Land Management Field Manual - Roma District · LAND MANAGEMENT FIELD MANUAL LAND MANAGEMENT LAND...

LAND MANAGEMENT

FIELD MANUAL

LAND MANAGEMENT LAND MANAGEMENT

FIELD MANUAL FIELD MANUAL

ROMA DISTRICTROMA DISTRICT

Queensland Government Technical Report

This report is a scanned copy and some detail may be illegible or lost. Before acting on any

information, readers are strongly advised to ensure that numerals, percentages and details are correct.

This report is intended to provide information only on the subject under review. There are limitations

inherent in land resource studies, such as accuracy in relation to map scale and assumptions regarding

socio-economic factors for land evaluation. Before acting on the information conveyed in this report,

readers should ensure that they have received adequate professional information and advice specific to

their enquiry.

While all care has been taken in the preparation of this report neither the Queensland Government nor

its officers or staff accepts any responsibility for any loss or damage that may result from any

inaccuracy or omission in the information contained herein.

© State of Queensland 1987

For information about this report contact [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Queensland Department of Primary Industries

Training Series QE87001

LAND MANAGEMENT FIELD MANUAL

ROMA DISTRICT

Edited by S. E. Macnish

Land Resources Branch

Queensland Department of Primary Industries Brisbane 1987

restricted circulation

iii

CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES page v

LIST OF APPENDIXES vii

1. IRTRODUCTIOII 1-1

PART I - The Land ResouPces

2. CLIMATE - by S.E. Macnish 2-1

3. GEOLOGY - by B.K. Slater and S.E. Macnish

3. 1 Brief geological history

3.2 Geology - soil rela tionships

4. mE LARD RESOURCE .AREAS ARD SOILS OF THE ROHA.

DISTRICT - by S.E. Macnish

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Methods

4. 3 The Land Resource Areas

4.4 Soils

4.5 How to use the resource data

5. LARD USE ARD DEGRADATIDII Ill mE ROHA.

DISTRICT - by S.E. Macnish and P. Rowland

5.1 Existing land use

5.2 Degrada tion

P.ART II - Land Management

6. HA.IIAGEMEIIT LIKIT.AriOIIS ARD PRACTICES 110R AGRICULTURAL

PRODUCTIOII - by S.E. Macnish and P. Rowland

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Grain and fodder crops

6.3 Horticultural crops

6. 4 Pastures

6.5 Property improvement

6.6 Management for soil fertility and physical

condition

3-1

3-1 3-2

4-1

4-1 4-1 4-2 4-9 4-13

5-1

5-1 5-2

6-1

6-1 6-1 6-6 6-6 6-8 6-9

iv

7. SPECIFICA.TIOIIS FOR RUif...()FF COIITROL STRUcruRES

- by P. Rowland

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Run-off estimation 7.3 The run-off control structures

7.4 Spec ifications for waterways 7.5 Spec if ications for contour banks 7.6 Spec ifications for d iversion banks

7.7 Spe c i f ications for pondage banks

7.8 Spe c ifications for spreader chann els

7.9 Spe c i f ications for g rass strips

7.10 Specifications for pasture furrows

8. AGROIIOMlC PRACTICES FOR EROOIOII COIJTROL - by P. Rowland

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Grain and fodde r crops

8.3 Grazing lands 8.4 Clearing strategies

9. COIISERV.A.TIOII HAIIAGEMKIIT SYSTEMS - by P. Rowland and

S. E. Macnish

9.1 Introduction 9.2 Grain and fodd e r cropping 9. 3 Pastures

9.4 Future conservation management systems

page 7-1

7-1 7-1 7-4 7-5 7-18 7-29 7-34 7-35 7-36 7-37

8-1

8-1 8-1

8-3 8-4

9-1

9-1 9-1 9-3 9-10

10. SPECIFICA.TIOIIS FOR SPECIAL-PURPOSE LAIID USE - P. Rowland 10-1 and S. E. Macnish

10.1 10.2

10.3 10.4 10.5

Introduction Clearing for tracks, fire breaks, se ismic lines

and publ ic util ities

Formed roads

Forestry Pipel ines

11. SUMKARY OF KAIIAGEMKIIT PRACTICES FOR mE SOILS OF THE

ROMl DISTRICT - by P. Rowland and S.E. Mac n ish

12. REFEREIICES

ACKIIOIILEDGEMKIITS

.A.PPEIIDIXES

10-1 10-1

10-2 10-3 10-3

11-1

12-1

12-4

Table

4.1

4.2

4.3

5.1

6.1

6.2

6.3

7.2.1.

