Studying successful management of soil acidity on Lower Eyre Peninsula
Summary
The Lower Eyre Agricultural Development Association (LEADA) undertook the project to produce case studies that summarize production and soil management pre and post treatment that highlight the value for long term sustainability of production as well as protection of the valuable natural resource.
More than 178,000 hectares of soils on Lower Eyre Peninsula are susceptible to acidification that can negatively impact agricultural production. These are predominately ironstone soils south of Cummins and coarse shallow sands on clay new Ungarra / Cockaleechie. Soil acidification is a natural process but is accelerated with agricultural practices such as crop / hay removal and use of high nitrogen fertilisers.
The cases studies, compiled under LEADA’s National Landcare Program (NLP) funded project document the experience of two Lower Eyre Peninsula farms in identifying and successfully treating acid soils on their properties. The studies have captured historical soil test date, paddock yield maps, landholder observations and “real time” pH mapping date to identify changes to soil pH and production as a result of their treatments, and to document future management strategies for the site.
The Lower Eyre Agricultural Development Association would like to thank Mark and Tamara Modra, Ben and Brooke Pugsley and Graham and Janette Pugsley for their willingness to share their information for this case study. Thanks also to Brett Masters, Rural Solutions SA for developing the case studies and to Jarrod Kemp, Landmark Tumby Bay for yield map date and Andrew Harding, Rural Solutions SA and Brendan Torpy, Precision Agriculture for pH mapping the site.
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