How to Read a Soil Test for Buying Rural Land

Soil quality determines whether rural land will support your farming, gardening, or building plans. Yet most property buyers struggle to interpret soil test results. A soil test reveals pH levels, nutrient availability, salinity risks, structural problems, and potential contamination that fundamentally affect land value and usability. Understanding these results before purchase prevents expensive surprises and helps negotiate fair prices. This guide explains how to read Australian soil test reports, what different measurements mean for your plans, and which results should prompt serious reconsideration.

Why a Soil Test Matters When Buying Rural Property

Soil influences every aspect of rural land use, from crop production to building stability. Properties with excellent soil command premium prices because they offer greater flexibility and lower ongoing costs. Properties with poor soil require constant inputs and management to achieve moderate results.

Soil affects farming and pasture productivity

Soil pH, nutrient levels, and structure determine what grows successfully without constant amendment. Slightly acidic soils suit most vegetables and pasture species. Very acidic soils require lime applications costing $200-1,000 per hectare annually to maintain productivity. Alkaline soils present different challenges, including micronutrient deficiencies requiring specialised fertilisers.

Nutrient-poor soils demand ongoing fertiliser inputs costing $500-2,000 per hectare annually, depending on intended use. Soils with adequate natural fertility reduce these expenses substantially. About 50% of Australian agricultural land has pH values at or below 5.5, which is below optimal levels and requires active management.

Water management depends on soil structure

Soil texture affects water retention, drainage, and irrigation requirements. Sandy soils drain rapidly but hold little water, requiring frequent irrigation during dry periods. Clay soils hold substantial water but drain poorly, creating waterlogging during wet periods and cracking during drought. Loamy soils with balanced sand, silt, and clay provide ideal water management for most agricultural uses.

Poor drainage increases management challenges, including restricted pasture access during wet periods, limited growing season for crops, and difficulties establishing orchards. Properties with poor drainage require expensive subsurface drainage installation costing $2,000-8,000 per hectare to achieve reliable productivity.

Erosion risk varies with soil type

Light sandy soils on slopes erode rapidly during heavy rain, losing topsoil that takes decades to rebuild naturally. Sodic clay soils (high in sodium) disperse and erode in specific conditions despite appearing stable. Properly structured soils with adequate organic matter resist erosion effectively. Properties with severe erosion require expensive earthworks and ongoing management.

Building foundations respond to soil properties

Reactive clay soils expand when wet and contract when dry, causing foundation movement that cracks buildings unless specialised foundations are installed at substantially higher cost. Sandy or gravelly soils provide stable building platforms with minimal foundation requirements. Understanding soil reactivity before purchase helps budget accurately for construction costs.

What a Soil Test Includes (Australian Conditions)

Australian soil tests measure specific properties using standardised methods. Understanding what each measurement means helps you interpret results correctly.

Soil pH

Understanding pH measurement

Soil pH measures acidity or alkalinity on a scale from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral. Values below 7 are acidic. Values above 7 are alkaline. Australian laboratories report pH using two methods: pH in water, and pH in calcium chloride solution. The calcium chloride method provides more accurate results for agricultural purposes, typically reading 0.5-1.0 units lower than pH in water for the same soil.

Think of pH like a thermometer for your soil’s chemistry. Just as plants have preferred temperature ranges, they also have preferred pH ranges where they can access nutrients most easily.

Ideal pH ranges for different uses

Most vegetables, annual crops, and improved pasture species thrive in pH 5.0-5.5 (calcium chloride method). Native Australian plants often prefer more acidic conditions (pH 4.5-6.0) and struggle in limed soils. Fruit trees vary by species: citrus performs well in pH 5.5-7.0, stone fruits prefer pH 6.0-7.0, whilst blueberries require acidic conditions (pH 4.5-5.5).

Pasture legumes, including clovers and lucerne, establish best in pH 5.5-6.5. Nodulation for nitrogen fixation fails below pH 5.0, meaning your pasture won’t produce its own nitrogen naturally.

Problems from extreme pH

Very acidic soils (pH below 5.0) create aluminium toxicity that damages plant roots, restricts access to water and nutrients, reduces microbial activity affecting decomposition, and prevents legume nodulation causing nitrogen deficiency. In simple terms, very acidic soil is hostile to most plant roots and beneficial soil life.

