As drought conditions persist, dry saline (magnesia) land is becoming an even bigger problem for farmers across the southern region. This season’s dry weather is accelerating the spread of saline land patches, turning once-productive soil into barren ground. Without urgent action, these patches can expand, threatening long-term soil health.

Dry saline land forms when salts from deep within the soil are drawn to the surface through evaporation. During extended periods of hot, dry weather, such as this year’s drought, the evaporation process intensifies, pulling more salts to the surface where they interfere with crop germination and growth. Without enough rain to leach the salts back down into the soil, these areas become too toxic for crops to survive.

This season’s drought has created the perfect conditions for dry saline land to worsen, making it more important than ever to take proactive steps to manage it. That’s where the new Dry Saline Land Decision Tree comes in. This online resource provides practical, proven solutions for farmers dealing with saline land, helping you stop the problem from getting worse.

Solutions from the field

The Dry Saline Land Decision Tree pulls together insights from farmers across South Australia, Victoria, and western New South Wales. These farmers have tested a range of strategies to manage dry saline land on their own properties, and their experiences form the backbone of this new tool. Here are some of the approaches it covers:

– Establishing & Maintaining soil cover – with straw and mulches to reduce evaporation and break the capillary rise of salts to the surface.

– Ameliorating the saline topsoil – covering the surface with sand to improve germinating conditions and encourage the establishment of ground cover.

-Opportunistic management of seasonal rainfall – recommendations for immediate action once good rainfall returns.

– Using salt-tolerant varieties – selecting varieties most likely to establish in saline soil conditions.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

As drought conditions worsen, it’s more important than ever to take action to prevent your dry saline land from spreading. The Dry Saline Land Decision Tree provides the knowledge and tools you need to manage this issue effectively and protect your farm’s productivity for the future.

Access the decision tree and learn more about managing dry saline land click here