Soil Science Commons^™

Grass Or Trees? Performance Of Riparian Buffers Under Natural Rainfall Conditions, Australia, Lucy Mckergow, I Prosser, R Grayson, David Weaver, D Heiner

Journal articles

Riparian vegetation can trap sediment and nutrients derived from hillslopes. Most research into the effectiveness of riparian buffers has been experimental and little quantitative data exists on performance under natural field conditions. This study reports on grass and tree buffer performance under natural rainfall conditions in two contrasting Australian environments. Buffers receiving runoff from hillslopes cropped with bananas were monitored over a 4-year period in the wet topics of Far North Queensland (FNQ). Runoff, bedload and suspended loads were measured leaving the crop and leaving 15 m wide dense grass and remnant rainforest riparian buffers. The grass buffer was able …

Corrigin Area Land Resources Survey, W H. Verboom, P D. Galloway, National Landcare Program (Australia), Natural Heritage Trust (Australia)

Land resources series

This land resource survey of the Corrigin area covers some 1.8 million hectares of the central wheatbelt over the shires of Beverley, Brookton, Bruce Rock, Corrigin, Cuballing, Cunderdin, Dumbleyung, Kellerberrin, Kondinin, Kulin, Lake Grace, Merredin, Narembeen, Narrogin, Pingelly, Quairading, Tammin, Wandering and Wickepin. The survey is part of a regional scale soil-landscape mapping program designed to deliver seamless soil information for the agricultural area of south western Australia. The information provided will assist planners, researchers and land managers make decisions affecting sustainable land use and is designed for use at regional and catchment scales. This report and accompanying CD-ROM summarizes …

An Inventory And Condition Survey Of The Pilbara Region, Western Australia, A M E Van Vreeswyk, K A. Leighton, A L. Payne, P Hennig

Technical Bulletins

The inventory and condition survey of the Pilbara region, undertaken by the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia between 1995 and 1999, 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 natural area’s 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 181 723 km². Seven …

Merredin Townsite Groundwater Pumping And Desalination Pilot Project, Rosemary Nott, Mark Pridham, Juana Roe, Jeff Ibbott, Alan Leeson, A Leeson

Resource management technical reports

Townsite salinity affects more than 40 towns in the WA wheatbelt. Waterlogging and salinity are responsible for damamge to townsite infrastructure. Through groundwater pumping and desalination, the State Salinity Council (now the Natural Resource Management Council) granted Merredin the the chance to prevent further damage to the townsite by funding this project.

Bremer-Gairdner Catchment Appraisal Report 2003, Tim D. Overheu

Resource management technical reports

Assessment of the condition and future risks to agricultural and natural resources within the Bremer-Gairdner region in Western Australia using the Rapid Catchment Appraisal. Details include climate, geology, soil-landscape information, hydrology, waterways, wetlands and estuaries, natural vegetation, land use and infrastructure, agricultural production, demographics; soil degredation risks, hydrology risks, farming system impacts, vegetation condition and risks, infrastructure assets; and management options.

Frankland-Gordon Area : Catchment Appraisal 2003, Tim D. Overheu, Natural Heritage Trust (Australia)

Resource management technical reports

Rapid catchment appraisal to assess the condition of, and future risks to, agricultural and natural resources within the Frankland Gordon area in Western Australia.

Kellerberrin Townsite Test Pumping Results 2003, Louise Hopgood

Resource management technical reports

A production bore in Kellerberrin, Western Australia, was test pumped for 24 hours in August 2003. Data generated by the pumping were analysed with groundwater monitoring, climate and geological data. Laboratory analyses of water samples from the production bore indicate a low pH and very high levels of salinity, hardness, sodium, chloride, iron, sulphate, aluminium and manganese. This is likely to lead to scaling, blockages, staining and/or corrosion of pumps, pipes and pipe fittings.

