Greenmount (1976-1993) Overview
Overview | Detail | Data
Purpose:
Water erosion is a serious issue for long term production on the eastern Darling Downss of Queensland which is characterised by steep slopes, highly erobibleclay soils and high rainfall intensity. There was no quantification of the impacts of alternative tillage management practice on hydrology, water quality and soil erosion for this region.
The study was designed to quantify hydrology, water quality and erosion, and production impacts of alternative stubble management strategies (burning, disc incorporation, sweep tillage and zero tillage -chemical weed control).
A range of surface conditions were created with different tillage and
crop practices to explore functional relationships between soil surface
conditions, runoff, erosion and soil water storage.
Soil water, runoff, suspended sediment and crop production were monitored on five contour bay catchments ( ~1 ha) over a 18 year period (1976-1993). The site was chosen to represent a cracking clay soils (Black Earths) with high water holding capacity, where fallowing to store water for crop production is an essential risk management tool.
Location:
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The study was located 1.3 km northeast of Greenmount, (151 55'E , 27 46'S,) 500m above sea level and has a northerly aspect. The site was selected to represent cracking black earths (Vertosols) commonly used for grain production on the Darling Downs.
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Catchment configuration:
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Aerial view of the site showing contour bays and
location of flumes for measuring runoff and water quality.
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Catchment outlet with H Flume, rising stage water
sampler and bedload settling pond in front of flume.
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Catchment conditions:
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| A range of soil conditions are created over the summer rainfall period using different tillage practices (chisel tillage, sweep or blade tillage, no tillage and a pasture). These tillage practices influence soil cover and roughness. Crops and pastures with different water use paterns also create a range of soil moisture conditions. |
Climate:
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Average Annual Rainfall 724 mm
The mean summer maximum temperature is 29.5o C (January) and the
winter minimum is 3.3o C (July). Frosts occur from May to October
and their occurrence determines planting dates of winter cereals. |
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Custodians:
This data was collected by staff of the Queensland Departments of Natural Resources and Water and Primary Industries and Fisheries, with support from Land and Water Australia and the Grains Research and Development Corporation. The study was made possible by the generous support of Terry Cuskelly and family, Greenmount, Queensland, Australia.
The primary authors of this data, David Freebairn and Graeme Wockner and the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water would expect due acknowledgment if this data is used in significant further analysis
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David M Freebairn
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Graeme H Wockner
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Key references: (Related publications)
Freebairn, D. M., and Wockner, G. H. (1986). A study of soil erosion
on vertisols of the eastern Darling Downs, Queensland. I. Effect of surface
conditions on soil movement within contour bay catchments. Aust J. Soil
Res. 24, 135 58.
Freebairn, D. M., and Wockner. G. H. (1986). A study of soil erosion
on vertisols of the eastern Darling Downs, Queensland. II. The effect
of soil, rainfall and flow conditions on suspended sediment losses. Aust.
J. Soil Res. 24, 159-72.
Thomas GA, Titmarsh GW, Freebairn DM and Radford BJ. 2007. No-tillage and conservation farming practices in grain growing areas of Queensland -a review of 40 years of development. Aust. J. Experimental Agric. 47(8) in press.
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