National conference on sodic soils - Summary and conclusions

Abstract

Sodic soils cover over 28% of the total land area in Australia. It is clear from the papers delivered at the conference and workshop that sodic soils are beset with serious chemical, physical and nutritional problems. This report summarises these problems based on the discussions during the workshop sessions together with issues raised during group discussion on: (a) distribution, classification and mapping, (b) physical processes, (c) chemical processes, (d) nutrient constraints, (e) biology and organic matter, (f) environmental consequences and (g) management strategies for economically sustainable crop production on sodic soils. The most serious problems raised during the meeting concern inappropriate definition of sodic soils, soil water balance, nutritional requirements on sodic soils, chemical and mineralogical bases of structural instability in relation to amelioration strategies, farming systems to improve organic matter and biological activity, and information transfer. These issues are presented in detail.