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July 2009
Welcome to the July 2009 edition of Fertile Minds, where all things are possible.
Winter is on us again. Not much is happening in the field, so now is an ideal time to have your soil tested. Before things get hectic in spring, now is also the time to plan for turf renovation. It’s the best time for the laboratory, too, because testing work slows down in winter. And you’ll get your results faster too.
If you have any questions you would like answered in Fertile Minds, please write to info@sesl.com.au. If you have any special requirements, we would be pleased to talk with you and tailor a package and price. Please contact the office on (02) 9980 6554 or write to us at info@sesl.com.au.
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In this issue
- The Loam Ranger – The benefits of subsoil testing
- Winter soil testing for turf
- Lower North Shore Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program
- Phytophthora
- New graduate – Josh Shaw
- Did you know ... ? – Leeches
The Loam Ranger – The benefits of subsoil testing
Dear Loam Ranger,
I've always tested my topsoil, but now I hear that the DPI wants to encourage farmers to test the subsoil too. What's the point of this?
Most routine soil testing is done on the top 150 mm of the soil. Probably 95% of our clients sample just that layer. Yet chemical analysis of subsoils can provide vital information in several situations:
- To determine whether the subsoil can contribute to plant nutrition. When you are devising a fertiliser program, it is important to keep in mind that most crops can put down roots to as deep as 1 metre (and some, such as lucerne and grapevines, to much deeper). Without deeper sampling, you won’t know whether you’re benefiting your crop by applying fertiliser or just wasting your money.
- To determine whether deep inversion (deep ploughing to mix topsoil with subsoil) could be of benefit. For example, subsoil may be less acidic than topsoil, and a simple deep ploughing could reduce the need for liming.
- Where topsoils are being stripped or exposed, as in land developments and during earthmoving for orchard development.
Click here to learn the benefits of subsoil testing (500 words, 2 minutes)
Winter soil testing for turf
Winter is an ideal time to have your soil tested. Before things get hectic in spring, now is the time to plan for turf renovation. It’s the best time for your laboratory, too, because testing work slows down in winter. You’ll get your results faster too.
Many turf managers worry that winter is too early for testing, and wait until spring before sending off their samples. This has the disadvantage that they squeeze themselves out of enough time to get the best turf results. Surprisingly, soil characteristics (pH, salinity, organic matter content, CEC and so on) change only slowly over a timescale of months (even though they can change rapidly from day to day). So testing in winter will return virtually the same results you’d get in spring, only you get them back faster and with plenty of lead time to plan. You also get the opportunity to shop around and get the best price for the materials the testing has identified as needed.
Lower North Shore Regional Water Quality Monitoring Program
In NSW, the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) administers the legislation that is enacted to protect our environment. Water quality is a critical component of our environment. DECC requires local councils to monitor water quality in their catchments. In effect, the Beachwatch program has been expanded to local creeks and waterways.
Four councils on Sydney’s lower North Shore have been quick off the mark. In March this year, Lane Cove, North Sydney, Willoughby and Mosman councils contracted SESL to monitor their water over the next 5 years. SESL staff have begun collecting water samples at up to a dozen sites in each council area.
Phytophthora
Phytophthora is a genus of fungus-like microorganisms that cause plant disease. Wikipedia lists 48 species. Two of these have serious economic and environmental consequences for Australia: Phytophthora infestans, the cause of potato blight and the Irish potato famine, and Phytophthora cinnamomi, which attacks many woody genera and is destroying the jarrah forests of Western Australia. Phytophthora infestations in Australia are spreading.
Click here to learn how to deal with phytophthora (500 words, 2 minutes)
New graduate – Josh Shaw
Josh Shaw joined SESL in 2008 as an apprentice lab technician under a TAFE Certificate III program. Josh did most of his training in house under the guidance of our lab manager, Luzmila Abercrombie.
An external training coordinator, MD & Associates, provided the course outline and audited Josh’s work. The NSW Vocational Education and Training (VET) Accreditation Board administered the training.
In June this year, Josh received his Certificate III in Laboratory Skills from Michael McLeay, CEO of MD & Associates. Josh aims eventually to study at university to further his scientific knowledge.
Click here for a photo of Josh with senior staff
Did you know ... ? – Leeches
Leeches are worms.
Leeches live not only on land and in fresh water, but also in salt water.
Leeches are hermaphrodites, so each leech is both mother and father (but it still takes 2).
Most leeches eat small invertebrates or detritus. Only a few species feed on blood.
All leeches have 34 body segments.
Leeches have a sucker at the front end, surrounding the mouth, and another at the rear end.
Leeches in Australia have 2 jaws and leave a V-shaped wound. In the rest of the world, leeches have 3 jaws and leave a Y-shaped wound.
Australian leeches range in length from 7 mm to about 200 mm when fully extended.
Only Australian and South-East Asian leeches live on land. Land leeches don’t live in water, but can cope with it.
Click here for more leech facts and advice on how to remove leeches (400 words, 2 minute)