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Geology, Soils And Climate Of Western Australia's Wine Regions, Peter J. Tille, Angela Stuart-Street, Peter S. Gardiner

Bulletins 4000 -

This bulletin details what is special and unique about the geology, soil and climate of the south-west of Western Australia (WA), an area that encompasses the state’s 9 wine regions.

We have arranged the information into 2 parts:

• In Part 1, we broadly describe the special geological, soil and climate features of the south-west of WA to provide context for the wine regions.

• In Part 2, we describe the geology, soil and climate of the regions and subregions of the Geographical Indications (GI) scheme (administered by Wine Australia) for WA.

Through this work we have found that the wine regions …

Geology, Soils And Climate Of The Margaret River Wine Region, Peter J. Tille, Angela Stuart-Street, Peter S. Gardiner

All other publications

This report is an extract from the broader description and analysis of the Geology, soils and climate of Western Australia's wine regions. It expands on the brief descriptions in the second edition of 'Viticulture' (Coombe & Dry 2004) concerning the soils and landscapes of Western Australia’s main wine growing regions. We have tailored this report extract to the specific needs of the Margaret River wine region. It contains local soil names and soil-landscape zones and systems maps.

The wine industry recognises the importance of giving customers an understanding of the vines’ environment and how that may influence wine character …

A Simple Guide For Describing Soils, Angela Stuart-Street, Nicolyn Short Dr, Paul Galloway, Noel R. Schoknecht

All other publications

Soils are enormously diverse and can be very confusing to understand and talk about. This simple guide for describing soils helps to identify the most important parts of a soil profile and provide an easy way to understand and explain what you see. It gives you a step-by-step guide of what soil properties to describe and how to describe them, along with the tools to make basic soil classifications. The soil descriptors help you to identify the soil type and aid in assigning a simple and standardised name to the soil. While this guide is designed to link with a …

Crop And Climate Suitability For Irrigated Agriculture In The Midlands Area Of Western Australia, 2nd Edition, Leon Van Wyk

Resource management technical reports

The Midlands groundwater and land assessment is a $4.7 million Water for Food project. Its aim is to confirm groundwater availability at one or more focus areas that may form precincts of 2000–3000 hectares suitable for intensive irrigated horticulture. This report forms part of this project.

Firstly, this report describes the climate of the Midlands study area and highlights the subtle differences between the two selected focus areas, Irwin and Dinner Hill. It discusses the importance of climate in determining crop suitability. We also investigated the following additional factors that determine crop suitability: water quality, water quantity, land capability (soils) …

Investigations Of The Potential For Irrigated Agriculture On The Bonaparte Plains: Land Capability Assessment Report, Henry Smolinski

Resource management technical reports

This report describes 55 000 hectares of predominantly red sands and sandy loams — locally referred to as Cockatoo Sands — on the Bonaparte Plains about 70 kilometres north of the Ord River Irrigation Area, Kununurra. It builds on soil surveys conducted in 2009 and 2015, which identified significant areas of red soils in the Kununurra area that could be suitable for agriculture.

The Cockatoo Sands generally have loamy, sand topsoils that grade to sandy loam with depth. The soil profiles are very deep, well drained to rapidly drained, and highly permeable. These soil characteristics support a large range of …

Distribution Of Classified Soils In South-West Western Australia, Dennis Van Gool, Angela Stuart-Street, Peter Tille

Resource management technical reports

This report provides areas, locations and properties of the main soil classifications identified in south-west Western Australia using current conventional soil map data. It is a reference point for classified soils in the south-west. It provides a way of communicating how soil properties or productivity are likely to relate to soils with similar classifications found elsewhere so that soil research or knowledge can be effectively shared around the state and across Australia.

