Soil indicators and their use by farmers in the Billabong Catchment, southern New South Wales

Abstract

‘Soil health’ programs and projects in Australia’s agricultural districts are designed to influence farmers’ management behaviours, usually to produce better outcomes for production, conservation, and sustainability. These programs usually examine soil management practices from a soil science perspective, but how soils are understood by farmers, and how that understanding informs their farm management decisions, is poorly documented. The research presented in this paper sought to better understand how dryland farmers in the Billabong catchment of southern New South Wales use soil indicators to inform their management decisions. Thematic content analysis of transcripts of semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with farmers suggest several themes that have implications for soil scientists and other professionals wishing to promote soil health in the dryland farming regions of south-eastern Australia. In particular, all soil indicators, including those related to soil ‘health’, need to relate to some clear, practical use to farmers if they are to be used in farm decision making. This research highlights a reliance of the participants of this research on agronomists. Reliance on agronomists for soil management decisions may result in increasing loss of connectivity between farmers and their land. If this reflects a wider trend, soil health projects may need to consider where best to direct their capacity-building activities, and/or how to re-empower individual farmers.

Are Australian and United States Farmers Using Soil Information for Soil Health Management?

“…Kelly et al [68] noted that farmers in their study believed healthy soil to be more a "means to an end" than an "end in itself"; rather, their goal is a soil capable of producing sustained yields. This sentiment was echoed in the forward of a prototype for a Soil Health Management Plan which stated: "Soil health is not an end in itself.…”

“…Crop yield and protein level were mentioned by less than a quarter of farmers interviewed [64]. A small qualitative study (n = 15) of grazing farmers in Billabong catchment, NSW, showed that while they relied strongly on soil testing to support their management decisions such as the amount of lime to apply, they only focused on a few results such as phosphorus, aluminum and soil pH even though the soil tests would have provided more data on their soil [68]. These examples demonstrate awareness of soil function beyond productivity that still falls short of the ability to manage soil sustainably.…”

Effect of Mining Activities on Vegetation Composition and nutrient status of Forest Soil in Benue Cement Company, Benue State, Nigeria

“…Chemical attributes of soil health are correlated with the capacity to provide nutrients for plants and/or retaining chemical elements or compounds harmful to the environment and plant growth. Soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and organic matter and nutrient levels are the main chemical attributes used in soil health assessment, especially when considering the soil capacity for supporting high yield crops (Kelly et al, 2009), although our study did not examine soil CEC. Chemical attributes have been correlated with plant yields and thus the variations of a particular indicator are easily interpreted, and allow a quick improvement of the soil chemical properties by liming and/or fertilization.…”

Evaluation of Soil Health under Different Forest Stands in a Tropical Moist Rain Forest of Otuoke, Southern Nigeria

“…Soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic matter and nutrient levels are the main chemical attributes used in soil health assessment, especially when considering the soil capacity for supporting high yield crops (Kelly et al, 2009). Chemical attributes have been correlated with plant yields and thus the variations of a particular indicator are easily interpreted, and allow a quick improvement of the soil chemical properties by liming and/or fertilization.…”