MASaLA aims to improve the management of Australia's soils and landscapes by providing information on the key process affecting soil function.
The benefit of soil information
Australia’s soils and landscapes constitute one of the country’s most valuable assets. Many and varied industries depend on the continued stability of these resources to remain profitable. However, there is uncertainty around current and future threats to soil function.
In order to best manage these threats and realise potential benefits there is a need for increased understanding about the key processes driving the function of Australian soils.
Research focus
MASaLA aims to address this lack of information and increase certainty for decision makers in natural resource management. It will do this by:
Research areas
National Soil Information Centre
The National Soil Information Centre will be the world-wide point of reference for information on Australia’s soil and landscape resources.
Through MASaLA’s research program the Centre will build an innovative, effective and efficient information resource to deliver:
Knowledge of soil processes is crucial to environmental management and agricultural stability.
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new methods for rapid soil measurement
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new digital soil mapping technologies
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methods of temporal remote sensing to provide inputs to models which simulate soil erosion and deposition
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a national collection of reference soils
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online access to primary data on the functional properties of Australia’s soils
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an analysis of risks to our soil resources using simulation modelling and climate forecasts.
Soil Process and Function
Australia’s soil and landscape health depends on effective land management. Through research into soil process and function, MASaLA will produce the information and tools required to assist in the management, planning and policy formulation around soil condition.
Research will:
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provide knowledge on critical soil properties and processes (e.g. plant-soil interactions)
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improve methods for estimating the functional nature of soil organic matter and the contribution to critical soil properties and processes
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contribute to the design of a national system for monitoring the dynamics of soil carbon and nutrients, and soil acidification
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develop new simulation models to forecast carbon dynamics, nutrient dynamics and acidification at a range of scales across the nation
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deliver guidelines for managing specific soil-related constraints to land use (e.g. acid sulphate soils) and soil-related services (e.g. land-based waste recycling).
Capability
MASaLA implements a mulit-disciplinary approach to researching soil and landscape resources and brings together established soil science capability and expertise in:
Research partners
MASaLA works closely with a wide range of research partners in government, industry, universities and environmental agencies at national and international levels.
Working with these partners we align our research to meet the demand for soil information and to address the current and emerging threats to soil and landscape health.
Some of our key partners include:
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Australian Collaborative Land Evaluation Program (ACLEP) and collaborating state and territory agencies
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National Land and Water Resources Audit
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National Committee on Soil and Terrain
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Australian Greenhouse Office
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Grains Research and Development Corporation
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The University of Sydney.
Read more about research being conducted by CSIRO Land and Water.
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