Alkaline soils (pH above 7.5) cause micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron, zinc, manganese, and boron. These deficiencies manifest as yellowing leaves and poor growth despite adequate fertilisation. About 12-24 million hectares of Australian agricultural land experiences extreme to high acidity, representing a major productivity constraint.

Organic Matter Levels

What organic matter provides

Soil organic matter consists of partially decomposed plant residues, living soil organisms, and stable humus. It improves soil structure, holds nutrients preventing leaching, retains moisture increasing drought resilience, supports beneficial soil microorganisms, and provides slow-release nutrients as organic matter decomposes.

Think of organic matter as your soil’s bank account. High organic matter means your soil holds reserves of nutrients and water. Low organic matter means you’re living payment-to-payment with constant inputs needed.

Soils with 2-3% organic carbon (representing approximately 3.5-5% organic matter) demonstrate good fertility. Levels below 1% indicate degraded soils requiring significant rebuilding.

Typical Australian organic matter levels

Many Australian soils naturally contain lower organic matter than overseas examples due to climate, vegetation types, and soil age. Tropical soils often measure 1-2% organic carbon despite high biological activity, because rapid decomposition prevents accumulation. Temperate zone soils typically range 2-4% organic carbon, whilst high-rainfall forest soils may exceed 6-8%.

Building organic matter in depleted soils

Low organic matter soils improve through applying compost or animal manure, growing and incorporating green manure crops, practising minimum tillage, applying mulch to surface soils, and managing grazing to maintain groundcover. Rebuilding severely depleted soils requires 5-10 years of consistent management, though improvements become noticeable within 2-3 years. Properties with very low organic matter demand ongoing inputs that should factor into purchase price negotiations.

Key Nutrients (N, P, K, S)

Nitrogen availability and testing challenges

Nitrogen exists in soil as organic nitrogen (slowly releasing through decomposition) and inorganic nitrogen (immediately available to plants). Standard soil tests measure only current inorganic nitrogen, which fluctuates dramatically with season, recent rainfall, and time since last fertiliser application. Because nitrogen testing provides limited predictive value, many Australian laboratories don’t include routine nitrogen testing. Instead, nitrogen requirements are estimated from crop type, yield targets, and organic matter levels.

Phosphorus measurement methods

Phosphorus testing proves complex because large amounts can be “locked up” in soil, making it unavailable to plants despite high total phosphorus. Australian laboratories use different extraction methods. Interpretation depends heavily on soil type: sandy soils require lower test values (15-30 mg/kg) for adequate plant growth, whilst clay soils need higher values (30-60 mg/kg).

Very low phosphorus (below 10 mg/kg) limits productivity substantially and requires significant fertiliser input to establish adequate levels. In practical terms, if your soil test shows very low phosphorus, expect to spend $300-600 per hectare initially to build it up.

Potassium requirements

Potassium regulates plant water use, disease resistance, and overall vigour. Your soil test will report exchangeable potassium levels. Adequate levels sit around 0.3-0.7 meq/100g soil (don’t worry too much about the units, just compare your results to this range). Sandy soils naturally contain less potassium and require more frequent application. Clay soils hold potassium more effectively.

Very high potassium levels (above 10% of total nutrients) can cause magnesium deficiency in both plants and grazing animals, creating metabolic problems in livestock.

Sulphur for protein synthesis

Sulphur plays essential roles in protein formation and enzyme function. Testing proves more reliable on sandy soils. Sulphur deficiency appears as general yellowing of younger leaves and reduced growth. Many nitrogen fertilisers contain sulphur compounds, so properties requiring regular nitrogen inputs simultaneously address sulphur needs.

Trace Elements (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B)

Calcium and magnesium balance

Calcium and magnesium are reported as exchangeable cations (don’t be put off by the term, it just means nutrients held in a form plant roots can access). Calcium should represent 65-80% of total nutrients, whilst magnesium should be 10-20%. Low calcium causes poor soil structure and limits plant growth, though this is relatively uncommon except in very acidic soils.

The calcium to magnesium ratio attracts significant attention, though research shows ratios up to 20:1 don’t adversely affect plant yields. Focus on absolute levels rather than ratios. Regular dolomite application (containing 2 parts calcium to 1 part magnesium) can lower the ratio excessively. Where magnesium levels are adequate, use calcitic lime or gypsum to provide calcium without further magnesium.

