Soil Science Commons^™

Results Of Investigations Into The Groundwater Response And Productivity Of High Water Use Agricultural Systems 1990-1997 1. Wooldridge/Wright's Catchment (Kojonup), A D. Smith, Richard J. George Dr, P R. Scott, D L. Bennett, R J. Rippon, G J. Orr

Resource management technical reports

High water use vegetation systems for salinity control were trialed on a 170 ha catchment located 13 km north of Kojonup, Western Australia. The catchment receives about 470 mm annual rainfall and 1825 mm annual evaporation.

Managing Granite Outcrops. Revegetation On Farms Information Kit, David Bicknell, Department Of Conservation And Land Management (Calm), The Royal Society Of Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

In Western Australia, granite outcrops rise from the surrounding countryside like an extensive island chain, stretching from the high rainfall south-west to the arid interior. They are extremely rich in biodiversity, which can change dramatically from outcrop to outcrop. They may contain relics of unique plant and animal populations and are very significant for nature conservation.

Granite outcrops can also be a major source of groundwater recharge within catchments, especially where the surrounding fringe and woodland vegetation has been cleared.

What is granite?

*Granite is an igneous rock consisting of large crystals of quartz, feldspar and mica or hornblende.

* …

Report On Degradation In The Southern River / Wungong Catchment. Perth, Western Australia, Brian Lloyd

Natural resources published reports

A five day field survey of degradation in the Southern River/Wungong Catchment revealed several areas of concern. Key concerns are:

- Erosion and Sedimentation

Various forms of water erosion were present that cumulatively, would probably have a significant effect on the water quality of the Canning (and Swan) River. Much of the water erosion results from the installation and maintenance of infrastructure and developments, e.g. roads, subdivisions, stormwater drains etc. Reviewing standard practices, raising of awareness of consequences of erosion and training in urban erosion and sediment control techniques is recommended. Wind erosion is also an issue on the sands …

Groundwater Trends In The Agricultural Area Of Western Australia, R A. Nulsen

Resource management technical reports

In 1994 it was estimated that salinity affected more than 1.8 million ha of agricultural land in Western Australia (Ferdowsian et al. 1996). This area was predicted to expand to over three million ha by about 2020 and, if nothing is done to stem the expansion, to eventually affect some six million ha, or 30% of the agricultural land in the state. Damaging levels of salt accumulation in the root zone of both native and introduced plants can generally only occur when the groundwater levels are relatively cl te the variability of responses. Several depict episodic recharge (recharge as a …

The Physical And Hydrological Characteristics Of A South Coast Sandplain Site : East Howick Site Survey, Robert Anthony Sudmeyer

Resource management technical reports

This Technical Report documents the physical and hydrological characteristics of a farmland site on the Esperance Sandplain. The site was located on 'Belalie Farm East' 110 km east of the town of Esperance in the locality of Howick (AMG 488900, 6277500) The site was typical of the sandplain landsystem which covers 35% (0.72 million ha) of the Esperance Agricultural Region. The farm was cleared over a number of years beginning in the 1970's and an extensive network of windbreaks established.

Results Of Investigations Into The Groundwater Response And Productivity Of High Water Use Agricultural Systems 1990-1997 3 Hunts' Catchment (Frankland), A D. Smith, Richard J. George Dr, P R. Scott, D L. Bennett, R J. Rippon, G J. Orr

Resource management technical reports

High water use vegetation systems for salinity control were trialed on an 80 ha catchment located 12 km east of Frankland, Western Australia. The catchment receives about 510 mm annual rainfall and 1525 mm annual evaporation. Development of salinity in the catchment is concentrated in the valley floor. Here the groundwater is extremely saline (3000-4000 mS/m) and piezometric levels are between 1 m below and 1 m above the surface.

Inventory Of Sub-Catchments Within The Wilson Inlet Catchment, B Radys

Resource management technical reports

The release of the "Salinity Action Plan for Western Australia' in December 996 highlighted the need for catchment scale planning and coordinated actions to reverse salinity trends.

A separate report has been produced for each major catchment area. Each report contains and inventory of all sub-catchments. with information on area, degradation risks and group activities with each catchment.

