐ ☐ ☐ Other: _________________ ☐ ☐ ☐

The next set of questions are about SOIL data only.

2.9 How would you normally get (source) information and data about the SOIL on your farm? Check all that apply

☐ Collect it on the farm manually ☐ Collect it on the farm with sensors ☐ From our own farming enterprise database ☐ Shared from other farmers (e.g. neighbours, friends, family) ☐ From extension activities (e.g. field days, newsletters) ☐ From research reports, maps, journals, experts (e.g. government, universities) ☐ From a paid advisor, agronomist or consultant ☐ From a subscription or membership (e.g. to a grower group or industry group) ☐ Freely from the internet (e.g. website, email feed, Twitter, etc.)


☐ From a mobile App (e.g. SoilMapp, SoilWaterApp, etc.) ☐ Other: ________________________________

2.10 What SOIL OBSERVATIONS do you use to judge the performance of the soils on your farm, and how often do you collect them? Observations only: The next question is about soil tests.

Weekly Monthly Yearly

Every 2 to 5 years Use rarely Never use

Observations Colour, texture, feel ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Smell, taste ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Organic matter ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Wetness, moisture, dryness, cracking ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Waterlogging, drainage ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Penetrometer, spade, boot heel ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Erosion, groundcover ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Worms/bugs ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Soil-borne pests/diseases ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

2.11 What SOIL TESTS do you use to judge the performance of the soils on your farm, and how often do you collect them?

Weekly Monthly Yearly Every 2 to

5 years Use rarely Never use Physical tests Soil moisture ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Soil temperature ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Soil structure ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Soil strength ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

EM38 survey ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Chemical tests Paddock soil tests (nutrients) ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Soil pH (acidity/alkalinity) ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Soil nitrogen ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Soil EC, salinity ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Soil contaminants/toxicity ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐


Biological tests Respiration/decomposition ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

DNA-based tests ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Worm counts ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Bug counts ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Mycorrhizal colonisation ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Other tests: ____________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

2.12 How often would you look back at your past soil information, observations or tests to use it in farming decisions?

Monthly Yearly Every 2 to 5 years Hardly ever Never ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

2.13 In your current farming enterprise, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that you use?

1. ______________________________________

2. ______________________________________

3. ______________________________________

2.14 In an ideal world, what are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you would like to use?

1. ______________________________________

2. ______________________________________

3. ______________________________________

2.15 Please provide any other comments or thoughts you have that would help us better understand the properties that could be used to measure and monitor the agricultural performance of soil.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Section 3: Consultants/Agronomists Only answer this section if you selected ‘Consultants/Agronomists’ in question 1.1.

Where your business enterprise has offices in different locations, please answer the following questions about the office that you mostly work from.

3.3 Where is your main workplace located? Please enter a locality and postcode.

_________________________________________

3.4 What type of agricultural enterprise comprises the majority of your work (in terms of time spent)? Please choose one answer:

Dryland (e.g. non-








Cotton ☐ ☐

Sugar ☐ ☐

Pigs ☐ ☐ ☐




Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

3.5 What other types of agricultural enterprises, if any, do you advise or service? Dryland








Cotton ☐ ☐

Sugar ☐ ☐

Pigs ☐ ☐ ☐




Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐


3.6 Do you specialise in farming enterprises that have certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?


3.7 In general, what size of farming enterprise do you advise or service? Check all that apply


3.8 What data or information do you typically use to advise a client about farm management decisions? Please choose the appropriate response for each item:



Frost ☐ ☐ ☐

Wind ☐ ☐ ☐







Biomass ☐ ☐ ☐







3.9 How would you normally get (source) information and data about the SOIL on a client’s farm? Check all that apply

☐ Collect it on the farm manually ☐ Collect it on the farm with sensors ☐ From our own business database ☐ Shared from other agronomists or consultants ☐ From extension activities (e.g. field days, newsletters) ☐ From research reports, maps, journals, experts (e.g. government, universities) ☐ Engage paid sub-consultants or service providers to collect it


☐ From a subscription or membership (e.g. to a grower group or industry group) ☐ Freely from the internet (e.g. website, email feed, Twitter, etc.) ☐ From a mobile App (e.g. SoilMapp, SoilWaterApp, etc.) ☐ Other: ________________________________

3.10 What SOIL OBSERVATIONS do you typically use to judge the performance of the soils on a client’s farm, and how often would you use them? Observations only: The next question is about soil tests.












Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

3.11 What SOIL TESTS do you typically use to judge the performance of the soils on a client’s farm, and how often would you collect them?






EM38 survey ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐






Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐




Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Biological tests Respiration/decomposition ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐





Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐


3.12 How often would you typically look back at past soil information, observations or tests when advising a client in farming decisions?


3.13 In your opinion, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that you currently use to advise your clients?

1. ______________________________________

2. ______________________________________

3. ______________________________________

3.14 What are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you would ideally like to use to advise your clients?

1. ______________________________________

2. ______________________________________

3. ______________________________________


___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Section 4: Industry representatives Only answer this section if you selected ‘Industry representatives’ in question 1.1.

Where your organisation has offices in different locations, please answer the following questions about the office that you mostly work from.


_________________________________________

4.4 What is the main type of agricultural enterprise that your organisation represents (in terms of time spent)? Please choose one answer:

Dryland (e.g. non-








Cotton ☐ ☐

Sugar ☐ ☐

Pigs ☐ ☐ ☐




Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

4.5 What other types of agricultural enterprises, if any, does your organisation represent? Dryland








Cotton ☐ ☐

Sugar ☐ ☐

Pigs ☐ ☐ ☐




Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐


4.6 Do you represent farming enterprises that have certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?


4.7 In general, what size of farming enterprise does your organisation represent? Check all that apply


4.8 As an industry representative, what data or information would you typically use to understand agricultural management in your industry? Please choose the appropriate response for each item:



Frost ☐ ☐ ☐

Wind ☐ ☐ ☐







Biomass ☐ ☐ ☐







4.9 How would you normally get (source) information and data about the SOILS in your agricultural industry? Check all that apply

☐ Collect it on farms manually or from farmers ☐ Collect it on farms with sensors ☐ From our own industry databases ☐ Shared from other industry representatives ☐ From extension activities (e.g. field days, newsletters)


☐ From research reports, maps, journals, experts (e.g. government, universities) ☐ From engaging paid advisors, agronomists or consultants to collect it ☐ From subscriptions or memberships (e.g. international industry groups) ☐ Freely from the internet (e.g. websites, email feeds, Twitter, etc.) ☐ From mobile Apps (e.g. SoilMapp, SoilWaterApp, etc.) ☐ Other: ________________________________

4.10 In your industry, what are the most common SOIL OBSERVATIONS that would be typically used to judge the performance of the soils on farms, and how often would they be used? Observations only: The next question is about soil tests.












Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

4.11 In your industry, what are the most common SOIL TESTS that would be typically used to judge the performance of the soils on farms, and how often would they be used?






EM38 survey ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐









Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐






Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐


4.12 How often would you look back at past soil information, observations or tests in assessing soil performance in your industry?


4.13 In your opinion, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that farmers in your industry would currently use?

1. ______________________________________

2. ______________________________________

3. ______________________________________

4.14 What are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you would ideally like to see farmers in your industry use?

1. ______________________________________

2. ______________________________________

3. ______________________________________


___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Section 5: Advisors/Extension officers Only answer this section if you selected ‘Advisors/Extension officers’ in question 1.1.

Where your organisation has offices in different locations, please answer the following questions about the office that you mostly work from.


_________________________________________

5.4 What type of agricultural enterprise comprises the majority of your work (in terms of time spent)? Please choose one answer:

Dryland (e.g. non-








Cotton ☐ ☐

Sugar ☐ ☐

Pigs ☐ ☐ ☐




Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

5.5 What other types of agricultural enterprises, if any, do you advise or service? Dryland








Cotton ☐ ☐

Sugar ☐ ☐

Pigs ☐ ☐ ☐




Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐


5.6 Do you specialise in advising or educating farming enterprises about certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?


5.7 In general, what size of farming enterprise do you advise or service? Check all that apply


5.8 What data or information do you typically use to provide advice or education on farm management decisions? Please choose the appropriate response for each item:



Frost ☐ ☐ ☐

Wind ☐ ☐ ☐







Biomass ☐ ☐ ☐







5.9 How would you normally get (source) information and data about the SOIL for providing advice or education to a farming enterprise? Check all that apply

☐ Collect it on the farm manually or from the farmer ☐ Collect it on the farm from sensors ☐ From our own organisation’s database ☐ Shared from other advisors or extension officers ☐ From extension activities (e.g. field days, newsletters) ☐ From research reports, maps, journals, experts (e.g. government, universities)


☐ From engaging paid advisors, agronomists or consultants to collect it ☐ From subscriptions or memberships (e.g. to grower or industry groups) ☐ Freely from the internet (e.g. website, email feed, Twitter, etc.) ☐ From mobile Apps (e.g. SoilMapp, SoilWaterApp, etc.) ☐ Other: ________________________________

5.10 What SOIL OBSERVATIONS do you typically use to judge the performance of the soils on a farm, and how often would you use them? Observations only: The next question is about soil tests.












Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

5.11 What SOIL TESTS do you typically use to judge the performance of the soils on a farm, and how often would you advise the farmer to collect them?






EM38 survey ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐






Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐




Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐






Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐


5.12 How often would you typically look back at past soil information, observations or tests when advising or educating about farm management decisions?


5.13 In your opinion, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that farmers currently use?

1. ______________________________________

2. ______________________________________

3. ______________________________________

5.14 What are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you would ideally like to see farmers use?

1. ______________________________________

2. ______________________________________

3. ______________________________________


___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Section 6: Researchers Only answer this section if you selected ‘Researchers’ in question 1.1.

Where your research institution has offices in different locations, please answer the following questions about the office that you mostly work from.


_________________________________________

6.4 What type of agricultural enterprise comprises the majority of your research (in terms of time spent)? Please choose one answer:

Dryland (e.g. non-








Cotton ☐ ☐

Sugar ☐ ☐

Pigs ☐ ☐ ☐




Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

6.5 On what other types of agricultural enterprises, if any, do you undertake research? Dryland








Cotton ☐ ☐

Sugar ☐ ☐

Pigs ☐ ☐ ☐




Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐


6.6 Does your research specialise in farming enterprises that have certification (e.g. organic, biodynamic)?


6.7 In general, what size of farming enterprise does your research relate to? Check all that apply


6.8 From your research, what data or information do you believe are typically used to make on-farm management decisions? Please choose the appropriate response for each item:



Frost ☐ ☐ ☐

Wind ☐ ☐ ☐







Biomass ☐ ☐ ☐







6.9 How would you normally get (source) information and data about the SOIL for a research project at an agricultural site? Check all that apply

☐ Collect it on farm or on-site manually, or from farmers ☐ Collect it from on-farm/on-site sensors ☐ From my own research database (including students) ☐ Shared from other researchers Shared from other researchers ☐ From extension activities (e.g. field days, newsletters) ☐ From research reports, maps, journals, experts (e.g. government, universities)


☐ Engage paid consultants or service providers to collect it ☐ From subscriptions or memberships (e.g. to grower or industry groups) ☐ Freely from the internet (e.g. ANDS, TERN, ASRIS, etc.) ☐ From mobile Apps (e.g. SoilMapp, SoilWaterApp, etc.) ☐ Other: ________________________________

6.10 What SOIL OBSERVATIONS do you typically use to judge the agricultural performance of the soils at a site, and how often would you use them? Observations only: The next question is about soil tests.












Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

6.11 What SOIL TESTS do you typically use to judge the agricultural performance of the soils at a site, and how often would you collect them?






EM38 survey ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐






Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐




Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐






Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: __________________ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐


6.12 How often would you typically look back at past soil information, observations or tests in your research?


6.13 In your opinion, what are the three most useful observations or tests of soil performance that farmer would currently use?

1. ______________________________________

2. ______________________________________

3. ______________________________________

6.14 Ideally, what are the three most important observations or tests of soil performance that you think a farmer should use?

1. ______________________________________

2. ______________________________________

3. ______________________________________


___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Thank you Thank you for participating in this survey. Your responses have been successfully recorded.

If you would like to be involved in an additional survey or interview for this research, please click on this link to be directed to a separate survey form where you can provide your contact details.

The results of this survey will be available in early June 2018 on the Soil CRC website.

If you have any questions, further feedback about this project or would like to participate in future research, please contact one of the following researchers:

Associate Professor Peter Dahlhaus Email: [email protected] Ph: (03) 5341 3994

Dr Nathan Robinson Email: [email protected]

Dr Megan Wong Email: [email protected]

http://www.soilcrc.com.au/




Documents

data2.cerdi.edu.audata2.cerdi.edu.au/dataset/a5e42177-e1ee-4ce8-866e-d08aa9d1b22… · CRICOS Provider No. 00103D Page i of i Table of Contents A review of indicators of soil health