MEDIA RELEASE 07/06/07

Riverland irrigators have been urged to test for soil salinity before applying leaching irrigation.

Rural Solutions SA’s Principal Horticulture consultant Duncan Tullett says there are only three weeks left this irrigation year to make decisions on leaching applications.

“ Now is the best time to apply leaching irrigations because the soil is already wet from rainfall and river salinity levels are increasing as flows decline,” he said.

“Not everyone will need to leach salt, but with reduced irrigation over the past season, there have been increasers on some properties which are a cause for concern.”

Mr Tullet said that it was important to perform soil salinity analysis to identify patches requiring leaching.

“Growers who have applied for carry-over water into next season will need to decide if it is better to use some of that water before the end of June for leaching priority patches, or carry the water into next year,” he said.

Urgent actions need to test priority patches:

• Get a sample kit from the ACML or Agriexchange; there are clear instructions on sample collection with the kit.
• Return samples to the laboratory analysis
• Interpret the results and decide which patches to leach.

Laboratory results will take up to five days.  Interpretation sheets are provided with the results.

ACML sample kits are available from the Loxton Research Centre, 8595 9100. 
For Agriexchange (formerly Yandilla Park) Pty kits, call 8586 1281

Issued by: Julie Gregory, PIRSA Communications and Marketing Telephone  8226 0230 or 0427 270 968, www.pir.sa.gov.au

Media Contacts: Ashley Lipman or Mark Skewes, Rural Solutions SA, Loxton, Telephone 8595 9100, Click here for further information.