Livestock grazing pasture on soils with very low calcium to magnesium ratios risk grass tetany, a serious metabolic disorder requiring urgent veterinary treatment.

Trace element deficiencies

Iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and boron are required in small quantities but prove essential for plant health. Alkaline soils (pH above 7.5) commonly show zinc, copper, manganese, and boron deficiencies, even when soil contains adequate total quantities. This happens because high pH renders these elements unavailable to plants. Very acidic soils may show iron deficiency and potential manganese or aluminium toxicity.

Trace element correction requires identifying specific deficiencies through soil and plant tissue testing, then applying targeted amendments rather than general broad-spectrum products.

Soil Texture and Structure

Clay, sand, loam classifications

Soil texture refers to the proportions of sand (largest particles), silt (medium particles), and clay (smallest particles) making up the mineral fraction. You can assess texture by feel: sandy soils feel gritty when rubbed between fingers, clay soils feel smooth and sticky when wet, and loamy soils feel somewhere in between.

Sandy soils contain over 70% sand particles. Clay soils contain over 30% clay. Loamy soils contain balanced proportions of sand, silt, and clay, generally providing the best growing conditions due to moderate drainage, good water retention, and reasonable nutrient-holding capacity.

Duplex soils common in Australia

Many Australian soils feature duplex profiles with sandy topsoil overlying heavy clay subsoil. These soils drain rapidly through the sandy surface layer, then perch water on the clay layer creating temporary waterlogging. Duplex soils require careful management because the sandy topsoil holds few nutrients whilst the clay subsoil restricts root growth.

Structure quality affecting root growth

Soil structure describes how individual particles aggregate into larger units. Well-structured soils contain pore spaces allowing root growth, water movement, and air exchange. Poorly structured soils are either compacted (restricting root penetration) or dispersed (breaking down when wet).

Structural problems often prove more difficult and expensive to correct than nutrient deficiencies. Physical inspection during property viewing reveals structure issues: dig a hole 30-40 cm deep and examine how soil aggregates hold together, whether roots penetrate throughout the profile, and if layers restrict movement.

Salinity and Sodicity

Electrical conductivity measuring salt levels

Salinity is measured as electrical conductivity (EC). Think of it like testing how much salt is dissolved in your soil water. Higher values indicate more dissolved salts, which most plants can’t tolerate. Most crops and pastures tolerate EC below 2 dS/m without problems. EC values of 2-4 dS/m cause yield reductions in sensitive species. EC above 4 dS/m severely restricts plant options to highly salt-tolerant species.

Salinity problems remain relatively rare in Western Australian sandy coastal soils but affect substantial areas of inland Australia, particularly in irrigation districts and areas with rising water tables.

Sodic soils and dispersion

Sodicity refers to high exchangeable sodium levels. When sodium reaches 6% or more of total nutrients, soil becomes sodic and susceptible to dispersion. Dispersed soil loses structural integrity, compacts easily, and forms surface crusts preventing seedling emergence and water infiltration.

In practical terms, sodic soils turn to mush when wet and set like concrete when dry. They’re common across many Australian regions and prove challenging to manage long-term. Gypsum application provides short-term improvement but requires repeated applications, maintaining expenses over time.

Combined salinity and sodicity effects

Some soils suffer both high salinity and sodicity, presenting severe management challenges. Buildings on highly sodic clay soils experience foundation problems as soil swells when wet. Irrigation on sodic soils accelerates structural degradation unless water management and gypsum application are carefully coordinated. Properties with severe salinity or sodicity should prompt very careful consideration of purchase price and intended uses.

Contamination and Heavy Metals

When to request contamination testing

Standard agricultural soil tests don’t include heavy metals or organic contaminants unless specifically requested. Consider contamination testing for properties with industrial history, proximity to mine sites or smelters, past use for waste disposal or storage, treated timber structures or storage, sheep or cattle dip sites, and orchards with historical arsenic-based spray use.

Contamination testing costs $300-800 depending on contaminant types tested but provides essential information for properties with risk factors.

Common Australian soil contaminants

Heavy metals, including lead, arsenic, copper, and zinc, accumulate from historical agricultural practices, industrial activity, or natural geological sources. Organic contaminants include petroleum products, pesticide residues, and industrial chemicals.