Groundwater Investigation Buntine-Marchagee Natural Diversity Recovery Catchment, Russell John Speed, M Strelein

Resource management technical reports

A groundwater investigation was initiated in the Buntine-Marchagee Natural Diversity Recovery Catchment 200 kms north-east of Perth, Western Australia in 2002. The investigation aimed to install a regional groundwater monitoring network and characterise the regolith throughout the catchment. Drill site selection was based on establishing a series of transects to enable construction of hydrogeological cross-sections to enhance conceptual understanding of the catchment.

Agricultural Sub-Regions Of The Avon River Basin, Paul D. Galloway

Resource management technical reports

This report identifies, describes and locates nine sub-regions within the land cleared for agricultural uses in the Avon River Basin in Western Australia. The sub-regions are: Darling Range; Dale/Upper Avon; Avon Valley; Yealering Lakes; Mortlock; Northern Sandplain; south-east Lakes; Carrabin; Southern Cross. The sub-regions are described in terms of their distinguishing biophysical characteristics of: soils and related original vegetative cover; general topography; surface and sub-surface hyrdological stus; underlying geology; and rainfall and evapotranspiration range. Current dominant land use, economic drivers and land use pressures are identified for each sub-region.

Infill Groundwater Study Of The Quairading Townsite, S Ghauri

Resource management technical reports

An infill groundwater study of Quairading in Western Australia was carried out as part of the Rural Towns Program Community Bores Project to clarify reasons for localised moisture accumulation in buildings.

Wheatbelt Waterwise = Saltwise : Gardening Guide, John Colwill, Juana Roe

Bulletins 4000 -

As a result of agricultural clearing, many country towns are now feeling the effects of rising groundwater and the salt that it carries. Salinity has been identified as Australia’s number one environmental problem. While most people think that salinity means land lost to agriculture, it also poses a serious threat to many country towns. A report for the Department of Agriculture in 2001 highlighted the need for simple and cost-effective salinity management strategies to be adopted in wheatbelt towns. These included water recycling, revegetation and more efficient water use.

Reference Soils Of South-Western Australia, W M. Mcarthur, Australian Society Of Soil Science W.A. Branch., Department Of Agriculture And Food

Books & book chapters

First printed 1991, Reprinted 2004

Groundwater Trends In The Kent-Frankland Sub-Region, Arjen Ryder

Natural resources published reports

The South Coast Regional Initiative Planning Team (SCRIPT) has divided the South Coast region of Western Australia into six sub-regions. Kent-Frankland covers the catchments of the Frankland, Gordon and Kent' Rivers. Approximately two-thirds (450,000 ha) has been cleared for agriculture. This publication describes the groundwater trends, risk of shallow watertables, and technical feasibility of salinity management on agricultural land.

Soil-landscape zones are spatial units based on geology and geomorphology. Since most groundwater processes in WA are controlled by the geologic and regolith properties, these zones can be used for allocating hydrological attributes, such as groundwater characteristics and trends. The hydrological …

Groundwater Trends In The Albany Hinterland Sub-Region, Arjen Ryder

Natural resources published reports

The South Coast Regional Initiative Planning Team (SCRIPT) has divided the South Coast region of Western Australia into six sub-regions The Albany Hinterland is in the western portion (see Figure 1). It is bounded by the Pallinup River in the east. Stirling Ranges to the north and the Kent River catchment boundary in the west. Two-thirds (580.000 ha) of the sub-region has been cleared for agriculture This publication describes the groundwater trends, risk of shallow watertables, and technical feasibility of salinity management within the agricultural land

Soil-landscape zones are spatial units based on geology and geomorphology. Since most groundwater processes …

Spectacular Recovery In The Ord River Catchment, A L. Payne, I W. Watson, P E. Novelly

Agriculture reports

Regeneration work on severely damaged country in what is now known as the Ord River Regeneration Reserve (ORRR) commenced in 1960. The ORRR is in the East Kimberley area of Western Australia with an associated small area in the Northern Territory. The work included strip contour cultivation and seeding (which proceeded at various levels of intensity during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s), fencing and destocking of cattle by mustering over many years, and the eradication of donkeys.

