What does it take to make soil amelioration work at paddock scale?

In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, Pinnaroo grower Wade Nicholls shares more than 20 years of experience using soil amelioration to improve challenging soils on-farm.

Wade discusses his experience with clay delving and spreading, and why moving from discs to a spader was a major change for his business. By mixing clay through the soil profile, rather than simply placing it near the surface, Wade has been able to target the constraints of sandy soils and improve crop performance.

Wade reflects on some of the lessons learnt along the way, including early mistakes that brought sodic subsoil to the surface, and how he now considers soil constraints, machinery setup, moisture availability and nutrient management when planning amelioration work.

Wade’s experience highlights that soil amelioration is a long-term investment, and that getting the soil, machinery, timing and follow-up management right is critical to turning an amelioration treatment into a productive paddock.

🎧 Take a listen to hear Wade's experience on farm with soil amelioration.

📄Read Wade's Case Study here: Case-study-Wade-and-Chad-Nickolls-Pinnaroo.pdf

📘Not sure if your soil will respond to ameliorating, or what approach to take? Check out the Soil Amelioration Decision Tree: https://msfp.org.au/projects/carbon-soil-management-practices-across-the-mallee/#flipbook-df_14443/3/

📚For more information on the project, visit the project page: Driving On-Farm Adoption of Carbon-Friendly Soil Management Practices across the Mallee - Mallee Sustainable Farming

This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate Smart Agriculture program.

What does it take to make soil amelioration work at paddock scale?
In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, Pinnaroo grower Wade Nicholls&nbsp;shares more than 20 years of experience using soil amelioration to improve challenging soils on-farm.
Wade discusses his experience with clay delving and spreading, and why moving from discs to a spader was a major change for his business. By mixing clay through the soil profile, rather than simply placing it near the surface, Wade has been able to target the constraints of sandy soils and improve crop performance.
Wade reflects on some of the lessons learnt along the way, including early mistakes that brought sodic subsoil to the surface, and how he now considers soil constraints, machinery setup, moisture availability and nutrient management when planning amelioration work.
Wade&rsquo;s experience highlights that soil amelioration is a long-term investment, and that getting the soil, machinery, timing and follow-up management right is critical to turning an amelioration treatment into a productive paddock.
🎧 Take a listen to hear Wade's experience on farm with soil amelioration.
📄Read Wade's Case Study here: <a href="https://msfp.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Case-study-Wade-and-Chad-Nickolls-Pinnaroo.pdf">Case-study-Wade-and-Chad-Nickolls-Pinnaroo.pdf</a>
📘Not sure if your soil will respond to ameliorating, or what approach to take? Check out the Soil Amelioration Decision Tree: <a href="https://msfp.org.au/projects/carbon-soil-management-practices-across-the-mallee/#flipbook-df_14443/3/">https://msfp.org.au/projects/carbon-soil-management-practices-across-the-mallee/#flipbook-df_14443/3/</a>
📚For more information on the project, visit the project page: <a href="https://msfp.org.au/projects/carbon-soil-management-practices-across-the-mallee/">Driving On-Farm Adoption of Carbon-Friendly Soil Management Practices across the Mallee - Mallee Sustainable Farming</a>
This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate Smart Agriculture program.

MSF's Farm Talk Podcast proudly brings Farmers, Researchers and Ag Industry connections together to chat innovative farming practices to help build a sustainable farming future for our Mallee growers. Mallee Sustainable Farming is a farmer-driven organisation specialising in Research, Development and Extension for NSW, VIC & SA's low-rainfall Mallee region. For more information visit: www.msfp.org.au/podcast 

MSF's Farm Talk Podcast proudly brings Farmers, Researchers and Ag Industry connections together to chat innovative farming practices to help build a sustainable farming future for our Mallee growers. Mallee Sustainable Farming is a farmer-driven organisation specialising in Research, Development and Extension for NSW, VIC &amp; SA's low-rainfall Mallee region. For more information visit: <a href="http://www.msfp.org.au/podcast">www.msfp.org.au/podcast</a>&nbsp;

MSF Farm Talk Podcast

MSF's Farm Talk Podcast proudly brings Farmers, Researchers and Ag Industry connections together to chat innovative farming practices to help build a sustainable farming future for our Mallee growers. Mallee Sustainable Farming is a farmer-driven organisation specialising in Research, Development and Extension for NSW, VIC & SA's low-rainfall Mallee region.

MSF's Farm Talk Podcast proudly brings Farmers, Researchers and Ag Industry connections together to chat innovative farming practices to help build a sustainable farming future for our Mallee growers. Mallee Sustainable Farming is a farmer-driven organisation specialising in Research, Development and Extension for NSW, VIC &amp; SA's low-rainfall Mallee region.