Unlocking paddock potential with tailored soil analysis

This World Soil Day, we take a look at the science and innovation behind soil testing, and how our Precision Services and Agronomy teams work together to provide tailored services to help growers maximise their paddock potential. 

Nutrien Ag Solutions is prioritising soil health, with a Precision Services team of specialists focused on delivering tailored services in collaboration with regional agronomists.  

"Our goal is to provide insights that guide decisions towards healthier soils and sustainable practices,” says Hamish McGrath, Precision Services Manager – New South Wales at Nutrien Ag Solutions.  

Understanding soil health is essential for crop and nutrient management, yet without measurement, it’s a challenge.  

"The saying goes, “You can’t manage what you don’t measure”. Soil properties, crop needs, and nutrient levels vary significantly across Australia which is why we tailor our approach to each region, each farm and each field,” explains Hamish.

For example, in Southern NSW, methods such as grid soil sampling and segmented strategic sampling are vital for assessing key properties like soil acidity and phosphorus. Nutrien’s semi-automated samplers, mounted on GPS-enabled UTVs, allow for precise sampling and return-to-location mapping.  

“With electromagnetic sensors and deep soil samplers, we’re able to monitor other soil properties such as soil type changes, deep nitrogen and constraints to production such as sodicity consistently over time, by pulling from the exact same sites each time,” says Hamish. 

“Meanwhile, pH stratification is a major issue from Central and Southern NSW, right through Victoria and intro WA. We can use grid mapping to create Variable Rate (VR) application maps that better allocate lime or phosphorus or potassium to where its required.” 

“This is becoming more and more important as sustainability of farm inputs comes into focus, particularly in sensitive areas like the Great Barrier Reef catchment.” 

In areas with heavier soils, such as Northern NSW and Southern Queensland, the team employs a zoning approach.  

“This technique, combined with background data layers such as EM surveys, imagery and yield maps, helps us identify natural soil variations,” says Hamish.  

This approach is useful for targeting nutrients such as nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, trace elements, and organic carbon. For nitrogen-specific management, the team relies on a zoning strategy that spans much of the cropping belt, drawing on yield and protein data to create detailed soil sampling and spreading maps.  

As with everything in farming – timing is crucial, and while the Precision Services team are available throughout the year to sample, their busiest time is post-harvest to sowing.  

“We have a short window to analyse soil properties, order necessary inputs, and help growers prepare fields for the next planting season,” explains Hamish. 

"Samples are sent to an accredited lab for analysis, and we have systems to be able to track them from the field to the lab. This process enhances traceability and ensures that data is readily accessible within our agronomy systems.” 

For more information on Nutrien’s Precision Services, visit our website or speak to your local Nutrien Ag Solutions branch or agronomist.