This is a high-level summary of the relationships between the main soil classifications currently used in Western Australia. These are: • Western Australian Soil Groups, WASG (Schoknecht & …

Ironstone Gravel Types In Western Australia: Re-Purposing A Geological Survey To Improve Soil Management, Edward A. Griffin, Karen Holmes, Tim Overheu

Conference papers and presentations

The deeply laterised landscapes of Western Australia’s wheatbelt contain large amounts of ferruginous concretions or pisoliths, referred to locally as ironstone gravel. Soil surveys over the years have described ironstone gravel presence and abundance, and the state soil classification system recognises their importance in agriculture by designating ‘ironstone gravel soils’ at the highest level of the classification hierarchy. These gravels have generally been assumed inert in agricultural soils; however, farm trials and anecdotal experience suggest they may play a more active role in nutrient and water retention than previously recognised. Gravelly soil performance under dryland agriculture varies dramatically across the …

Land Systems Of The Kimberley Region, Western Australia, A L. Payne, N Schoknecht

Technical Bulletins

The Land Systems of the Kimberley Region Report describes and maps the landscapes, soils and vegetation of the Kimberley region. This report is a consolidation of surveys carried out by different organisations, across different areas of the Kimberley, since the 1940s. The Kimberley region, as defined in this bulletin, covers 330 070km². The report categorises the Kimberley region into 111 land systems. Under each land system, the report identifies the vulnerabilities of those areas, and provides recommendations on how to achieve sustainable use. The report also publishes pasture types for the entire region and the grazing potential for each pasture, …

Soil Assessment Of The Weaber Plain (Goomig) Farmlands, Henry Smolinski, Justin Laycock, Jim Dixon

Resource management technical reports

In 2008, the Ord Irrigation Expansion Project was approved by the Western Australian Government to develop irrigated agriculture on the Weaber Plain (Goomig)

As part of the environmental planning and approvals process, the WA Government was required to prepare a groundwater management plan and a hydrodynamic plan.

As a result, the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) was requested to lead an investigative program to support a second phase of modelling. The project was divided into five components: two addressing deficiencies related to groundwater, two relating to soils and subsoils, and one addressing surface and groundwater quality aspects. …

Wheat Yield Potential And Land Management Constraints In The South West Of Western Australia, Dennis Van Gool

Resource management technical reports

This report provides the underpinning information to help improve the long term profitability of wheat cropping. It documents the realistic potential yield of the 18 million hectares of agricultural land in the South West of Western Australia and the gap between this potential and the actual yields, based on shire averages. This report also summarises major land management constraints that limit the yield potential. This information can be used to aid strategic planning at different levels, for example state, shire and, with care, as a starting point for farm planning.

Crop Updates 2011 - Nutrition, Precision Agriculture & Climate And Forecasting, Deb Archdeacon, Andrew Gulliver, David Cullen, Qifu Ma, Richard Bell, Ross Brennan, Craig Scanlan, Wen Chen, Geoff Anderson, Mike Bolland, Peter Rees, Sandy Alexander, Frank D'Emden, Stephen Davies, Breanne Best, Louise Barton, Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, Ralph Kiese, Daniel Murphy, Peter Newman, Roger Mandel, Roger Lawes, Michael Robertson, Derk Bakker, Jeremy Lemon, Alison Lacey, John Paul Collins, Glen Riethmuller, Fiona H. Evans, David Stephens, Caroline Peek, Tim Scanlon

Crop Updates

This session covers sixteen papers from different authors:

Nutrition

1. Balance® used in conventional cropping practice with half of the upfront fertiliser rate can sustain crop yield and build soil biological fertility, Deb Archdeacon1, Andrew Gulliver2 and David Cullen2, 1Agronomica, Wellington Mill, WA, 2Custom Composts, Nambeelup, WA

2. Effects of potassium (K) supply on plant growth, potassium uptake and grain Yield in wheat grown in grey sand, Qifu Ma1, Richard Bell1, Ross Brennan2 and Craig Scanlan2, 1School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University, 2Department of Agriculture and Food

3. Improving fertiliser management: redefining the …

Subsurface Compaction A Guide For Wa Farmers And Consultants, Stephen Davies, Alison Lacey

Bulletins 4000 -

For plants to grow in agricultural soils, roots and emerging shoots must be able to force their way through the soil. In soils of high strength, this growth is physically restricted. High strength soils may be due to natural soil characteristics and conditions or develop as a result of agricultural practices and may be in layers or throughout the soil profile.

