About the Event

Soil acidity impacts on nutrient-use efficiency and therefore agricultural productivity through two main mechanisms. In the topsoil (0–10 cm) low soil pH (high acidity) decreases the availability of key nutrients. In the subsurface layer (below 10 cm) toxic levels of aluminium at low soil pH reduce crop root growth and access to moisture and nutrients. Better nutrient-use efficiency in the topsoil reduces runoff and potential contamination of waterways. Improved crop root growth in the subsoil increases the available area of crop roots to access water and nutrients.

Applying agricultural lime is an effective method of managing soil acidity, to increase the soil pH. Current lime use in WA agriculture is at 60 per cent of the estimated annual requirement to address current and ongoing soil acidification.

This project works with growers to investigate soil pH levels at both topsoil and subsoil levels across their farm providing more precise and long-term lime recommendations, as well as gaining valuable insight into the current state of soil acidity in the Avon River Basin.

About the Speaker

Alice Butler studied Environmental Science at UWA, graduating in 2013. She began her career at SEPWA, a grower group based in Esperance, working on a precision agriculture project. She then moved to Albany for two years to work with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) on a graduate agronomy program. This provided her with a good grounding in agronomy, specifically weeds, pests and diseases that affected growers within the Albany Port Zone.

Alice now works part time for DPIRD in the Soil Science and Crop Nutrition portfolio as a Research Scientist Information Delivery and part time for Farmanco as a Precision Ag consultant.

Agenda

3.30 - 4.15 pm : Seminar

4.15 -4.30 pm: Q & A

Networking

This event will be followed by networking drinks and nibbles hosted by SoilsWest.

How to Attend

This event will be held in person at Murdoch University, South Street Campus, in Building 460.3.030 ECL3 Lecture Theatre. You can find a map of this location here: Murdoch Map

This event is also hosted virtually on Microsoft Teams. Attendees who selected a virtual ticket will receive instructions on joining virtually in the days prior to the event.

About SoilsWest

SoilsWest is a research alliance between academia, government and industry for a more integrated approach to soil research. You can find out more by visiting: soilswest.org.au

More Soil Seminars

This event is part of a series of free soil seminars, held at Murdoch on the first Monday of every month. Other speakers include:

• Monday 04 July - Raphael Viscarra Rossel (Curtin University)
• Monday 01 August - TBC
• Monday 05 September - TBC
• Monday 03 October - TBC
• Monday 07 November - Ed Barret-Lennard (DPIRD), Rushna Munir (DPIRD)

To find out more about these events, please visit the SoilsWest website or email soilswest@murdoch.edu.au