Soil performance indicators and their interdependencies

Previous Soil CRC research has shown that land managers use a range of indicators and observations to assess soil performance and limitations to production systems. This project builds on this research and the ‘Matching soil performance indicators to farming systems’ project, which identified what indicators work best for different farming systems and regions.

The aim of this project is to produce an enduring resource on key soil indicators, including target and range values, that can be used and adopted by advisors, growers, grower groups, soil and land management researchers and government.

The research will better define critical target values for soil performance indicators across a range of agricultural settings. It will also explore what these indicator values mean for users and the sustainable management of different soils and production systems.

A co-design process with domain and regional experts will support the development of relevant metrics for indicators that matter to land managers. This process will help identify combinations of soil type, climate and land use and link these to locally relevant management practice information for soil performance. These metrics will then be linked to relevant corrective actions and management options to improve soil performance and health.

The project team will use a spatial framework-based approach to ensure there is strong alignment with other Soil CRC projects, including ‘Measuring soil microbes’, ‘Next generation tools to engineer higher performing soils’, ‘Visualising Australasia’s Soils: building a legacy’, and ‘Market mechanisms for improved soil stewardship’. This will focus on limitations to soil performance and prioritisation of management actions to optimise performance for indicators that matter.

Co-design and expert guidance will ensure that the research outputs, including relevant interpretations, fulfill users’ needs, are actionable, and have value for the Soil CRC and beyond.