Soil Management

The topsoil appears to be slightly compact, however the macropores that are present in the two topsoil horizons have high hydraulic conductivity and thus appear to be highly functional. The lower than optimal drainable porosity throughout the soil profile indicates that once saturated this soil will be slow to drain and poor oxygen conditions for root growth are likely to persist for longer than desired. Pale colours and mottling in the subsoil also indicate the presence of seasonal waterlogging. These soils may benefit from subsoil drainage, in which drainage is likely to be effective due to low(ish) ESP and moderate subsoil hydraulic conductivity especially in the B1 horizon. In terms of water retention this soil profile holds a moderate amount of readily available soil water at 49 mm to support rapid tree and fruit growth. Consequently frequent, small amounts of irrigation may be required. However, this soil has a considerable amount of tightly held water at 116 mm which is available to the tree when stressed and should be considered an excellent buffer against drought and moisture stress. In relation to irrigation, the refill point for the A1 horizon is between 35% (50 kPa) to 30 % (100 kPa) soil moisture. Soil pH is noted to be low. Application of lime should be discussed with your agronomist. The low CEC of this soil indicates it has little capacity to absorb nutrients and make nutrients available for tree growth and fruit production. This soil will require fertilizer applications to be small and frequent to meet tree demand without risking nutrient leaching through the soil profile.

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