Greenwood (Acland) (1978-1984)

Overview | Detail | Data

Water erosion is regarded as a serious issue for long term production in the semi-arid cropping lands of Queensland. There was no quantification of the impacts of alternative management practice on hydrology or water quality and soil erosion for this region.

 

Purpose;

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 four contour bay catchments ( ~0.8 ha) over a 7 year period (1978-84). The site was chosen to represent a brigalow grey clay soils with high water holding capacity, where fallowing to store water for crop production is an essential risk management tool.

Location:

The study was located 25 km north-west of Toowoomba, and 470 m above sea level and has a westerly aspect. (1510 44'E, 270 20'S)   The site was selected to represent Brigalow Grey clay soils used for grain production on the Darling Downs. .

Catchment configuration:

Aerial view of the site showing contour bays and location of flumes for measuring runoff and water quality.	Catchment outlet with90degree V notch wier, rising stage water sampler and bedload settling pond in front of weir.

 

Catchment conditions:

Typical soil conditions over the summer rainfall period created by different tillage practices (chisel tillage, sweep tillage, no tillage and a summer crop (sorghum or sunflower).

Climate:

Average Annual Rainfall 630 mm Summer rainfall is characterised by high-intensity summer storms and less intense depression rainfall. The coefficient of variation of annual rainfall is 20%. Average annual evaporation (Class A pan) is 1900 mm The mean summer maximum temperature is 30o C (January) and the winter minimum is 3o C (July). Frosts occur from May to October and their occurrence determines planting dates of winter cereals.

Custodians:

This data was collected by staff of the Queensland Primary Industries, with support from Land and Water Australia and the Grains Research and Development Corporation. The study was made possible by the generous support of Bill and Shirley Bosse,Greenwood, 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

David M Freebairn	Graeme H Wockner

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.