Results Of Investigations Into The Groundwater Response And Productivity Of High Water Use Agricultural Systems 1990-1997 5 White/Beattys' Catchment (Dinninup), A D. Smith, Richard J. George Dr, P R. Scott, D L. Bennett, R J. Rippon, G J. Orr

Resource management technical reports

High water use vegetation systems for salinity control were trialed on a 250 ha catchment located three km north-west of Dinninup, Western Australia. The catchment receives about 620 mm annual rainfall and 1500 mm annual evaporation. The catchment is characterised by slopes with gradients in excess of 5%, deep weathering (15-25 m to bedrock), active seepage in the valley (piezometric heads 204 m above ground surface) and high recharge (water table fluctuations of 1-4 m).

An Inventory And Condition Survey Of The Sandstone-Yalgoo-Paynes Find Area, Western Australia, A L. Payne, A M E Van Vreeswyk, K A. Leighton, H J. Pringle, P Hennig

Technical Bulletins

The inventory and condition survey of the Sandstone-Yalgoo-Paynes Find area, undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) between 1992 and 1993, describes and maps the natural resources of the region’s pastoral leasehold land. This survey report provides a baseline record of the existence and condition of the area’s natural resources, to assist with the planning and implementation of land management practices. The report identified and described the condition of soils, landforms, vegetation, habitat, ecosystems, and declared plants and animals. It also assessed the impact of pastoralism and made land management recommendations. The area surveyed covers about …

Inventory Of Sub-Catchments Within The Oyster Harbour Catchment, B Radys

Resource management technical reports

The release of the "Salinity Action Plan for Western Australia' in December 996 highlighted the need for catchment scale planning and coordinated actions to reverse salinity trends.

A separate report has been produced for each major catchment area. Each report contains and inventory of all sub-catchments, with information on area, degradation risks and group activities with each catchment.

Resource Use In The Trinational Sangha River Region Of Equatorial Africa: Histories, Knowledge Forms, And Institutions, Heather E. Eves, Rebecca Hardin, Stephanie Rupp

Yale School of the Environment Bulletin Series

This volume is based on an international conference, “Natural Resource Use Relations in the Trinational Sangha River Region of the Northwest Congo Basin,” held at Yale University in September 1997. In recognition of the bilingual context in which conservation occurs in the three countries of the Sangha region — Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Congo — all sessions of the conference were conducted simultaneously in French and English. This publication, which is a complete rendering of the conference papers and discussion sessions, is available in its entirety in both French and English.

Results Of Investigations Into The Groundwater Response And Productivity Of High Water Use Agricultural Systems 1990-1997 4. Tkk Engineering's Catchment (Williams), A D. Smith, Richard J. George Dr, P R. Scott, D L. Bennett, R J. Rippon, G J. Orr

Resource management technical reports

High water use vegetation systems for salinity control were trialed on a 70 ha catchment located about 15 km north of Williams, Western Australia. The catchment receives about 545 mm annual rainfall and 1870 mm annual evaporation. Development of salinity is characterised by passive discharge upslope from a dolerite dyke. Because recharge exceeds the discharge capacity of current seeps, there is potential for new seeps to develop in the mid to lower slopes.

Results Of Investigations Into The Groundwater Response And Productivity Of High Water Use Agricultural Systems 1990-1997 : 6. Summary Of All Sites, A D. Smith, Richard J. George Dr, P R. Scott, D L. Bennett, R J. Rippon, G J. Orr, Peter J. Tille

Resource management technical reports

The south-western Woolbelt receives annual rainfall between 500-700 mm with long dry summers and cool wet winters. The dominant land use is grazing of Merino sheep for wool productiion, with smaller areas (5-15%) of cropping. All of the catchments selected were affected by salinity, but the extent and severity varied. In all catchments the location of the major expression of salinity was the valley floor.

