Deep sands on the south coast of Western Australia have major soil limitations that prevent crops from achieving their potential yields. We have shown that ameliorating these soils with tillage and organic amendments crop yield can be increased by more than 1 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ over nine consecutive years, compared to no amendments, through enhanced chemical and physical fertility. While these results show crop yield reaching their potential the cost of doing so is unlikely to lead to adoption.

Salinity occurs in alkaline sodic soils in Australia, but its effect in Western Australia is poorly understood. We determined the cause of salinity, the ions responsible, and their potential significance as constraints to crop growth on sodic soils. Our paper suggests that crop growth in affected landscapes is likely to be constrained by salinity with the adverse effects being more severe in dry than wet seasons.

Vietnam is the global leading producer of robusta coffee and black pepper. However, expanding coffee and pepper cultivation and intensive farming practices have acidified soil and increased pest and pathogen pressures. To address this issue, lime was applied in field trials in Gia Lai province. Lime positively impacted soil chemical properties and colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi but did not significantly affect soilborne pathogens and crop yield. Regular lime application can sustainably reduce soil acidity and enhance soil nutrients.