Relationship Between Soil Properties and the Growth of Legumes on Acid Wodjil Soils in Western Australia

Abstract

The relationship between vegetation and soil properties in part of the eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia was investigated. Soil in the Burracoppin Reserve supporting wodjil vegetation (Acacia beauverdiana, A. signata and Allocasuarina corniculata) had a very low pH in the 4.3-5.0 cm surface soil layer, a very low level of mineralizable N and a low chloride content compared to soils supporting Eucalyptus spp. All soils were low in exchangeable potassium and bicarbonate-extractable phosphorus.

Acacia signata and Trifolium subterraneum were grown on a soil from Merredin supporting wodjil vegetation. Neither species responded markedly to lime when grown on the surface soil (0-5 cm). However, growth of both species on the subsoil (30-40 cm) was enhanced with the addition of lime. Increased growth of A. signata was probably associated with the alleviation of manganese toxicity which had been induced in this experiment. By contrast, increased growth of T. subterraneum was probably associated with the alleviation of aluminium toxicity.