Yuna Farm Improvement Group - Conservation Farm Planning Manual, Mike Clarke, Cecilia Mcconnell, Nancye Gannaway

Natural resources published reports

A landcare group formed on Tuesday, 30 June 1998 due to growing concern about land degradation. The main interests and objectives of the group where discuss and were outlined as follows:

1. Wind Erosion

2. Soil Acidity

3. Soil Degradation

4. Remnant Vegetation Decline

5. Tree Placement and Survival

6. Oil Mallees

7. Water Erosion

8. Non Wetting Soils

9. Salinity

10. Waterlogging

The first step toward addressing these issues was to organise two workshops with Mike Clarke, Cecilia McConnell and Nancye Gannaway from Agriculture Western Australia. The first workshop was held on the 4/8/98 and the second on the …

Inventory Of Sub-Catchments Within The Albany Eastern Hinterland, B Radys

Resource management technical reports

The release of the "Salinity Action Plan for Western Australia' in December 996 highlighted the need for catchment scale planning and coordinated actions to reverse salinity trends.

A separate report has been produced for each major catchment area. Each report contains and inventory of all sub-catchments, with information on area, degradation risks and group activities with each catchment.

Phosphorus In The Landscape: Diffuse Sources To Surface Waters. Land And Water Resources Research And Development Corporation. Occasional Paper 16/98, Richard Davis, Anne Hamblin, E O'Loughlin, Nic Austin, R Banens, P Cornish, P Hairsin, M Mcculloch, Phil Moody, J Olley, B Prove, I Smalls, David Weaver

All other publications

The National Eutrophication Management Program (NEMP) and Environment Australia convened a workshop to develop a coherent overview of the sources and transport of diffuse phosphorus in Australian catchments based on the latest knowledge. The Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation (LWRRDC) and the Murray–Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) jointly fund NEMP. A select group of scientists attended the workshop and developed a coherent statement about phosphorus sources and transport in Australian catchments. The group did not extend this statement to include recommended management practices. This paper reports the findings from the workshop. State governments have developed algal and nutrient …

Putting Land Resource Information Into Perspective. Interpreting Land Resource And Capability Information To Assess The Impacts And Management Needs Of Different Land Uses And To Assist Strategic Planning, Land Assessment Pty Ltd, Agriculture Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

These notes were prepared by Martin Wells from Land Assessment Pty Ltd in June 1997 to assist in the delivery of this training course. The objective of the course is to provide land use planning practitioners with a working understanding of soil-landscape mapping and land capability assessment activities, and of their practical applications in land use planning.

Who Is This Course For?

Land use planners

* not only professional planners

* but all involved in making decisions on how land is used

* involves many government or semi-government bodies

* and also immediate land use decision makers, farmers and their …

Salinity And Hydrology Of The Mills Lake Catchment, R Ferdowsian, A T. Ryder

Resource management technical reports

The Mills Lake Catchment is located north of the Ongerup-Jerramungup Road, 35 km west of Jerramungup and 10 km north-east of Ongerup. It covers about 23,800 ha of agricultural land that is more than 90% cleared and predominantly cropped. The average annual rainfall of the catchment is about 370 mm. Many low-lying parts of the study area have become salt-affected during recent years. The extent of soil salinity is growing rapidly and it is feared that, without any treatment, more land will become salt-affected.

Native Vegetation On Farms Survey 1996 : A Survey Of Farmers Attitudes To Native Vegetation And Landcare In The Wheatbelt Of Western Australia, Suzanne Jenkins

Resource management technical reports

The Native Vegetation on Farms survey 1996 was performed to assess the attitudes of farmers to a number of issues related to existing native vegetation on farmland, the replanting of vegetation on farms and land degradation. Research has shown that it is important for a proportion of all farmland to have some native vegetation for ecological stability, to regulate hydrological processes and for long-term sustainability of farm production.

Bulletin 4328 - Soil Testing For Vegetable Production On The Coastal Plain, Ian Mcpharlin, Murray Hegney

Bulletins 4000 -

Vegetable growers need to use fertiliser efficiently. Under-fertilising can reduce yield, which results in economic losses. Over-fertilising can reduce yield and contribute to nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of ground and surface waters. Concerns have been expressed that fertilisers applied to horticultural crops contribute to the phosphorus pollution of the rivers and estuaries of the west and south coast of Western Australia.

Soil testing is a technique that can be used by growers to make better fertiliser decisions. When soil tests show high levels of nutrients, growers can reduce fertiliser application for the current crop. This should enable growers to maintain …

Evaluation Of Deep, Open Drains In The North Stirling Area, R Ferdowsian, A T. Ryder, J Kelly

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.

Salinity And Hydrology Of The Wamballup Swamp Catchment, R Ferdowsian, A T. Ryder

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.