7.2.2.

7.2.3.

7.4.1

7.4.2.

7.4.3.

7.4.4.

v

LIST OF TABLES

Major rock un its and the associated soils in the Roma district.

Distinguishing features of the Land Resource Areas of the Roma district.

Distinguishing morphological features of the soils of the Roma district.

Summary of c hemical and p hys ical c haracte ristics of soils of the Roma district:

- Part A Chemical - Part B P hysical

Land use and management p ractices for the Land Resource Areas of the Roma district.

Land capability c lassification for ag riculture for soils of the Roma district.

Suitability of soils of the Roma district for d ryland c ropping:

- Part A - Part B

Grain c rops Fodder c rops

Suitability of soils of the Roma district for introduced pastures .

Area correction factors for the Roma district (Rational Method).

Permeability groups for soils of the Roma district.

Run-off coefficie nts for two land uses in two slope categories for the 1 in 10 and 1 in 100

years storms for the Roma district.

Summary specifications for wate rways in the Roma district.

Vegetal retardance categories for the s oils of the Roma district.

Maximum permissible velocities for the soils of the Roma district.

Settlement factors for soils of the Roma district.

page

3-3

4-3

4-10

4-14

4-15

5-4

6-2

6-4

6-5

6-10

7-1

7-2

7-4

7-6

7-10

7-11

7-12

Table

7.5.1.

7.5.2.

8.1

8.2

8.3

9.1

9.2

9.3

9.4

9.5

vi

LIST OF TABLES

Summary specifications for contour banks in the Roma district.

Drainage design r atings for soils of the

Roma district.

Maximum permissible velocities for soils in the Roma district.

Summary specifications for diversion banks in the Roma district.

Deg ree of erosion protection for the most common crop rotations in the Roma district.

Crop r otation options suitable for soils of the Roma district.

Tillage p ractices sui table for soils of

the Roma district.

K factor s for soils of the Roma district.

Potential stubble levels for soils of the Roma district based on a continuous

wheat rotation.

Interim conservation management systems

for g r ain and fodder cropping for all arable soils of the Roma district.

Recommended management practices for g r azing land s for all Land Resour ce Areas.

Pasture car rying capacity of native and

impr oved pastures.

page

7-19

7-22

7-23

7-30

8-2

8-3

8-5

9-2

9-3

9-4

9-6

9-8

vii

LIST OF APPERDIXES

I Glossary of' major rock types exposed in the

Rama district.

II The classification of' texture contrast and

sandy soils of' the Rama district.

III Detailed description of' representative

profiles of' the soils of' the Rama district.

IV Analytical data f'or soils of' the Rama district.

V Key to the soils of' the Roma district.

VI Ratin gs used f'or chemical attributes of' soils

of' the Roma district.

VII Land Capability Classification f'or agriculture.

VIII Glossary of' common vegetation of' the Rama district.

IX Situations requiring investigation in the Rama

district.

X Description of' sites of' special interest in the Roma district.

1-1

1. IHTBODUCTIOH

Farm planning for optimum production with m1n1mum degradation of the soil resource requires adequate definition of management specifications for both production and erosion control. These specifications should be related to a defined soils base and should be suitable for use by both farmer and farm planner. Such information should be recorded in an easily interpreted and accessible format, and reviewed and updated on a regular basis.

Information of this nature is required for the maintenance of long term productivity of the soils of the Roma district (Map 1).