Pastoral Resources And Their Management In The Pilbara Region Of Western Australia, A M E Van Vreeswyk, Alan Payne, K A. Leighton

Agriculture reports

This report is a product of the rangeland survey of the Pilbara area of Western Australia which was conducted jointly by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Land Administration ... in 1995-1999. This report is primarily intended to be used to assist pastoralists in station management and to assist others involved with the pastoral industry. The survey area includes all of the De Grey, East Pilbara and Roebourne/Port Hedland Land Conservation Districts, part of the Ashburton Land Conservation District.

Groundwater Test Pumping In The Tambellup Townsite, Louise Hopgood

Resource management technical reports

Previous studies have concluded that the township of Tambellup is underlain by a perched aquifer. Test pumping and groundwater modelling indicated that groundwater pumping may be an effective way of protecting townsite infrastructure by lowering the water table beneath the town. This report presents results of the test pumping and provides likely bore yields, prediction of pumping influence and likely optimum production bore spacing.

Sorption Of Phosphorus By Soils : How It Is Measured In Western Australia, Michael D A Bolland, D G. Allen, N J. Barrow

Bulletins 4000 -

Most soils used for agriculture in Western Australia had insufficient indigenous native phosphorus P for the introduced agricultural plant species used in the region so fertiliser P had to be applied. This bulletin covers how water-soluble P WSP fertilisers are made, and how the P in the fertilisers dissolves and reacts with soil in the year of application and in the years after application, how soils sorb P and procedures and soil tests used to estimate the capacity of soils to sorb P.

Groundwater Investigation On Victoria Location 8565, East Binnu, Russell John Speed

Resource management technical reports

Describes a drilling investigation undertaken for the East Binnu area within Victoria location 8565, Western Australia. Groundwater monitoring bores were installed to assess the risk of dryland salinity developing if after clearance of native vegetation, the area is used to grow annual crops and pastures. The investigation confirmed that the risk of further salinity development in this location is extreme.

Moore River : Catchment Appraisal 2003, A Alderman, M Clarke, Natural Heritage Trust (Australia), Moore River Catchment Support Team (Wa)

Resource management technical reports

Using the Rapid Catchment Appraisal process, this report summarises current information for the Moore River catchment, Western Australia. The headwaters of the Moore River commence in Perenjori, Carnamah and Dalwallinu shires and drain southwards through Moora.

Miscellaneous Publication 26/2003 - Benefit -Cost Analysis Of Soil Acidity Research Development And Extension In Western Australia, 1992-93 To 2001-02, Michael O'Connell, Chris Gazey

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

The program of publicly funded soil acidity RD&E' conducted in Western Australia from 1992-93 to 2001-02 is expected to deliver benefits to the farm sector over future years. Benefit-cost analysis indicates that these industry benefits should outweigh the public cost of the RD&E several times over.

Using a 20-year analysis period, the RD&E is estimated to have a net present value (NPV) of $84 million, and a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 5.8. Extending the analysis to 30 years results in an NPV of $135 million and a BCR of 8.7. These large returns are due to a combination of factors: …

Blackwood Catchment : Beaufort Zone (Zone 4) : Catchment Appraisal 2002, Henry Brockman, Blackwood Rapid Catchment Appraisal Team (Wa ), Natural Heritage Trust (Australia)

Resource management technical reports

Using the Rapid Catchment Appraisal process, this report summarises current information for the Beaufort zone, located in the mid to southern part of the Blackwood basin, including parts of the shires of Kojonup, West Arthur, Woodanilling, Katanning, Broomehill, Wagin and Boyup Brook, Western Australia. Assesses the condition of, and future risks to agricultural and natural resources, provides information for reducing those risks and identifies the most suitable options to manage the risk.

Predicting The Effectiveness Of Farm Planning At The Byenup Hill Catchment Using A Groundwater Model, Gregory Paul Raper, L M. Guppy

Resource management technical reports

A catchment model was constructed for the Byenup Hill catchment based on detailed hydrogeological mapping, information on land mapping units and land use collected from landholders. The aim of this work was to assess the likely impact of proposed land management changes to soil salinisation and recharge in the Byenup Hill Catchment.

