The National Soil Monitoring Program (NSMP) has officially started in the South West of WA.
The project is a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. CSIRO have identified 3,000 sites across Australia, including 542 in WA, representing a range of soil types, climates and land uses.
South West NRM is collaborating with Wheatbelt NRM to assist the NSMP with gathering soil samples from the identified sites.
This first round is to establish and sample soil sites with the intention to revisit them about every five years to increase our understanding of soil health and detect trends in soil condition with relation to climate, land use and land management practices.
Soil information and data will be made accessible via Australia’s National Soil Information System (ANSIS). Sample specimens will also be archived in the Australian National Soil Archive for future research.
Why is this important? Soil is a non-renewable resource and our most valuable natural asset.
Australian soil is particularly vulnerable to degradation because it is deeply weathered, old and often nutrient poor. The NSMP was established to help understand changes in soil and will provide the information required to support future investment, inform stakeholders, and guide on-farm practices to improve soil health.
South West NRM has started reaching out to 49 landholders across 17 Shires between Wickepin, Gnowangerup, Manjimup and Harvey to facilitate engagements on accessing sites and understanding land management practices.
Sampling involves taking 10 cores (two-inch diameter) from a 25 x 25 metre site to a depth of 1 metre. Each 10 cm section of a core will be analysed for chemical and biological indicators, and a small pit will be dug to analyse physical characteristics.
There is no cost to landholders and no obligation to participate. Landholders involved will be provided with a report that will include results on the data collected at the site including a comprehensive soil chemical, physical and biological assessment.
South West NRM is collaborating with Wheatbelt NRM who are coordinating nationally consistent soil sampling from Geraldton to Esperance.
For more information about delivery of the NSMP delivery in the South West, please contact Peter Clifton at South West NRM. You can also access general information about the NSMP and frequently asked questions.
The National Soil Monitoring Program has been supported by funding through the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) in collaboration with CSIRO.