This Roma field manual is one of a series of manuals detailing the recommended land management practices for the major cropping areas of Queensland. The programme started in late 1979 and has as its objectives:

to provide a resource base for farm planning purposes by defining the major agricultural soils for each district;

to provide specifications for soil conservation measures, agronomic practices and conservation management systems based on those soils defined;

to document this information in Land Management Field Manuals; and

to periodically review and update the resource base and management specifications.

T h e p r o g ramme involves cooperation between officers of Soil Conservation Services, Land Resources and Agriculture branches of the Department of Primary Industries, and other agricultural organisations relevant to the particular district.

The end product of the programme is a series of field manuals for use by officers of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, farmers and other land users.

This manual identifies and describes the Land Resource Areas of the Roma district (Map 3), and collates all available information on the agriculturally important soils together with their current management recommendations. The material contained in this manual will be reviewed periodically and updated both to account for alterations in management recommendations for the soils and to keep pace with technology change.

146 0

\::, '·

I �_)

• f\1\cndip Hill, HS

0 / 24

111 SOliTARl·

0 146

I

' . �, 'Lry!.talbrook HS

::.1, I .,

152 0

Hrl

ll.ERVRr

0 24

0 26 -

Moreton

0 28

Cape Byton Byron B, y

QUEENSLAND

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

SOUTHERN SOIL CONSERVATION ZONE

ROMA DISTRICT

LOCALITY PLAN

SCALE 2 500 000

50 0 50 100

�-------

SIMPLE CONIC PROJECTION

Drawn by J.N. Jeffery

LEGEND

Major Roads •••••••..•.••..•••••••••••••••••••

Rai I ways .................................... ..

Study Area ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

150km

I

Adjoining Field Manual Boundaries WANDOAN

PREPARED by the Drafting Section, Division of Land

Utilisation, Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

CARTOGRAPHIC BASE adapted from maps originally prepared

by the Division of National Mapping, Department of National

Development and Energy, Canberra.

PRINTED by the Government Printing Office, Brisbane, 1983.

Map 1 D.P.I. Ref. No. 83 ·81 -2281

2-1

2. CLIMATE

Detailed climatic data are presented in the Shire Handbooks for Bungil (Tiller 1971), Booringa (Tiller 1973), Bendemere (Stirling 1971) and

Warroo (Beal and Tiller 1971) Shires.

Approximate isohyets were determined from data supplied by the Bureau of Meteorology using a computer plotting program (Rosenthal pers. comm.) and are shown in Map 2. Rainfall histograms and mean annual rainfall for selected centres are also shown.

Mean annual rainfall decreases generally in a south-westerly direction from about 600 mm in the north-east to less than 400 mm in the south-west. Locally higher rainfalls occur in the mountains in the far north of Booringa Shire, though rainfall records are not available. The rainfall is summer dominant and extremely variable. Drought is a common feature of the district.

Mean daily temperatures range from 27 to 30oc in February to 10 to 14oc in July with temperatures greater than 4ooc being moderately common in summer. Frosts frequently occur in winter, particularly in low-lying areas to the south and west.

The district has been subdivided into two broad climatic zones (N.

Hamilton pers. comm.) based largely on the distribution of summer rainfall, with additional consideration given to temperatures and soil type. These zones (shown in Map 2) define the limits of probability of regularly succeeding with summer cropping. Investigations currently underway in agroclimatological modelling will eventually provide better definition of those areas suitable for summer and winter cropping (Hammer et aZ. 1984).

Erosion Index (EI30) data are available for only one centre in the district. The long-term average annual EI30 for Mitchell is 220. Centres outside the mapped area have an EI30 ranging from 248 at Amoollee in the east to 153 for Charleville in the west. By extrapolation of data presented by Rosenthal and White (1980), an average EI30 of 200 to 220 for the district would apply.

QUEENSLAND

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

SOUTHERN SOIL CONSERVATION ZONE

ROMA DISTRICT

CLIMAirE AND CLIMATIC ZONES

20

by S. E. Macnish

SCALE

0 20 40 60 80

Drawn by J.N. Jeffery

REFERENCE

-- 550-- Annual lsohyet (mm)

(578) Mean Annual Rainfall for the Centre (mm)

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: C I i mat i c Zone Boundary

A Climatic Zone (See below for description)

CLIMATIC ZONE DESCRIPTION

A Moderate potential for summer cropping.

