Farm and Catchment Planning
Dryland salinity and groundwater management is an increasingly important issue for many farmers. The farm and catchment planning service is focused on the client’s requirements within a framework of sound science and best practice. GeoAg utilizes the best available land information as a basis for this planning process. The many elements of a farm or catchment plan are supported by knowledge derived from soils, surface water management and water harvesting infrastructure.
GeoAg’s farm and catchment planning expertise is derived from in excess of 500,000 hectares of successful commercial planning for both private and government clients in the agricultural areas of WA.
Soil Mapping
Conventional soil mapping compiles maps using aerial photo to extrapolate highly detailed point information across the landscape. Quality of soil maps can be very subjective and comprehensive knowledge of local conditions is required before good maps can be created.
Australian soils are very old. Many geological and climatological processes leading to present conditions can make good conventional soil mapping from aerial photo interpretation difficult. Digital soil mapping techniques use radiometrics and other shallow penetrating geophysics combined with GPS to guide conventional soil sampling. Extrapolation is therefore less dependant on knowledge of local conditions.
The analysis of detailed geophysical data shows fine detailed patterns in the final maps that are more reflective the true variability of soils. This level of detail is not possible without extensive costly soil sampling programs using conventional soil mapping techniques. Final products from GeoAg soil mapping can include maps of texture differences, drainability of soils and soil textures. This highly detailed digital soil mapping allows for use with precision farming techniques in crop management and land use capability studies.
Salt Hazard Mapping
A Salt Hazard is an area where factors may act to produce a discharge of saline water causing scalds at the surface. An increase in recharge and an impedance of ground water flow are main contributes to Salt Hazards.
GeoAg’s salt hazard maps showing saline discharge points provide a basis for farm planning. Understanding of the cause of existing and potential saline areas leads to management that is more effective.
Bedrock highs, soil texture change, dolerite dykes, confluence of streams and road / railway barriers are some factors described by salt hazard models.
Key Words: Radiometric, soil mapping, map, farm planning, agriculture, precision farming, Western Australia, hydrology, hydrogeology, Catchment Planning, agriculture, yield mapping, NDVI, crop yield.
