Across Australia, a significant proportion of cropping soils are limited by subsoil constraints that restrict root growth and prevent crops from accessing valuable moisture and nutrients, holding back productivity and profitability.
This webinar highlighted the Soil CRC’s latest research on unlocking the potential of underperforming, constrained soils. Soil CRC researchers discussed how integrated, practical solutions can help overcome these challenges. Drawing on recent multi-site field trials (NSW and Qld), they shared evidence-based strategies that improve soil function, enhance water use, and deliver measurable yield gains – particularly in tough seasons.
Dr Lukas Van Zwieten (Soil CRC Program 4 Leader, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development) provided an overview on subsoil constraints, how and why soils become sodic and the implications this has for soil structure, water movement and crop performance. He shared findings from the Burdekin (Qld) trial, highlighting key results and insights into managing constrained soils under sugarcane field conditions.
Dr Shihab Uddin (NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development) introduced the Lockhart (NSW) amendment trials, outlining the rationale behind the treatments and what they were designed to achieve in improving soil function and productivity. He then presented the trial results explaining the impact of each amelioration strategy on soil water storage, crop water use efficiency and crop performance, across multiple soil constraints and key soil types.
The presentations were followed by a Q&A session.