100 km

8 Low to very low potential for summer cropping.

NOTE: lsohyets interpreted by K.M. Rosenthal, Development Planning Branch, Division of Land Utilisation, Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

COMPILED by S.E. Macnish, Development Planning Branch, Division of Land Utilisation, Department of Primary Industries, Toowoomba.

PREPARED by the Drafting Section, Div;sion of Land Utilisation, Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

PRINTED by the Government Printing Office, Brisbane,1983.

Map 2 D.P.I. Ref. No. 83-81 -P22BO

3-1

3. GEOLOOY

The geology of the Roma district has been reported in detail in the publications accompanying the following 1:250 000 scale map sheets:

Eddystone Mitchell Homeboin Taro om Roma Surat Springsure

(Exon 1968) (Exon 1971a) (Senior 1971) (Forbes 1968) (Exon 1971b) (Reiser 1971) (Mollan 1967)

3. 1 Brief geological history

Apart from relatively small remnant areas of volcanics, the district exhibits a sedimentary surficial geology. Successive beds of consolidated sediments dip broadly towards the south, leaving the oldest rocks exposed in the folded landscape in the north. Large areas of recent alluvia deposited by the Balonne and Maranoa River systems are dominant in the south.

The oldest exposed rocks crop out in the north, and were deposited on a pre-Triassic landscape dominated by old, metamorphosed sediments and a granitic intrusion in the south-west. Towards the end of the Triassic, a series of freshwater and marine sediments were laid down in a broad trough, culminating in the Clematis Sandstone and the Moolayember Formation (shale).

After a period of erosion, early Jurassic streams deposited the Precipice Sandstone (now exposed in the north-west) followed by the lacustrine and deltaic Evergreen Formation. At this time, the landscape was probably a broad plain with the old granitic hills still protruding in the south-west. The Hutton Sandstone was then laid down by streams over the whole area.

During the middle Jurassic, lacustrine conditions prevailed, and the Injune Creek Group, a series of upwardly-fining sediments including coal measures, was laid down to a depth of over 600 m in places. Minor marine incursions also occurred during this phase of deposition. Late in the Jurassic, streams deposited the Gubberamunda Sandstone, and the poorly sorted Orallo Formation was laid down in lakes. In the west, the Hooray Sandstone and the Southlands Formation were deposited.

Stream and lake deposition continued during the lower Cretaceous, producing the Mooga Sandstone and Bungil Formation. The final phase of the Bungil Formation marks the beginning of deposition in a shallow, enclosed, marine environment. These conditions continued during the deposition of the muddy Wallumbilla Formation. Periods of freshwater deposition later alternated with marine incursions, and siltstone and sandstone dominate the latter group of sediments now associated with the rolling downs areas. A period of deep weathering followed. The surface

3-2

or the landscape weathered to a varying extent depending on the resistance or the sediments, with the coarse, quartzose sandstones being much less

weathered than the labile and riner grained sediments. Indurated

rerruginous and siliceous surrace horizons dominated the landscape, with the weathering rront exceeding 30 m depth in most places.

Streams eroded the uplirted land in the north and deposited extensive

alluvia in the south. In the Miocene, vulcanism resulted in basalt dykes

and plugs in the north, and rlows extruded along the axis or a rault east

or Mitchell. The lava valley rills proved more resistant to subsequent erosion than the surrounding sediments so that landscape inversion

occurred with these basalts now capping elevated ridges or sediments.

Dissection and erosion or the landscape continued and large areas or

the Tertiary surrace were stripped, especially in the north, where rresh

pre-Tertiary rocks are now exposed. Remnants or the weathered surrace remain as isolated ridges and mesas in the central part or the district.

In the south, deposition or material has continued to the present, with

unconsolidated alluvial materials spreading out over large areas into which the present streams are entrenched.

3.2 Geology-soil relationships

Rock type or lithology is a major controlling ractor in the type and

distribution or soils in the district.

