Decades of extensive Western Australian soils research by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) will be profiled at a premier international conference in Perth later this month.
The Global Conference on Sandy Soils 2025 will attract scientists involved in broadacre and irrigated agriculture, landscape rehabilitation and environmental conservation from across the world from 21 - 24 July.
Eighteen DPIRD speakers are on the program, alongside leading scientists from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.
Co-convenor, DPIRD principal soil research scientist Stephen Davies said the department had a long history of collaborating with landholders and industry to optimise and conserve WA's valuable soil resources.
"The diversity of our speakers' talks reflects the department's expansive research program to better understand the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of soil to improve agricultural productivity and resource sustainability," he said.
"Key speakers include principal research scientist Craig Scanlan, who will discuss management of soil fertility in cropping soils that have been ameliorated to remove soil constraints and increase grain yields.
"Principal research scientist Richard George will present on surface and groundwater hydrology associated with coarse textured landscapes.
"Principal research scientist David Hall's talk will cover realising the potential of sands in agricultural systems."
The first day of the conference program includes sessions on distribution and formation, natural and rehabilitated systems and agricultural systems.
Two field trip options are on offer for the second day - one on lands, sands and swamps, the other on innovations in farming, mining and restoration.
Day three sessions will cover mapping, modelling and monitoring, soil and water conservation, overcoming constraints to plant growth and examining agricultural systems.
Other DPIRD presentations include Karen Holmes on the distribution and variability of sandy soils in WA and Jakob Petereit's discussion on leveraging soil data to improve soil mapping and assessment.
Senior development officer David Rogers will examine high rainfall sandy soils and nutrient movement on day three, while development officer Carla Milazzo will present on soil compaction on Pindan sands.
Dr Davies and CSIRO research scientist Therese McBeath will deliver a presentation on transforming the agricultural productivity of sandy landscapes in southern and western Australia.
The conference will wind up with talks from senior research scientist Shuangxi Zhou on drought resilient crops and principal research scientist Gaus Azam on soil profile re-engineering.
For more information and to register to attend the 2025 Global Conference on Sandy Soils 2025 from 21 - 24 July at in Perth visit the Sandy Soils conference website .
