Use the following indicators to identify problem soils. Soil testing may need to be carried out to confirm the source of the problem.
• Patchy growth areas of pastures;
• Loss of productive pasture species;
• Trees dying for no apparent reason;
• Waterlogging and permanently wet areas;
• Bare patches that increase in size and are prone to erosion;
• Evidence of salt accumulation on the surface of bare patches;
• Indicator species including rushes, sea barley grass, couch grass, strawberry clover and annual beard grass; and
• Regional and perched water tables.
Further information
• State and federal agencies and research organisations.
• Agency websites.
• Publications:
– ‘Spotting Soil Salting – A Victorian guide to salt indicator species’, Matters and Bozon.
– ‘Detecting Dryland Salinity’ – a regionally based series available from NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation.