The coarse-grained quartzose sediments which are more resistant to

deep weathering are associated with stony li thosols, sandy texture

contrast soils and deep alluvial sands. Steep scarps occur in the north

and where these beds alternate with more weatherable shales near Yuleba, low and orten indistinct scarps are common.

Finer textured rocks including lithic and labile sandstones, siltstones and mudstones, some or which are carbonaceous, are associated

with extensive areas or cracking and non-cracking unirorm clay soils. In

areas where dissection or the landscape has exposed underlying coarser

beds, or higher remnants or an earlier surrace exist, colluvial soils or

mixed materials occur. These soils are orten cracking clays with a surrace strew or coarse siliceous cobbles, or may be associated with areas

or basalt, the latter soils being more rertile and having rounded basalt cobbles.

Soils developed entirely on basalt are mainly shallow stony loams,

though in the north, areas or shallow stony red clays occur.

Some areas or indurated rerruginous and siliceous deeply weathered

sediments are associated with scarps and breakaway country. The soils are

lithosols or shallow sandy soils, orten associated with bendee rorest.

Moderately resistant rerruginised sediments, orten with ironstone and

siliceous gravels, are associated with shallow to moderately deep, gravelly, hard setting, massive red and yellow earths generally with mulga

or poplar box and ironbark communities.

--------"-----------�-----------------------

3-3

Areas associated

of alluvial clays, sands streams with the major

deep cracking and

mixed clayey-sandy their tributaries.

alluvia are Gilgaied

texture contrast soils and deep sands

and

cracking clays, dominate.

clays,

The stratigraphy the soils are shown geological terminology Appendix I.

of the area and the relationship of the geology to in Table 3. 1. As an aid to understanding the

used in this table, a brief glossary is included as

Table 3.1. The major rock units and the associated soils in the Roma district

AGE (Penod)

Quaternary

Tertiary

Lower Cretaceous

TIME B.P_ (million years)

2-65

100-140

ROCK UNIT

Rolling Downs G>:oup includes'

Griman Creek Formation

Surat Siltstone

WaHurnbilh Form;ation

Coreena Member

Donc5ster Member

Bun gil Formation also lnclu<.les·

MinmJ. Member

Nulla wart Sandstone

Claravale Sandstone

Kin gull Member

Moog a Sandstone

GEOLOGICAL MAP SYMBOL

Qa, Qs, C z

Tb, Tmb, T d

'"

"'

"'

"'

"'

"'

"'

''"

'"

m

n.

LXTHOLOGY J\SSOCIATED SOILS

Alluvium: unconsolidated sand, sUt, Cracklng clays, deep sands,

clay and gravel. texture contr<lst sells and

mlxed alluvial soils. some rea earths and red-brown <>arths

Volcanics' basal. t £lows, plugs and minor dolerite-

Quartzose sandstone and conglomerate

Labile sandstone, siltstone, some mudstone.

Siltston�, mudstone, some lab1le sandstone.

S1ltston�, mudstone, some labile sandstone

S1ltstcme, mudstone, fine J.abile

sandstone.

Mudstone, Slltstone, m1nor sandstone.

Labile and sublabile sandstone; some quartzosesandston<>, siltstone and mudstone.

Lithic to quartzosesandstone, some siltstone and mudstone.

F1ne quartzoseto sublabile sandstone• some siltstone and mudstone.

Clayey quartzosesandstone.

Quaruoseto lab1le sandstone; some siltstone and mudstone.

Quartzoseto subJ.abile sandstones, some mudstone and conglome�ate.

S�ony lHhosols (loams) and shallow black and <"ed c<"ackl.ng days I often stony).

Te�tu<"e contrast soils, sands, lithosols �nd minor clays.

Predom1nantly grey and brown cracking clays

PreOominantl.y grey and brown cracking cl.ays, m1nor areas of stony lithosols, texture contust s01ls and noncracking clays. Some areas of red eanhs and red-brown earths also.

3-4

Table 3.1. The major rock units and the associated soils in the Roma district (cont.).