Bulletin 4333 - Furrow Sowing On Water Repellent Soils, Paul Blackwell, Grant Morrow

Bulletins 4000 -

This Bulletin discusses the benefits that furrow sowing brings to crop growth and production on water repellent sand, based on research and farm observations in Western Australian. By understanding the benefits and risks of several key processes, producers can better evaluate the potential role of furrow sowing in combating water repellency. This is true whether one is using direct drilling, no-till (narrow points or discs) or zero till (single, double or triple disc openers) methods.

The Salinity And Hydrology Of The Tambellup Townsite And Jam Creek Catchment, R Ferdowsian, A T. Ryder

Resource management technical reports

The study area covers the Tambellup Town and the Jam Creek Catchment (top photograph on cover). The Tambellup Town is located 115 km north of Albany. The town has a population of 360 people (800 in the whole Shire). Tambellup is experiencing increasing salinity problems. Saline groundwater levels are close to the soil surface and cause deterioration of buildings, roads, infrastructure, death of trees and scalding of land including the sporting grounds. Many hectares of land in the Jam Creek Catchment has become salt-affected and salinity is on increase. The objective of this study was to define the present salinity …

Soil Assessment Of The West Gingin Area, Henry Smolinski, G G. Scholz

Land resources series

Soils of approximately 80,000 hectares in the West Gingin area, 100 km north of Perth, were surveyed from 1987 to 1989. The area lies on the Swan Coastal Plain within the Gingin Shire. The soils were mapped by the free survey method at a scale of 1:50,000. Thirty-five major soil associations and complexes were identified. These soils have been formed from various parent materials in a a range of depositional environments. Siliceous sand and sodic soils formed in alluvial-lacustrine sediments predominate. The main soils were sampled for chemical and physical analysis and their morphological, chemical and physical properties are discussed …

Catchments Of The Esperance Region Of Western Australia, S T. Gee, John Andrew Simons

Resource management technical reports

This document provides a catalogue of the cultural and physical characteristics of the 32 catchments and internally drained areas in the Esperance agricultural region. Nineteen topographic catchments externally drain to the coast and the remaining 13 areas drain internally within their own boundaries.

Morilla Swamp Hydrological Investigation, Russell John Speed, E B. Lefroy, John Andrew Simons

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.

Soil Information Sheets For The Northern Agricultural Areas, Natural Resources Assessment Group, Agriculture Western Australia, Landcare Western Australia

Agriculture reports

These soil information sheets are produced for farmers in the Northern Wheatbelt. Each sheet summaries information on the particular soil's characteristic properties and associated land use suitability and management. A photograph of a representative profile is provided for each soil. Technical terms are defined in the glossary. Information is presented under the following headings: Soil series and group, occurrence, native vegetation, soil profile description, characteristic soil properties, soil classification (Australian Soil Classification and Northcote Principal Profile Form).

The Use Of Bauxite Residue As A Soil Amendment In The Peel-Harvey Coastal Plain Catchment - Report On Results Of 1995 Environmental Monitoring Program, Mark Rivers

Natural resources published reports

This report was submitted in accordance with the recommendations of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) who have stated that a monitoring program shall be undertaken by Agriculture Western Australia within six months of the widespread use of bauxite residue as a soil amendment. Although this widespread use of bauxite residue has not yet formally commenced, pre-emptive monitoring has been undertaken in order to gain some understanding of the general environmental characteristics of the Peel-Harvey catchment and, in particular, the characteristics and quality of the water flowing through the catchment.

It represents the second annual report submitted to the EPA describing …

Western Australian Salinity Action Plan, Agriculture Western Australia, Department Of Conservation And Land Management, Department Of Environmental Protection, Water And Rivers Commission

Natural resources published reports

Salinity is one of the State's most critical environmental problems, threatening major economic and social consequences. It is preventable and, in the long term, reversible. Complete elimination is not realistic, but we can dramatically reduce its impact.

Salinity is caused by replacing deep-rooted native plants with shallow-rooted crops and pastures. More rainfall passed below the root zone and accumulates as groundwater so that watertables rise. The groundwater mobilises natural salts in the soil as it rises and carries them towards the surface, eventually degrading land and streams.