Successful Field Pea Harvesting, Glen Riethmuller, Ian Pritchard

Bulletins 4000 -

Many thousands of hectares of field peas are harvested trouble free each year. Growers experience together with recent machinery innovations and modifications have solved the majority of harvesting difficulties. Optimum harvesting conditions are in a crop of uniform density on a level soil surface with the machine either working into or across the direction that the crop has been laid by the wind.

To make harvest easier the receival standard for moisture in pulses has been lifted to 14 per cent, which allows harvest to begin sooner when the crop is the range of 14 to 15 per cent moisture. …

Sheep Updates 2003 - Pastures, Ed Barrett-Lennard, Hayley Norman, Robyn Dynes, David Masters, David Henry, Stephen Gherardi, Graham Donald, Asoka Edirisinghe, Chris Oldham, Richard Smith, Joanne Sneddon, Mike Hyder, Andrew Thompson, Kazue Tanaka, Roy Latta, Chris Matthews, Brad Nutt, Angela Loi, Tim Wiley

Sheep Updates

This session covers seven papers from different authors: 1. Pastures for saline land, Ed Barrett-Lennard 1Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Hayley Norman, Robyn Dynes and David Masters CSIRO Livestock Industries, Centre for Mediterranean Agricultural Research, Floreat Park, 2. Feeding value - the essential link between pastures and animals CSIRO Livestock Industries, Centre for Environmental and Life Sciences 3. ‘Pastures from space’ - how do we do it, how well do we do it and what do producers think about it? Stephen Gherardi Department of Agriculture Western Australia Graham Donald Asoka Edirisinghe Dave Henry CSIRO Livestock Industries Chris Oldham Department of …

East Mortlock : Catchment Appraisal 2002, Don Cummins

Resource management technical reports

This report describes the soils, hydrology, natural vegetation and farming systems of the East Mortlock catchment and provides information on the threats to agriculture, infrastructure and natural resources caused by land degradation. East Mortlock covers over 800,000 hectares in the central wheatbelt. Rapid Catchment Appraisal aims to document salinity risk and management options by addressing all threats to the natural resource base, rather than isolating salinity as a separate issue.

West Mortlock Catchment Appraisal 2002, D G. Cummins

Resource management technical reports

This report describes the soils, hydrology, natural vegetation and farming systems of the West Mortlock catchment and provides information on the threats to agriculture, infrastructure and natural resources caused by land degradation. West Mortlock covers over 700,000 hectares in the central wheatbelt. Rapid Catchment Appraisal aims to document salinity risk and management options by addressing all threats to the natural resource base, rather than isolating salinity as a separate issue.

Assessing Storage Reliability Of Farm Dams, D Farmer, N Coles

Resource management technical reports

This report provides information on a method to estimate the volume of water in a farm dam and to determine how long this water will last. During periods of low rainfall, dams with farmland catchments receive limited run-off. Alternative water sources or management strategies need to be considered before the water runs out. The methods provided in this report are intended to provide to the landholder an indication of water supply over short periods only (i.e. in the order of 4-20 weeks).

Groundwater Study Of The Goomalling Townsite, Russell John Speed

Resource management technical reports

A groundwater study was undertaken in the townsite of Goomalling, Western Australia. The study consisted of a drilling program to install a network of groundwater monitoring bores. This report documents background information for the town and its catchment, the hydrogeological investigations, conclusions on the town's salinity risk and recommendations for improved water management.

Farm Management Practice For The Prevention Of Soil Erosion In The Carnarvon Horticulture Area 2003 (Version 1), David Parr

Horticulture research reports

Lower Gascoyne Management Strategy

The Carnarvon horticultural area has suffered considerable erosion damage following flooding of the Gascoyne River.

The purpose of this report is to describe the factors that contribute to soil erosion in the Carnarvon horticultural area (Section 1) and provide guidelines for soil management (Sections 2 and 3) which will assist farmers, local government planners and government bodies with responsibility for resource protection and conservation.

The report:

• Provides detailed information on soil management for intensive irrigated cropping
• Details cropping alternatives to better manage the soil erosion risk
• Identifies appropriate plants for soil stabilisation in a range of …