On the Surface, What Kind of Soil are You Farming?

This brochure groups those soil surfaces in the Central West of NSW which behave in a similar manner for conservation farming activities. These soils have been categorised into seven types which can be relatively easily identified by farmers and their agronomic and environmental advisers. These seven types are briefly described and some notes about their typical behaviour under conservation farming practices are listed. The suitability or otherwise of certain types of farmers' machinery to each soil type is also discussed. A brief classification system based on surface texture, organic matter content, sodicity, friability and self mulching characteristics is also given.