In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, host Nick Paltridge sits down with Dr Stephen Davies, Principal Research Scientist at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), to discuss soil amelioration practices in Western Australia.

Stephen, who has over 20 years of experience working in the Northern Greenbelt of WA, shares insights into tackling soil challenges like water-repellent sands through deep ripping, mouldboard ploughing, spading, and more.

This episode provides practical advice, the evolution of WA soil management techniques, and the impact of various methods on soil health and crop yield, acknowledging that much of the work discussed on the podcast is the result of joint investment across a number of projects by DPIRD and GRDC. 

Stay tuned for part two, where the discussion continues into more agronomic decisions crucial for successful soil amelioration.

00:00 Introduction to Soil Amelioration

00:17 Stephen Davies' Background and Experience

00:50 Challenges and Solutions in Soil Management

03:49 Deep Ripping and Soil Inversion Techniques

05:42 Adoption and Impact of Soil Amelioration

09:46 Strategic Tillage and Long-Term Benefits

14:36 Balancing Tillage with Sustainability

17:29 Conclusion and Future Prospects

Useful links from Dr Stephen Davies work

Agronomy Conference 2024 paper

Crop establishment following amelioration PDF

Follow Dr Stephen Davies on X @SteveDsoilsciWA

This podcast was brought to you but the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund projects ‘Extension and Adoption of Drought Farming Practices’ and ‘De-risking the seeding program - Adoption of key management practices for the success of dry early sown crops’.