Contamination affects property use through restrictions on growing food crops, livestock grazing limitations, groundwater contamination risks, expensive remediation requirements, and disclosure obligations affecting resale. Seriously contaminated land requires remediation costing tens of thousands to millions of dollars, depending on contamination extent.

How to Interpret the Soil Test Results

What is considered a good soil test result

Soil test interpretation depends on intended use, but general guidelines help assess overall soil quality. For pH, aim for 5.0-6.0 for most agricultural uses and 5.5-7.0 for gardens and mixed farming. Organic carbon above 2% indicates reasonable fertility, whilst levels above 3% demonstrate good soil health.

For major nutrients, adequate phosphorus levels vary with soil type: 30-50 mg/kg suits most situations. Your test report will show where your results sit compared to adequate ranges, often using terms like “very low”, “low”, “adequate”, “high”, or “very high”. Aim for results in the “adequate” to “high” range for your intended use.

Electrical conductivity below 0.5 indicates no salinity concerns. EC of 0.5-2.0 presents minor limitations for sensitive species. These ranges represent starting points for evaluation, with specific requirements varying based on intended crops, livestock, or other uses.

Minor issues in soil test readings you can fix easily

Acidity correction with lime

Low pH responds well to agricultural lime application. Soil testing services provide lime requirement calculations based on current pH, target pH, and soil buffer capacity. Lime costs $60-150 per tonne, with application rates typically 2-5 tonnes per hectare for moderate acidity. Effects last 3-5 years, depending on rainfall and farming intensity.

Calculate lime costs at $200-800 per hectare for moderate pH correction, representing a reasonable investment for otherwise suitable land. This is the sort of issue you can negotiate on price but shouldn’t prevent purchase if the property otherwise suits your needs.

Nutrient deficiencies through fertilisation

Low phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, or trace elements are corrected through appropriate fertiliser application. Initial applications to build soil nutrient reserves cost $200-800 per hectare, depending on deficiencies, followed by annual maintenance applications of $100-400 per hectare.

Properties requiring significant nutrient building warrant price adjustments reflecting these establishment costs. If a soil test shows very low phosphorus and potassium, calculate 2-3 years of building costs into your purchase negotiations.

Structure improvement through organic matter

Poor soil structure improves gradually through organic matter addition, including compost, manure, and green manure crops. Improvement requires 3-5 years of consistent management but proves achievable with moderate investment. Budget $500-1,500 per hectare initially for organic amendments, then $200-600 annually for ongoing improvement.

Structure problems don’t prevent purchase if you’re committed to improvement, but should factor into negotiations. Think of it as buying a house that needs renovation. The property has potential, but you need time and money to realise it.

Sodicity management with gypsum

Moderately sodic soils improve with gypsum application at 2-5 tonnes per hectare, costing $200-500 including product and spreading. Gypsum effects last 2-4 years, requiring repeated applications representing ongoing costs.

Severe sodicity proves difficult to manage economically long-term, as continuous gypsum applications become expensive and effects remain temporary. Mild to moderate sodicity presents manageable challenges. Severe sodicity should prompt reconsideration or significant price adjustments.

Major red flags in soil test results

High salinity

Electrical conductivity above 4 dS/m severely restricts productive use to highly salt-tolerant species with limited agricultural or economic value. Salinity this severe often indicates deeper hydrological problems, including rising water tables or natural salt accumulation that prove expensive or impossible to remedy.

In plain terms, if your soil test shows EC above 4 across large areas, you’re looking at land that won’t grow much beyond saltbush and similar salt-tolerant plants. Properties with widespread high salinity warrant very careful evaluation of purchase price against limited productive potential.

Severe sodicity

Exchangeable sodium above 15-20% of total nutrients creates severe management problems, including poor water infiltration, surface sealing preventing plant establishment, difficult cultivation conditions, and foundation risks for buildings.

Severe sodicity across an entire property represents a major constraint requiring either continuous expensive management or acceptance of limited productivity. Such properties should be priced substantially below comparable productive land.

Widespread contamination

Heavy metal contamination or organic chemical residues affecting large areas prevent food production, limit livestock grazing, and create potential liability. Contaminated land requires disclosure to future buyers and may face regulatory restrictions.

