"Soil Essentials" is a practical reference for farmers and land managers covering soil issues commonly encountered at the farm level. Written in a straightforward style, it explains the principles of soil management and the interpretation of soil tests, and how to use this information to address long-term soil and enterprise viability. This book demonstrates how minerals, trace elements, organic matter, soil organisms and fertilizers affect soil, plant and animal health. It shows how to recognise soil decline, and how to repair soils affected by nutrient imbalances, depleted soil microbiology, soil erosion, compaction, structural decline, soil sodicity and salinity. The major problem soils - sodic soils, light sandy soils, heavy clay soils and acid sulphate soils - are all examined.With this information, farmers and land managers will be able to consider the costs and financial benefits of good soil management.