Get reliable rangeland science

Rangeland soils in Australia are diverse and integral to the country's vast arid and semi-arid landscapes, covering approximately 75% of the continent (DAFF 2024). These soils are typically shallow, often but not always nutrient-poor, and have low organic matter due to the region's low rainfall, high evaporation rates, and sparse vegetation. Rangeland soils are commonly prone to erosion and salinity, especially when vegetation cover is disturbed. Despite their limitations, these soils support unique ecosystems and are used for extensive grazing, playing a critical role in Australia's agricultural and ecological systems. Sustainable management practices are essential to maintain their productivity and prevent degradation. Education, training, and support for pastoral land managers in the soil sciences is pivotal to protecting and enhancing rangelands systems, especially given the frequency and intensity of rainfall events that are predicted with future climatic variability. Shifting the focus of rangelands management back to the fundamentals of understanding soils from a whole of landscape perspective and adopting a "from the ground up" approach to pastoral productivity is re-empowering a new generation of pastoral land managers with knowledge and confidence to adopt regenerative land management tools.