AGE (Period)

Upper Jurassic

Lower Cretaceous

Upper Jurasdc

M•ddle '" Upper Jurass>c

Lower Jurass1C

Triassic

TIME B.P.

{mllllon years)

140-160

140-175

175-195

195-230

[

ROC!< UNIT

Hooray Sandstone

Southlands Form"<tH>n

Kumbarilla Seds

Orallo Forrnahon

Gubberamunda Sandstone

Injunc Creek Group >ncludes·

'�>'Gstbourne Forrn�tlon

Spnngbok Sands1:one

Ad on Sandstone

Bukhead Formation

Eurombah Beds

Hutton Sandstone

Evergreen Forrnadon

includes'

Westgrove Ironstone

Member

Soxvale Sandstone

Member

Precipice Stands tone

Moolayember Foronation

Clemans Sandstone

GEOLOGICAl'. MAl? SYMBOL

"

'""

,,

0.

'"· '"'

,.

""

n.

no

m

'"

'"

..

LITHOLOGY ASSOCIATED SonS

Quartzose to sublabile san<lstone, some clayey J.ab1le sandstone, siltstone

Clayey labile to sublab>.1e sandstone.

Quarttose and sublablle sandstones; some siltstone and mudstone.

! h'h'""'"' '"'•'""''-surface texture contrast soils, deep sands and some lithosols. Minor areas of clay soils formed on the finer textured units.

Lithic and sublablle sandstone; some siltstone and mudston�

Coarse quartzose sandstone, some sublab1le sandstone, conglomerate and siltstone.

Slltstone and mudstone, often carbonaceous and micaceous; sorre hne quartzose to sublab1le sandstone.

Lab1le sandstone, m�nor siltstone and mudstone.

Clayey quartzose sandston<>, often pebbly.

Mudstone, often carbonaceous; some Slltstone, lab1le sandstone and coal.

Clayey lablle sanCstone; some conglomerate, siltstone and mudstone.

Quartzose Mndstone

Quartzose sandstone, some s1ltstone and mudstone.

G�ey and brown cracking clays; m>nor reC earths a�d redbrow� earths.

Texture contrast so>ls,stony lltllosols and deep sands

PreConnnantly grey and bre<m cracklng clays some noncraclang clays. Llthosols and texture contrast so1ls also occur espec>ally on the quartzose um ts.

Oolitic ironstone. Predominantly deep, sandy-

Quartzose sandstone.

Clayey quartzose sa�dstone, siltstone.

Mudstone, lithic sandstone and conglomerate.

Quartzose sandstone, conglomerate, some siltstone and mudstone.

surfaced texture contrast so1ls, deep sands and ll.thosols. Clay soils occur on flner textured units.

Predominantly lithosols and texture contrast soils; clay soils.

l L> thosols, sands and texture coo<mo oodo. ,;ooc moo

of clay soils and often i� assoc1ation with basalt outcrops.

4-1

4. THE LAliD RESOURCE AREAS A1ID SOILS OF THE ROHA DISTBICT

4.1 Introduction

Before agronomic and soil conservation management requirements can be defined for the soils of a district, it is necessary to first define the resource base for that area. This requires an investigation of the g e o logy, soils, vegetation and geomorphology of the area and an appreciation of the way these factors interact to affect land use.

For the purposes of this series of field manuals, the following levels of resource classification have been used so that agronomic and soil conservation management requirements can be documented in relation to a defined soils base.

• Land Resource Area (LRA) . A land resource area consists of a pattern of soils, vegetation and landform developed on common or related geological units.

• Land Unit (LU). A land unit is a unique area of land with a defined range of soil, vegetation and landform attributes.

• Soil Type (ST). A soil type is a three dimensional soil body such that any profile within the body has a similar number and arrangement of horizons whose morphological attributes are within a defined range. All profiles within the soil type have similar parent materials, landforms and vegetation communities. The soil types are mapping scale dependent.

