Wallumbilla (1982-2000) Overview
Overview | Detail | Data
Water erosion is a serious challenge 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, water quality or soil erosion for this region.
A participative process was used whereby a science team and a farm family collaboratively managed a long term site, to maximise inputs from local and technical knowledge.
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 ( 4-6 ha) over a 17 year period (1983-2000). The site was chosen to represent a wide range of clay soils 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 site at 'Fairlands', Wallumbilla (26o 28'S, 149o 06'E) is 45 km East North East of Roma in the Maranoa region.
The site was selected to represent brown clays used for grain production on the western Darling Downs and Maranoa region. |
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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 Cipoletti or trapezoidal
weir, rising stage water sampler and bedload settling pond in front
of weir.
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Catchment conditions:
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Typical soil conditions over the summer rainfall period created
by different tillage practices |
Climate:
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Average Annual Rainfall 560 mm
Summer rainfall is characterised by high-intensity summer storms
and less intense depression rainfall. Average annual evaporation
(Class A pan) is 2000 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. |
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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 Viv and Barbara Taylor,"Fairland", Wallumbilla, near Roma, 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 DM, Wockner GH, Hamilton NA, Rowland P (2007) Impact of soil
conditions on hydrology and water quality for a brown clay in the north
eastern cereal zone of Australia submitted to Aust. J. Soil Research 5_2007
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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