In agriculture, high strength soils commonly occur as a result of compaction. Compaction of agricultural soils can be in the surface (often caused by stock trampling or rain drop splatter) or in the subsurface (usually in a layer at …

Lead Concentration Of Soils In Sorby Hills Area Of Proposed M2 Irrigation Area, East Kimberley, Edward (Ted) Arnold Griffin, Noel R. Schoknecht, Ross Brennan, Jane Speijers, Dave Allen, Mike Freeman

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.

Agmaps Land Manager Cd-Rom For The Lake Warden Catchment, Department Of Agriculture And Food

Agmaps

This CD-ROM contains land resource maps and land management information for the Lake Warden catchment. It was prepared by Environmental Knowledge Systems Australia (EKSA) on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia. Funding has been provided by the Australian and State Governments investment through the Natural Heritage Trust delivered by South Coast NRM in the South Coast region.

Also included on the CD is a lot of technical information which may now be out of date.

Crop Updates 2006 - Cadoux And Calingiri, Raj Malik, Kelly Winfield, David Stephens, Michael Meuleners, Kari-Lee Falconer, Bill Bowden, Narelle Simpson, Anne Wilkins, Nathan Hancock, Peter Newman, Glenn Adam, Andrew Blake, Caroline Peak, Stephen Davies, Chris Gazey, Bob Gilkes, Dan Evans, Tania Liaghati

Crop Updates

This session covers nine papers from different authors

1. Performance of oaten hay varieties in Western Australian environments, Raj Malik and Kellie Winfield, Department of Agriculture

2. Performance of dwarf potential milling varieties in Western Australian environments, Raj Malik and Kellie Winfield, Department of Agriculture

3. 2006 Seasonal outlook, David Stephens, Michael Meuleners and Kari-Lee Falconer, Department of Agriculture

4. Matching nitrogen supply to crop demand in high rainfall cropping, Bill Bowden, Narelle Simpson Department of Agriculture

5. An overview of the potential for a Biofuels Industry in Western Australia, Anne Wilkins and Nathan Hancock, Department of Agriculture

6. IWM performs over 5 years …

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Crop Updates 2006 - Farming Systems, Wayne Pluske, Bill Bowden, Craig Scanan, Stephen Davies, Chris Gazey, Peter Tozer, Derk Bakker, Louise Barton, David Gatter, Renee Buck, Daniel Murphy, Christoph Hinz, Bill Porter, Meredith Fairbanks, Nicolyn Short, Ian Foster, James Fisher, Doug Abrecht, Mario D'Antuono, Tracey M. Gianatti, Paul Carmody, Frank D'Amden, Rick Llewellyn, Michael Burton, Caroline Peek, Nadine Eva, Chris Carter, Megan Abrahams, Andrew Blake, Paul Blackwell, Sylvian Pottier, Michael Robertson, Greg Lyle, Lisa Brennan, Tony J. Vyn, Simon Teakle, Peter Norris, Jeff Russell, James Fisher, Roy Murray-Prior, Deb Pritchard, Mike Collins, Greg Hamilton, Rob Hetherington, Andrew Van Burgel, Cliff Spann

Crop Updates

This session covers nineteen papers from different authors:

SOIL AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

1. Inve$tigating fertili$er inve$tment, Wayne Pluske, Nutrient Management Systems

2. KASM, the potassium in Agricultural System Model,Bill Bowden and Craig Scanlan, DAWA Northam and UWA, School of Earth and Geographical Sciences

