History of Soil and Land Surveying in Victoria:
Department of Agriculture Surveys - Early Surveys in Association with CSIR
The first soil survey was carried out by the former Department of Agriculture at Woorinen in 1928, they collaborated with the former Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Seven in depth surveys were carried out in the next 14 years in irrigation districts along the Murray River.
Detailed Irrigation Region Surveys (1943 - 1975)
In the northern plains of Victoria a number of detailed surveys were conducted from Shepparton to Swan Hill and Robinvale as well as in the Central Gippsland area and the information gained from the surveys were used for planning, investigation of district problems and water allocation.
Regional Surveys (post 1975)
Between 1975 and 1985 a number of soil surveys were conducted outside of the major irrigation districts. They included surveys of the Eastern Wimmera, South Western Victoria and Westernport Bay Catchment and covered more than 3 million hectares.
Soil Conservation Authority Surveys
In 1954 a program of regional land use surveys commenced with the aim to obtain information required to decide the most appropriate land uses for an area. The first survey covered a large are in south-western Victoria and similar surveys were also conducted afterwards in the Grampians catchment and surrounding country in the Mallee region.
Department of Conservation Surveys
In the 1970s and 80s the former Soil Conservation Authority and the later Land Protection Division of the Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands conducted more detailed land capability surveys for the local government and larger regional Land System surveys. These surveys were particularly of the northern catchments and were finalised in the 1980s and 90s.
Surface Soil pH:
What is soil pH?
The soil pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity in soils.
Geographic trends in soil pH across Victoria
The pH of Victoria's soil varies as some soils are naturally acidic and other are naturally alkaline due to natural processes such as erosion, leaching and deposition. The surface soil pH in the Eastern and Western Uplands, the Strzelecki and Otway Ranges and north-eastern Victoria is generally acidic and the acidic soil conditions in these areas tends to limit plant production. Whereas in north-western victoria the soil pH is high and alkaline and crops grown in those areas have experienced zinc deficiencies.
Department of Agriculture Surveys - Early Surveys in Association with CSIR
The first soil survey was carried out by the former Department of Agriculture at Woorinen in 1928, they collaborated with the former Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Seven in depth surveys were carried out in the next 14 years in irrigation districts along the Murray River.
Detailed Irrigation Region Surveys (1943 - 1975)
In the northern plains of Victoria a number of detailed surveys were conducted from Shepparton to Swan Hill and Robinvale as well as in the Central Gippsland area and the information gained from the surveys were used for planning, investigation of district problems and water allocation.
Regional Surveys (post 1975)
Between 1975 and 1985 a number of soil surveys were conducted outside of the major irrigation districts. They included surveys of the Eastern Wimmera, South Western Victoria and Westernport Bay Catchment and covered more than 3 million hectares.
Soil Conservation Authority Surveys
In 1954 a program of regional land use surveys commenced with the aim to obtain information required to decide the most appropriate land uses for an area. The first survey covered a large are in south-western Victoria and similar surveys were also conducted afterwards in the Grampians catchment and surrounding country in the Mallee region.
Department of Conservation Surveys
In the 1970s and 80s the former Soil Conservation Authority and the later Land Protection Division of the Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands conducted more detailed land capability surveys for the local government and larger regional Land System surveys. These surveys were particularly of the northern catchments and were finalised in the 1980s and 90s.
Surface Soil pH:
What is soil pH?
The soil pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity in soils.
Geographic trends in soil pH across Victoria
The pH of Victoria's soil varies as some soils are naturally acidic and other are naturally alkaline due to natural processes such as erosion, leaching and deposition. The surface soil pH in the Eastern and Western Uplands, the Strzelecki and Otway Ranges and north-eastern Victoria is generally acidic and the acidic soil conditions in these areas tends to limit plant production. Whereas in north-western victoria the soil pH is high and alkaline and crops grown in those areas have experienced zinc deficiencies.