Lisa Miller - From Drought to Growth: Soil Recovery

Managing Soil Recovery After Drought with Lisa Miller In this Digging Deeper episode recorded at Springfield Day, host interviews Lisa Miller, an agricultural science graduate who began in nursing, worked as a roustabout in 1989, and later joined Landcare and the Department of Agriculture. Lisa discusses managing soils for high performance after drought, explaining how soil type affects re-wetting, with heavier clays wetting more slowly and risking failed pasture establishment if sown too early. She covers post-drought issues including crusting, reduced infiltration and occasional water repellence, recovery of soil biology (including reduced AMF affecting phosphorus uptake), and typical post-drought nutrient dynamics such as phosphorus carryover and a nitrogen flush after rain. She also notes transient salinity, boron toxicity, and bicarbonate in alkaline soils, advises patience before sowing, recommends soil testing, and stresses cautious grazing to allow pasture recovery and avoid risks like phalaris toxicity. 00:00 Welcome and Credits 00:33 Meet Lisa Miller 01:06 Lisa’s Path into Ag 03:43 Soils After Drought 03:56 Wetting and Repellence 08:18 Soil Biology and Phosphorus 11:57 Nitrogen Flush Explained 13:35 Salinity and Ion Buildup 14:47 When to Sow Again 17:10 Interventions and Soil Tests 19:11 Grazing Recovery Tips 21:29 Whole Farm Recovery Plan 22:39 Season Check In 23:57 Surprising Clover Innovations 25:48 Thanks and Sign Off 25:56 Closing Credits