3. Long term productivity and economic benefits of subsurface acidity management from surface and subsurface liming, Stephen Davies, Chris Gazey and Peter Tozer, Department of Agriculture

4. Furrow and ridges to prevent waterlogging, Dr Derk Bakker, Department of Agriculture

5. Nitrous oxide emissions from a cropped soil in Western Australia, Louise Barton^{1 …}

Agmaps Land Manager Cd-Rom For The Mortlock Catchment. Encompasses Parts Of The Shires Of Dalwallinu, Wongan-Ballidu, Moora, Victoria Plains, Toodyay, Northam, Goomalling, Cunderdin, Dowerin, Koorda, Wyalkatchem, Tammin, Kellerberrin, Trayning & Mount Marshall, Luke Vernon, Dennis Van Gool, Ian Kininmonth, Philip M. Goulding, Henry Smolinski

Agmaps

This CD-ROM contains land resource maps and land management information relevant for the Mortlock Catchment which encompasses parts of the shires of Dalwallinu, Wongan-Ballidu, Moora, Victoria Plains, Toodyay, Northam, Goomalling, Cunderdin, Dowerin, Koorda, Wyalkatchem, Tammin, Kellerberrin, Trayning & Mount Marshall. It was produced by the Department of Agriculture with assistance from Natural Heritage Trust funding. Also included on the CD is a lot of technical information which may now be out of date.

Agmaps Land Manager Cd-Rom. Peel-Harvey Region (Western Portion) - Shires Of Kwinana, Rockingham, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Mandurah, Murray, Boddington, Waroona & Harvey, Dennis Van Gool, Ian Kininmonth, Luke Vernon, Philip M. Goulding

Agmaps

This CD-ROM contains land resource maps and land management information relevant for the Peel-Harvey coastal catchment region. It includes Shires of Kwinana, Rockingham, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Mandurah, Murray, Boddington, Waroona & Harvey It was produced by the Department of Agriculture with the assistance of Natural Heritage Trust funding. Also included on the CD is a lot of technical information which may now be out of date.

Agmaps Land Profiler Cd-Rom. Shires Of Capel, Busselton & Augusta-Margaret River, Peter J. Tille, Dennis Van Gool, Ian Kininmonth, Phil M. Goulding

Agmaps

This CD-ROM contains land resource maps and land management information relevant for the shires of Capel, Busselton & Augusta-Margaret River. It was produced by the Department of Agriculture. Also included on the CD is a lot of technical information which may now be out of date.

Agmaps Land Manager Cd-Rom For The Albany Eastern Hinterland., Tim D. Overheu, Angela Stuart-Street, Ron Master

Agmaps

This CD-ROM contains land resource maps and land management information relevant for the Albany Eastern Hinterland catchment appraisal, 2003. It was produced by the Department of Agriculture. Also included on the CD is technical information which may now be out of date.

Agmaps Land Manager Cd-Rom For The Frankland-Gordon Area, Tim D. Overheu, Angela Stuart-Street, Ron Master

Agmaps

This CD-ROM contains land resource maps and land management information relevant to the Frankland-Gordon area (Catchment Appraisal). It was produced by the Department of Agriculture. Also included on the CD is technical information which may now be out of date.

Agmaps Land Profiler Cd-Rom For The Peel Region. Shires Of Boddington, Kwinana, Mandurah, Murray, Rockingham And Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Dennis Van Gool, Peter J. Tille, Ian Kininmonth, Philip M. Goulding

Agmaps

This CD-ROM contains land resource maps and land management information for the Peel region. Shires of Boddington, Kwinana, Mandurah, Murray, Rockingham and Serpentine-Jarrahdale. It was produced by the Department of Agriculture Western Australia. Also included on the CD is technical information which may now be out of date.

