Landscape South Australia - Northern and Yorke

The Northern and Yorke region’s soil is a critical asset to agricultural productivity and natural biodiversity. The characteristics of soil are one of the key factors that determine where different crops may be grown and the natural distribution of native plant species. The soil also provides habitat for a range of plants and animals: burrowing mammals, marsupials and reptiles, invertebrates and microbial organisms.

The Northern and Yorke region is made up of three major landforms:

Yorke Peninsula – a plain of loam over clay, shallow calcrete or calcareous loams with some areas of dunefields and saline land. Wind and water erosion, soil fertility and salinity are the main soil degradation issues.
Coastal plain – shallow calcrete and calcareous loams with some areas of dune-swale and sand. Wind erosion and saline soils are the main issues.
Northern Mount Lofty Ranges and Southern Flinders Ranges – neutral loamy soils over red clay subsoils. Water erosion, dryland salinity and soil acidification are the main issues.

The importance of soil

Soil is important because it:

is one of the primary features that determine vegetation types and land suitability for primary production uses
is home to fungi, bacteria, burrowing animals, invertebrates and other animals that provide ecosystem services, such as recycling nutrients and binding soil particles
has physical, biological and chemical properties that affect the moisture, nutrient and biota levels on which plants depend.

Causes of soil degradation

Soil degradation can be caused by:

clearance of vegetation
disturbance by cultivation for the sowing of crops and pastures
soil disturbance for weed control
stubble removal practices such as burning
over-grazing by domestic stock
crop failure or poor growth
grazing, burrowing and hoof impacts of pest animals such as rabbits, deer and goats
use of the land that causes inadequate protection.

Results of soil degradation

Degradation of soil can result in:

reduced soil fertility
poor plant establishment
reduced productivity of crops and pastures
loss of native plant species that cannot grow under altered conditions
susceptibility to invasion by weeds tolerant of degraded soils
increased recharge of groundwater
increased acidification of soils
increased dryland salinity
susceptibility to erosion by wind and water
wind erosion can smother plants and seed reserves
wind erosion can be a health hazard to people, causing breathing difficulties and reducing visibility for traffic
water erosion can lead to soil deposition in creeks, rivers and the marine environment which can smother aquatic plants and life forms and alter the hydrology.

Managing soil health

Healthy management of soils involves:

managing the risk of wind and water erosion through sustainable management practices, particularly the occurrence, intensity and timing of tilling and the quantity and nature of surface cover
managing the impact of water erosion through contour banking and flood control dams
managing soil acidification through the application of lime
modern agricultural weed management practices that are selective and integrated.

How we can help

Information is available on soil management, including:

For more information, contact us.

Soil Biology Forum videos

In September 2023, a panel of soil health experts and local farmers shared their expertise and practical know-how with audiences in Carrieton, Clare and Barossa. The forums were designed to cut through the complexity around biological inputs in broadacre farming systems. All of the presentations were filmed and can be viewed via the links below:

Carrieton forum: Focussed on soil biology in grazing management
Clare forum: Focused on soil biology in cropping and grazing systems
Barossa forum: Focused on soil biology in high rainfall grazing systems

These forums were delivered by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board, through funding by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program: Smart Farms Small Grants.

Soil management