FarmTalk #21 – Soils Ain’t Soils: The Mallee Experience

Fact Sheet – August 2006

Graeme McIntosh – NSW DPI, Sean Murphy – NSW DPI, John Leys – NSW DNR,
Kathryn Biesaga – Lower Murray Darling CMA, Tania Midgely – NSW DPI.

The issue
Soils ain’t soils. In a high rainfall year the flats yield well and the tops of the hills go yellow, with protein being poor. In a low rainfall year the hills yield best, whilst the flats aren’t worth harvesting. In an average rainfall year the slopes are the most productive section of the paddock. Another soil, colloquially known as Belah, performs well in most seasons and is therefore often favoured for cropping.

This farmtalk covers the following:
1. What are the main soil types in the low rainfall Mallee?
2. How is water holding ability affected by the soil type?
3. What effect does soil type have on paddock management?