Soil properties under organic and conventional management in southern New South Wales

Abstract

From 1991 to 1993 a program of soil sampling was undertaken on neighbouring properties, under organic and conventional management, at Ardlethan in southern NSW. The organic farm was long established, as organic management had commenced in 1963. The conventional farm was well managed in typical fashion for the district. Soil sampling took place in the autumns of 1991, 1992, and 1993. Samples were taken to a depth of 150 mm and analysed for a range of nutrients. Soil on the organic farm contained significantly lower concentrations of extractable P and exchangeable Mn, and had higher pH and higher concentrations of exchangeable Na, Ca, and K. There was no statistically significant difference between the farms in the concentrations of total Mg, Na, N, Mn, and K, nor in exchangeable Mg and organic carbon content.