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Publication Date

2000

Series Number

4508

Abstract

We have come a long way over the past three or four years in terms of both, the level of understanding and recognition of Soil Acidity as a major land degradation issue for the wheatbelt of Western Australia, and, in our actions to treat the problem.

During 1999 there were three very significant changes relating to acid soils in Western Australia.

  • Lime use in WA increased by over 200,000 tonnes from 1998 to 1999 to a record 653,000 tonnes, which was double the amount applied in 1997.
  • The Agricultural Lime Industry adopted a voluntary Lime Industry Code of Practice in October 1999, more than 6 months ahead of schedule.
  • The Soil Acidity Research and Development team began a program of Agribusiness Training Days to ensure that the latest information was being made available to company agronomists in a coordinated and planned manner.

Each of these milestones, when coupled with the continued progress by all the research and extension projects in soil acidity in Western Australia, demonstrate that the management of acid soils in WA is becoming a reality.

However, we must not become complacent about the success so far. Current lime requirement in Western Australia is estimated to be just over 1 million tonnes annually.

Number of Pages

49

ISSN

1326-415X

Keywords

Fertilizers, Trace elements, Soil pH, Acid soils, Soil acidity, Soil management, Legumes, Acidification, Lupins, Leaching, Liming, Rotations, Cereals, Soil types, Western Australia

Disciplines

Food Science | Soil Science

Western Australia soil acidity research and development update 2000 : time to lime

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