Soil
The soil in the Kimberley is predominantly red coloured earthy sands commonly called Pindan or grey/black sandy soil commonly called Black Soil. When very wet, the local soil is soft and mushy, when dry it goes as hard as a rock. Although it is good at absorbing moisture, nutrients are leached out every wet season, therefore it is important to add fertiliser regularly to get high production from fruit and veggies. All soil can be improved with dolomite lime, manure and straw or sorghum – see Recipe for Raised Beds.
Soil pH measures the acidity or alkalinity of the soil providing a guide to the overall chemical balance of the soil. The pH scale is divided into 14 points. Seven is the neutral point where most fruit and veggies like to grow. When soil is too acid or alkaline certain elements such as iron, magnesium, manganese and calcium are not available to the plant.
- a pH of 7.0 is considered neutral
- a pH above 7.0 is considered alkaline
- a pH below 7.0 is considered acidic
Soil pH testing kits are available from most nurseries and hardware stores.
