Office Locations
Central Office
2 Sheriff Street FORBES NSW 2871
Ph: 02 6851 9500 Fax: 02 6851 6991
4-6 Market Street BOOROWA NSW 2586
Ph: 02 6385 1018 Fax: 02 6385 1061
7 Hay Street CONDOBOLIN NSW 2877
Ph: 02 6895 1110 Fax: 02 6895 3406
30 Lynch Street COWRA NSW 2794
Ph: 02 6341 1600 Fax: 02 6342 2565
20 Warraderry Street GRENFELL NSW 2810
Ph: 02 6349 1200 Fax: 02 6343 2366
168 High St, HILLSTON NSW 2675
Ph: 02 6967 2897 Fax: 02 6967 2998
Cnr Court & Currajong Street PARKES NSW 2870
Ph: 02 6816 3200 Fax: 02 6862 5254
280 Hoskins Street TEMORA NSW 2666
Ph: 02 6977 4790 Fax: 02 6977 4791
31-33 Main Street WEST WYALONG NSW 2671
Ph: 02 6972 2831 Fax: 02 6972 3356
Cnr Lynch & Lovell St YOUNG NSW 2594
Ph: 02 6382 5833 Fax: 02 6382 2134
www.lachlan.cma.nsw.gov.au
The ECse value is only an estimated value as the true
determination is a complicated and costly laboratory procedure:How
to use the table over the page:1. Measure the electrical
conductivity of a 1:5 soil water extract
(EC1:5) - locate this value in the yellow shaded section.2.
Determine the soil texture of your soil or find out the clay
content.3. Multiply the EC1:5 value by the multiplication factor
(green shaded
area) which corresponds to your texture or clay content to
determine the saturated extract electrical conductivity (ECse)
which is shown in the first column of figures.
4. Compare this value with the soil salinity rating and whether
it is limiting to crops or pastures. For example: If your EC1:5 =
0.27 and the soil texture is a clay loam (35-40% clay) the
5. ECse = 0.27 x 8.6 = 2.32 dS/m - medium soil salinity rating /
moderately tolerant crops can be grown.
Calculating electrical conductivity and Salinity
L_003
Above image: Landholders using an EC meterTop image: An EC meter
reading of 3.1 dS/m from a 1:5 soil water solution
1800 885 747
Calculating the saturated extract electrical conductivity
(ECse)* from the 1:5 water extract electrical conductivity (EC1:5)
value
Plant Tolerance Group
Saturated Extract
Electrical Conductivity ECse (dS/m)
Soil Salinity Rating
Soil Water Extract Electrical Conductivity - EC1:5 (ds/m)%
Clay
45%Sands, loamy sand, clayey sand
Sandy loam,Fine
Sandy loam
Loam, silty loam, light sandy clay
loam
Clay loam, clay loam
sandy, silty clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay, light clay
Light medium
clay, medium to heavy silty and sandy
clays
Medium to heavy
clays, heavy silty and sandy
claysMultiplication Factor 22.7 13.8 9.5 8.6 7.5 5.8
Sensitive cropsturnip,
strawberrybeans, carrot
2.10