Vegetation Health Analysis (Peel-Harvey Coastal Plain Catchment) : An Impact Study On The Use Of Alkaloam (Bauxite Residue) As A Soil Amendment On Agricultural Land, Garry Heady, Chris Ferreira

All other publications

In 1997, a program was established to monitor the long term, (a minimum of 10 years), impacts on remnant native vegetation, of Alkaloam bauxite residue used as a soil amendment on adjacent agricultural land Data collection is to be repeated on an annual basis for the duration of the program. This report presents pre-treatment site and vegetation data for 2001, the fourth year of sampling in the program. Overall results are compared with those from 1997, 1998 and 2000. Descriptions of monitoring sites and an outline of project design and methodology are provided so the report can be read independently …

Agmaps Land Profiler Cd-Rom. Shires Of Waroona, Harvey And Dardanup, Dennis Van Gool, Peter J. Tille, Ian Kininmonth, Philip M. Goulding, Maryse Louise

Agmaps

This CD-ROM contains land resource maps and land management information for the shires of Waroona, Harvey and Dardanup. It was produced by the Department of Agriculture Western Australia. Also included on the CD is technical information which may now be out of date.

Agmaps - Horticulture Land Capability Maps, Swan Coastal Plain, Lancelin To Augusta, Dennis Van Gool, Werner Runge

Agmaps

This CD-ROM contains maps derived from the report "Coastal Land and Groundwater for Horticulture from Gingin to Augusta" prepared by Dennis van Gool and Werner Runge in May 1999 as part of a project funded by the National Landcare Program, Agriculture Western Australia and the University of Western Australia. Also included on the CD are many technical publications which may now be out of date.

Native Vegetation Handbook For The Shire Of Northam, Sarah J. Weaving

Native vegetation handbook series

This booklet provides land managers with information relating to the natural resources of the Shire of Northam, including the existing and original vegetation, fauna and flora, drainage systems, topography and soils. Some of the problems relating to the management of these resources within the Shire and community initiatives to deal with these problems are also discussed. It is hoped that this information will contribute to the long term viability of the agricultural landscape and the conservation of native vegetation within the Shire.

Native Vegetation Handbook For The Shire Of Toodyay, Sarah J. Weaving

Native vegetation handbook series

The Handbook provides land managers with information relating to the natural resources of the Shire of Toodyay, including the original and existing vegetation, drainage systems and soils. Some of the problems relating to the management of these resources within the Shire and ideas and community initiatives to solve these problems are also discussed. It is hoped that this information will contribute to the long term viability of the agricultural landscape and the conservation of native vegetation within the shire.

Geographe Bay Catchment Natural Resource Atlas, Sarah Weaving

All other publications

The Geographe Bay Catchment Atlas is one of a series of Natural Resource Atlases covering the agricultural region of Western Australia. The purpose of the Atlas is to provide data for people in local communities who manage or have an interest in natural resources. It is now realised that the various components of the land interact with each other and therefore need to be managed together. This Atlas is intended to present natural resource and land information in an accessible way to people of the area. It may act as a focus for catchment planning and provide a starting point …

Native Vegetation Handbook For The Shire Of Beverley, Rod Safstrom

Native vegetation handbook series

This Handbook is one of a series covering the agricultural region of Western Australia. The Handbook aims to assist the development of sustainable farming systems which combine agricultural production and nature conservation. Information is provided on the natural resources of the Shire of Beverley, including the existing vegetation, drainage systems and soils. Problems in managing these resources are described and community initiatives to tackle the problems are summarised.

Native Vegetation Handbook For The Shire Of Brookton, Rod Safstrom

Native vegetation handbook series

This Handbook is one of a series covering the agricultural region of Western Australia. The Handbook aims to assist the development of sustainable farming systems which combine agricultural production and nature conservation. Information is provided on the natural resources of the Shire of Brookton, including the existing vegetation, drainage systems and soils. Problems in managing these resources are described and community initiatives to tackle the problems are summarised. It is hoped this Handbook will contribute to the long term viability of the agricultural landscape and the conservation of native vegetation within the Shire.