The SoilsWest team, in partnership with the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and Murdoch University, recently launched the Soil Quality Courses at the Grains Research Updates in Perth on 16 February 2026.
The first of three courses, Fundamental Soil and Plant Nutrition, includes content on soil formation, soil groups and classification, soil attributes, plant growth and nutrition, and on-farm assessment and monitoring. Designed to be practical and informative, the self-paced lessons are freely available online for land managers, producers, researchers, advisors, students, farm workers and anyone with an interest in soil.
The second and third courses are scheduled for release in the coming months: Understanding Soil and Plant Nutrition and the advanced Managing Soil and Plant Nutrition, providing incremental learning building on Fundamental Soil and Plant Nutrition. Enriched and visual content has been developed from existing publications and evidence-based websites, including the Soil Quality eBook series and Soil Quality Knowledge Base.
Although the courses are currently designed for Western Australian broadacre farming systems, the knowledge and principles of soil and plant nutrition can be readily applied across other agricultural sectors and environments.
The Soil Quality Courses will be complemented by a series of regional workshops focussed on the practical application of content presented in the online learning. Expressions of interest in hosting a workshop in your local area are welcomed through soilswest@murdoch.edu.au.
Project funding (UMU2411-003SAX) is supported through a co-investment between GRDC and Murdoch University.
Screen captures from within Fundamental Soil and Plant Nutrition
Bridget Watkins is the South-West WA Regional Soil Coordinator (RSC). The RSC project provides opportunities for researchers, primary producers and community groups to collaborate and share knowledge related to soil health and management. The project is supported by the Australian Government’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust, and in South-West WA is led by the SW WA Hub in partnership with SoilsWest at Murdoch University.