Remediation costs often exceed property value, making seriously contaminated rural land difficult to use productively. Walk away from properties with significant contamination unless priced as essentially land-value-only, reflecting cleanup costs.

Very shallow soil

Effective soil depth matters tremendously. Shallow soil (less than 30 cm to bedrock or hardpan) severely limits agriculture by restricting root depth, reducing water availability, increasing drought vulnerability, and limiting cultivation options.

Properties with only shallow pockets of deeper soil prove difficult to farm efficiently. Shallow soil represents a fundamental constraint difficult to remedy economically. You can’t easily add 50 cm of topsoil across 10 hectares.

Highly reactive clay

Building on highly reactive clay requires expensive specialised foundations, including stiffened rafts, pier and beam systems with 2-3 metre deep piers, or extensive site preparation removing reactive clay. Additional foundation costs reach $20,000-80,000+ for typical house construction, depending on reactivity severity.

Properties with highly reactive clay across building sites need careful budgeting for construction costs or selection of different building locations.

Linking Soil Type to Your Plans

Growing vegetables or orchard trees

Successful vegetable production requires pH 5.5-6.5 for most species (blueberries and acid-loving plants excepted), organic matter above 3% providing nutrient reserves and moisture retention, good drainage preventing waterlogging but adequate water-holding capacity for irrigation efficiency, and friable structure allowing easy root penetration.

Sandy loam or loam soils provide ideal vegetable-growing conditions with proper management. Heavy clay soils prove challenging but workable with raised beds, organic matter addition, and careful timing of cultivation.

Orchard establishment demands deep well-drained soil (minimum 1 metre depth) allowing strong root systems, pH suited to specific fruit types (generally 6.0-7.0 for most temperate fruits), moderate to good water-holding capacity reducing irrigation frequency, and absence of salinity or sodicity affecting tree health.

Orchards represent substantial long-term investment, so soil suitability matters critically. Poor orchard soils lead to weak trees, disease susceptibility, reduced yields, and shortened productive life.

Running livestock or pasture

Grazing livestock requires pH 5.5-6.5 for improved pasture species (native pastures tolerate wider range), adequate phosphorus and sulphur for legume establishment and nitrogen fixation, potassium levels supporting consistent pasture growth, and soil structure permitting year-round access without severe pugging damage.

Sandy soils provide excellent trafficability in wet conditions but require careful nutrient management and supplementary feeding during dry periods. Clay soils hold more moisture and nutrients but restrict access during wet periods, reducing effective grazing days.

Stocking rates and productivity correlate directly with soil quality. Poor soils support lower stocking rates, requiring larger properties for viable operations. Fertile soils allow intensive grazing systems. Calculate carrying capacity based on soil capability rather than area alone when evaluating property economics.

Building a house or shed

Building site assessment requires geotechnical soil classification determining foundation type, reactivity classification (M, H1, H2, E) defining foundation design requirements, bearing capacity ensuring adequate support for proposed structures, and drainage characteristics affecting site works and ongoing maintenance.

Highly reactive soils (H2, E classification) dramatically increase building costs, sometimes making house construction uneconomical or pushing buildings toward specific less-reactive locations on properties.

Request professional geotechnical assessment, including test pits or borings to 2-3 metre depth, before finalising purchase if building plans are central to property value. Basic agricultural soil tests don’t provide information at depths relevant to foundation design. Geotechnical testing costs $1,500-4,000 but prevents expensive surprises during building approval or construction.

How to Get a Soil Test Done Before Buying

Laboratory testing options

Australian agricultural laboratories provide standardised soil testing services, with most offering collection kits by mail or courier. Major providers include state agriculture department laboratories, private agricultural laboratories certified by Australian Soil and Plant Analysis Council (ASPAC), and university agricultural research centres.

Standard agricultural soil tests cost $60-150, depending on components included. Comprehensive tests, including trace elements, cost $150-300. Contamination testing adds $300-800, depending on contaminants tested.

When requesting testing, specify intended use (cropping, pasture, horticulture, building), as interpretation depends on application. Request report commentary explaining results in practical terms rather than receiving raw data alone. Some laboratories provide detailed recommendations for lime and fertiliser requirements, whilst others simply report results requiring you to interpret or engage agronomist assistance.

