Sandy soils series: Managing water and nutrients for horticulture

Neil Lantzke, Principal Research Scientist in DPIRD’s Intensive and Irrigated Plant Systems team, shares his expertise on growing horticultural crops on the sandy soils of Western Australia’s Swan Coastal Plain.

Neil explains why these soils struggle to retain nutrients and water, and highlights innovative agricultural practices that are being developed to address these issues. The conversation also touches on the broader impact of climate change on water resources and how these changes shape horticultural management. He shares practical insights and advice on various irrigation techniques, the potential of soil re-engineering, and the economic considerations that influence growers' decisions. This episode offers a detailed look at the strategies being used to sustain horticultural production in challenging environments.

This episode is brought to you by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and is hosted by Dr Mary-Anne Glanzlowe.

• Evaluating on farm water and nutrient recapture in Western Australia - Hort Innovation
• Modern Soil Moisture Monitoring for Improved Drought Resilience - SW WA Hub
• Irrigation calculator - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
• Hub news - Drought Hub