Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee
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Invisible helpers in our soil:
discovering microbes with impacts on soil health
A healthy community of soil microbes can improve the drought resistance, disease resistance and nutrient use of agricultural soils. Local farmers are using microbial soil testing to gain insight into the invisible micro-organisms that are present in their soil, with big effects on soil health, productivity and profitability.  Wilson Inlet Growers Group met in April to discuss soil biology with Dr Ash Martin from Microbiology Laboratories Australia. Microbe testing will be available to all members of the Growers Group, with soil sampling carried out in spring when the activity of microbes is at its highest. 
Most microscopic organisms live in the root zone. They have a big effect on how plants absorb nutrients. Generally, microbes prefer higher plant diversity and lower chemical use. “Above-ground diversity results in below-ground diversity” says Dr Martin – a broad range of plant species is good for soil biology and microbes. 

Applying herbicides and fertilisers can reduce the number of microbes in the soil, but they will re-colonise over time. There are also products available to inoculate the soil with microbes, helping them to become re-established. 
As microbial communities are so varied, maintaining a high diversity of microbes means that soils can recover quickly if one type of microbe declines temporarily due to farming practices. Some practices can have mixed results for micro-organisms depending on the scenario. For example, tillage in compacted, degraded soil may benefit soil microbes by increasing aeration, while in healthy soils which already have a good structure repeated tillage can be harmful to soil microbe communities. 
​
Soil health is influenced by many soil properties – physical, chemical and biological. Soil biology includes all things living in the soil – both plants, animals, things you can see and microscopic. Each soil property is in turn influenced by four soil processes – residue digestion, nutrient cycling, soil structure maintenance and pest and disease regulation. “The living part of the soil is driving the four soil processes,” says Dr Ash Martin. 
WIGG is funded in part by the Western Australian Government’s State Natural Resource Management Program.
 

  • Home
  • WICC News
  • About
    • Projects >
      • Current Projects >
        • Soils - New Horizons
        • Climate Smart Agriculture
        • Dung Beetle Soil Health Initiative
        • Wilson Inlet Management Strategy
        • Community for Cockies
        • Cockies for Cockies >
          • Plants Used by Carnaby's Black Cockatoo
        • Saving Boordenitj – Salvaging Bittern Habitat in Southwest WA
        • Healthy Estuaries WA
        • Wilson Inlet Winter Active Dung Beetles: Phase 2
        • Eungedup
      • Previous Projects >
        • Ferals
        • Waste to Net Zero (Biochar Program)
        • OKGG Owingup/Kent Grower Group
        • Soilwise
        • WIGG the Wilson Inlet Grower Group
        • UPtake
    • Our Plans >
      • Lindesay Link Conservation Action Plan
      • WICC Proteacea Vegetation Survey 2016
      • WICC Strategic Plan and Constitution
      • Wilson Inlet Management Strategy
    • Meet the Team!
    • Our Catchment
    • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer EOI
    • Upcoming Events >
      • Soil Testing EOI 2025
      • EW Community Update
      • Carbon in Farming
      • Holistic Management Workshop
      • Dung Beetle EOI
    • Membership >
      • WICC Membership Form
      • OKGG Membership Sign-Up
    • Funding Opportunities >
      • Soil Testing
      • Fencing and Revegetation
    • Feral Management
    • Report A Pig
  • Support Us
    • Kwoorabup Community Nursery >
      • Nursery Volunteer Register
    • Donate
  • Eungedup
    • Why Eungedup Wetlands needs to be preserved!
    • How Your Donation will be Use
    • How Eungedup Wetlands will be Managed
    • Our Donors
  • Learning Centre
    • Sustainable Agriculture >
      • Dung Beetle Farm Management Guide
      • Cartoon Collection - Earls Adventures >
        • Managing Water in a Drying Climate
        • Feral Management OKGG
        • Arum Lilies
      • Collection of Dougie the dung beetle cartoons >
        • Rotational Grazing
        • Stock Health
        • Pasture Diversity
        • Soil Chemistry/Nutrient Efficiency
        • Soil Carbon
        • Soil Biology
      • Interviews with local farmers
    • Biodiversity >
      • Interview with Marino Bocuzzi
      • The Abby Carnaby Chronicles
      • Weeds
      • Feral Management
      • Seagrass Report
      • Flora Surveys
      • Interview with Elders >
        • Interview with Elder Vernice Gillies
        • Elder Lynette Knapp
        • Interview with Dr Wayne Webb
        • Interview with Aunty Carol Petterson
        • Interview with Uncle Lester Coyne
        • Interview with Menang Elder Aden Eades
        • Aboriginal Rangers - back on country!
    • Waterways >
      • Wilson Inlet Estuary Sandbar Openings
      • Sub Catchment Reports for Wilson Inlet
    • How to Object to Mineral Titles
    • Our Data
    • Privacy Policy