Sample collection approach

Collect multiple subsamples from representative areas, combining them into composite samples representing different land uses or soil types visible on the property. Take 10-15 subsamples within each zone, sampling to 10 cm depth for pasture or surface-cultivation areas and to 20-30 cm for intensive cropping or garden areas.

Mix subsamples thoroughly in a clean bucket, then submit 500g-1kg for testing. Clean soil sampling equipment between zones to prevent cross-contamination.

Sample different areas separately if obvious soil changes exist. Don’t combine obviously different soil types, as results won’t represent any actual location. Avoid sampling unusual areas like old stock camps, gateways, or recent spoil heaps unless specifically assessing their particular issues. Label samples clearly with location descriptions or GPS coordinates so you can relate results to specific property areas.

Historical information sources

Council planning departments sometimes maintain historical land-use records identifying industrial activities, waste disposal, or agricultural operations relevant to contamination risk. State agriculture departments provide soil landscape mapping showing general soil types across regions, though these broad-scale maps don’t replace site-specific testing.

Agricultural chemical users maintain spray records that councils may hold for properties with commercial agricultural history. Request these records during due diligence, particularly for properties with non-residential history.

Questions to Ask the Seller or Agent

Recent fertiliser and amendment history

Ask when land was last fertilised and with what products. Recent fertiliser application creates artificially elevated test results not representing long-term soil capability. Ideally, conduct soil testing at least 6 months after last fertiliser application, or account for recent applications when interpreting results.

Request receipts or records showing fertiliser types and application rates over recent years. This reveals soil management intensity required to maintain productivity.

Cropping, grazing, and spray history

Historical land use affects current soil condition. Continuous cropping depletes soil structure and nutrients faster than rotational systems. Properties under long-term pasture may require fertiliser to transition to cropping.

Ask specifically about herbicide, insecticide, and fungicide use. Some chemicals persist in soil for years, affecting subsequent crops or requiring disclosure to organic certification bodies if pursuing organic production.

Known drainage or salinity problems

Sellers should disclose known drainage limitations, salinity issues, or flood history. Ask directly about areas that waterlog, salt-affected zones visible as bare patches or specific vegetation patterns, and any historical attempts to address drainage problems.

Visit properties during or shortly after significant rainfall to observe actual drainage behaviour rather than relying solely on dry-season appearance.

Past industrial or non-agricultural use

Any industrial activity, including workshops, fuel storage, chemical storage, equipment maintenance, or manufacturing, creates contamination risk. Ask about buildings that existed previously, even if now removed.

Request information about underground tanks, old dumps, or areas where materials were buried or stored. Properties transitioning from industrial to agricultural use warrant comprehensive contamination assessment before purchase, regardless of current appearance.

When to Walk Away from a Block

Severe salinity limiting options

Properties with electrical conductivity above 8 dS/m across majority of land support only limited salt-tolerant species with minimal economic return. Unless priced as essentially recreational or conservation land reflecting minimal productive value, severely saline properties rarely justify purchase for agricultural use.

Salinity often worsens over time as rising water tables concentrate salts, meaning current problems likely represent minimum future condition.

Broad contamination across usable areas

Heavy metal or chemical contamination affecting most productive areas prevents food production, creates liability risk, and limits property uses. Contaminated properties require disclosure to buyers, affecting future resale regardless of initial purchase price.

Remediation costs typically exceed $50,000-200,000 per hectare for serious contamination, making cleanup uneconomical for most rural properties. Walk away unless contamination affects only small isolated areas that can be fenced off from productive use.

Highly reactive clay without affordable building alternatives

Properties with highly reactive clay (E classification or high H2) across all potential building sites create foundation costs that may exceed $60,000-100,000 additional expense for standard house construction.

Unless property has specific compensating values or flat stable building sites exist, reactive clay dramatically increases total property development cost. Properties purchased primarily for house sites should offer reasonable building locations or be priced reflecting additional construction expenses.

Non-productive soil in high water-demand area

Properties with poor sandy soil, minimal water-holding capacity, and located in low-rainfall areas face fundamental productivity constraints. Such properties require irrigation for any significant production, but poor soil leaches water and nutrients rapidly, creating unsustainable input costs.

Unless water is abundant and cheap (rarely the case in Australia), dry-area properties with poor soil prove economically unviable for most agricultural uses.

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