Module 6: Healthy soils

Overview

Module 6 ‘Healthy soils’ outlines the importance of managing soils to promote plant and animal health and sustain optimal biological productivity.

Soil is a dynamic, living environment and a vital farm resource. Broadly speaking, healthy soil contains nutrients, allows water and air movement, has a diverse population of soil biota (microorganisms), resists erosion, stores water, retains nutrients, is not acidic or saline, resists disease and provides a healthy environment in which plants can grow and reach their potential.

More than any other farm resource, managing soil health is about protecting and building up the capital so current and future generations can continue to live on the interest. No amount of technology, genetics or grazing management will protect a business in the longer term if the soil resource is depleted.

Learning outcomes

On completing this module you should be able to:

explain the concept of soil capability and its importance to a farming system
describe a basic range of soil types and describe how soil type influences management decisions
outline the link between soil health and biodiversity (noting the role ground cover plays in supporting healthy microorganisms).
identify a range of conditions that impact soil biology
explain the role of soil testing soils and describe the key indicators that dictate soil health
identify the main issues that lead to ‘problem soils’
list the options available to address a range of problem soils.