

State and trends of soil acidification
State and trends of soil acidification
Naturally fertile land under intensive use. Insufficient lime application
Naturally fertile land with widespread intensive use. Insufficient lime application
Soils under pine plantations are acidifying, but improved practices for sugar cane and horticulture appear to be effective
Soils under pine plantations are acidifying, but improved practices for sugar cane and horticulture appear to be effective
Improved practices across diverse land uses, but localised subsoil acidification under banana cropping
Improved practices across diverse land uses, but localised subsoil acidification under banana cropping
Recently intensified land use after clearing
Recently intensified land use after clearing
Grazing of modified and natural pastures, with widespread declines in pH. In the Northern Tablelands region of New South Wales, 11% of soil monitoring units report acidification is an issue
Grazing of modified and natural pastures, with widespread declines in pH
Coastal lowlands with a variety of soil types. Significant decline in pH on the floodplains due to intensive agriculture. in the North Coast region of New South Wales, 22% of soil monitoring units report acidification as an issue
Coastal lowlands with a variety of soil types. Significant decline in pH on the floodplains due to intensive agriculture
Cropping and grazing of modified and natural pastures in the east, with declines in pH evident
Cropping and grazing of modified and natural pastures in the east, with declines in pH evident
Diverse landscape, but pH has declined markedly, especially on soils with a long history of mixed farming
Diverse landscape, but pH has declined markedly, especially on soils with a long history of mixed farming
Fertile Ferrosols and Vertosols, mostly used for mixed farming. Slow decline in pH likely due to management systems
Fertile Ferrosols and Vertosols, mostly used for mixed farming. Slow decline in pH likely due to management systems
Minimal evidence, but declines in pH are expected as a result of lack of liming
Minimal evidence, but declines in pH are expected due to lack of liming
Soil acidity is a problem on coastal floodplains. In the Hunter region of New South Wales, 25% of soil monitoring units report it as an issue
Mined areas and Hunter River floodplains are mostly managed sustainably for acidification, but declines in pH are expected on the Singleton Valley floodplains
Diverse region, with probable decline in pH in irrigation districts and in soils used for dryland cropping and grazing of annual pastures, especially in the south. None of the soil monitoring units in this region have reported soil acidity as an issue
Diverse region, with declines in pH in irrigation districts and in soils used for dryland cropping and grazing of annual pastures, especially in the south
Mostly mixed farming. Widespread and significant declines in soil pH. In the South East region of New South Wales, 18% of soil monitoring units have reported soil acidity as an issue
Mostly mixed farming. Widespread and significant declines in soil pH
Declines in pH restricted to irrigation districts
Declines in pH restricted to irrigation districts
Diverse soils, used for grazing of modified and natural pastures. None of the soil monitoring units in the Central Tablelands region of NSW have reported soil acidity as an issue
Diverse soils used for grazing of modified and natural pastures
Substantial declines in pH in soils used for agriculture. In the Greater Sydney region of New South Wales, 43% of soil monitoring units have reported soil acidity as an issue
Substantial declines in pH in soils used for agriculture
Declining pH in soils used for vegetable production and intensive agriculture
Declining pH in soils used for vegetable production and intensive agriculture
Declining pH in soils used for grazing of native and improved pastures
Declining pH in soils used for grazing of native and improved pastures
Declining pH in soils used for grazing of natural and modified pastures
Declining pH in soils used for grazing of natural and modified pastures
Declines in pH in soils used for grazing
Declines in pH in soils used for grazing
Declining pH in soils used for grazing of natural and modified pastures
Declining pH in soils used for grazing of natural and modified pastures
Grazing lands outside conservation reserves are showing declines in pH
Grazing lands outside conservation reserves are showing declines in pH
Areas used for grazing of dryland annual pastures are acidifying
Areas used for grazing of dryland annual pastures are acidifying
Diverse lands, with evidence of acidification on poorly drained Sodosols and Vertosols used for dryland cropping and the grazing of annual pastures
Diverse lands with evidence of acidification restricted to poorly drained Sodosols and Vertosols used for dryland cropping and the grazing of annual pastures
Mainly dryland agriculture. Generally stable pH in Calcarosols, but rates of liming are not sufficient to balance rates of acid addition for most soils
Mainly dryland agriculture. Rates of liming are not sufficient to balance rates of acid addition for most soils. Generally stable pH in Calcarosols
Diverse lands, with stable pH in the arid north. Declines in pH are occurring in the temperate central area under dryland cropping and viticulture, and in the cool temperate south under viticulture, horticulture, and grazing
Diverse lands with stable pH in the arid north. Declines in pH are occurring in the temperate central area under dryland cropping and viticulture. Lands in the cool temperate south used for viticulture, horticulture and grazing are acidifying
Mainly cropping in rotation with pastures. Declining pH in surface soil over calcareous subsoils. Significant declines in pH in horticulture areas along the Murray River
Mainly cropping in rotation with pastures. Trend to more cropping. Declining pH in surface soil layers over calcareous subsoils. Significant declines in pH in horticulture areas along the Murray River
Diverse soils used for dryland cropping, grazing, some irrigation and forestry in the south. Declining trend in pH due to insufficient lime use
Diverse soils used for dryland cropping, grazing, some irrigation and forestry in the south. Declining trend in pH due to insufficient lime use
Forestry, intensive agriculture and dryland cropping. Intensively used areas are still below desired pH
Forestry, intensive agriculture and dryland cropping. Significant declines in pH in intensively used areas
Grazing and cropping systems are acidifying, particularly on lighter soils
Grazing and cropping systems are acidifying, particularly on lighter soils
Diverse soils. Widespread surface and subsurface soil acidity. Some improvement in the north
Diverse soils. Widespread surface and subsurface soil acidity. Inadequate application of lime
Mostly forested, but areas used for cropping and grazing are acidifying
Mostly forested, but areas use for cropping and grazing are acidifying
Urban areas and intensive agriculture. Most of the region is below desired pH and continues to acidify
Urban areas and intensive agriculture, with declines in pH in the latter
Some local pockets of improvement in pH trend, but decline in pH continues
Declines in pH restricted to areas used for cropping and grazing systems
Some local pockets of improvement in pH trend, but decline in pH continues
Significant acidification of both surface and subsurface horizons on noncalcareous soils used for cropping
Some local pockets of improvement in pH trend, but decline in pH continues
Significant acidification and low pH in the western part of the region used for cropping
Probable declining pH in agricultural areas used for intensive irrigation and horticulture
Declining pH in agricultural areas used for intensive irrigation and horticulture
Probable declining pH in areas used for horticulture and more intensive pastoral development
Declining pH in areas used for horticulture and more intensive pastoral development
Assessment Summary Key
Grades
Very good
Current management is adequate, and a low level of monitoring is required
Good
Needs management and monitoring, otherwise returns will be threatened
Poor
Urgent amelioration is needed. Yields and returns are compromised, and returns are currently threatened
Very poor
Beyond economic recovery; yields are no longer economic. Current system untenable, with limited options
Recent Trends
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Improving
-
Stable
-
Deteriorating
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Unclear
Confidence
-
Adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus
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Somewhat adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence or high level of consensus
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Limited: Limited evidence or limited consensus
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Very limited: Limited evidence and limited consensus
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Low: Evidence and consensus too low to make an assessment
Comparability
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Comparable: Grade and trend are comparable to the previous assessment
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Somewhat comparable: Grade and trend are somewhat comparable to the previous assessment
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Not comparable: Grade and trend are not comparable to the previous assessment
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Not previously assessed
Comments
Nil.