The effects of cropping on the red soils of the Western CMA region

Over the last 10 years the area and intensity of cropping in the Western Catchment Management Authority (CMA) region has increased, particularly on the red soils which are confined to the Nymagee, Cobar and Coolabah shires.

This increase in cropping is attributed to providing alternative income to grazing enterprises and to assist in controlling invasive native scrub.

The current area of cropping is 18 000 ha.

It is important to characterise the effect of these cropping activities on the chemical and physical properties of the soil, both to determine changes to the natural resources base and to provide information to assist landholders decision making about future management of the soil.

This Primefact covers the following topics:

• Farming systems
• Chemical properties of red cropping soils in the Western CMA region
• Physical properties of red cropping soils in the Western CMA region
• Best management practices for cropping the red soils of the Western CMA region