4.2 Methods

4. 2. 1 LRAs

The land resource areas were defined in terms of geology, soil, landform and vegetation similarities at a scale of 1:250 000 and then mapped at 1:500 000 scale. This was achieved by grouping the land systems of the Balonne-Maranoa area (Galloway et aZ. 1974) and validating these groupings by extensive field checking. This method grouped those areas which were predominantly arable, had broadly similar soils and land use and were significantly different from those areas which were of predominantly pastoral value. In this way, the subsequent soils investigation was simplified and the spec ification of management requirements was more easily achieved by concentrating on those areas of greater cropping potential.

4.2.2 Soils

The main emphasis of the first edition of this series of field manuals is on defining the management needs for the major arable or potentially arable soils of each district. Where future land use change results in additional areas being brought into cultivation, detailed investigation will be required to define the soils and their management needs.

4-2

The soils of the Roma district were investigated in three ways:

the soils currently used for cropping were investigated and soil types-land units defined;

the LRAs not cropped but considered s uitable were then investigated to assess potentially arable soils and soil types-land units defined. The level of investigation and soil definition (that is to either soil type or land unit level) varied and depended on whether the soils were considered suitable or only marginally suitable for cropping; and

the soils of those LRAs with primarily pastoral value were defined only in general terms. The soils in these areas therefore, mainly equate to land units. It is unlikely that these soils would ever be used for agriculture due to their degree of physical and chemical limitations to cropping.

Approximately 300 sites were investigated (mainly in the arable areas) to def ine the major soils. Twenty-one profiles, selected as representative of the major soils, were described in detail and sampled for chemical and physical analysis. Photographs were taken of these profiles. Management limitations were documented for each soil type.

4.3 The Land Resource Areas

Twelve LRAs have been defined for the Roma district. Due to the level at w h i c h t h e l a nd systems of Galloway et aL ( 1974) were grouped, transitional areas which have affinities with more than one LRA may occur. These should be grouped with the LRA with which they have greatest similarity.

The distinguishing features of the LRAs in terms of soils, geology, landform, vegetation and distribution are summarised in Table 4.1. The LRAs are grouped under four major physiographic s ubdivisions.

The ROlling Downs. These are the rolling downs or gently undulating plains with slopes of 1 to 3% and modal slopes of 1%. They are formed on predominantly Cretaceous or younger sediments, which range from s iltstones, mudstones and labile sandstones t o younger, unconsolidated, clayey alluvia.

Undulating Plains. The slopes in these areas are more complex and range generally from 1 to 4% with a modal slope of about 2% for the Brigalow Uplands and Bymount LRAs and of 1% or less for the Coogoon LRA. Fringing hills and steeper ridges are often associated with these LRAs and the footslopes may range from 5 to 8%.

These LRAs a r e formed on a w ide range of sediments including siltstones, mudstones, labile sandstones, quartzose sandstones and ferruginised sediments.

4-3

Table �.1. Distinguishing features of' the Land Resource Areas of' the Rcma district

Soils Geology

ROLLIBG llOVIIS LRA

Open DowDs

Predominantly unif'orm, fine textured cracking clays with some poorly developed linear gilgai. Some q uartz cobbles may be present.

Major soil types:

Predominantly on fresh and slightly weathered siltstones, mudstone and labile sandstones.

Rana Downs, Crochdantigh, Knockalong, Waverley Downs, Merino Downs, Mitchell Downs.

Minor soil types: Studley.

Landform

Rolling downs and gently undulating plains, with slopes 1 to 3%.

Vegetation

Open grassland of' Mitchell grass, Queens! and blue grass and white spear grass, sometimes associated with areas of' open woodland of coolibah, whitewood, poplar box, belah or bauhinia.

UJ1DUL.I.TIIG FLAIRS LRA (Slopes 1 to 4% with minor associated hil-ls and ridges) Bl"igaloor Uplands

Predominantly Developed on cracking and labile sandstone, non-cracking siltstone and grey, brown and mudst one, often red clays; minor carbonace ous; red-brown earths also on some and other quartzose texture contrast sandstones. soils; skeletal soils on the ridges.

Undulating plains (1 to 3%), and

short footslopes (to 8%) associated mainly with low hills and ridges in the softwood scrub areas.

Brigalow open forest and brigalow open f'orest in association with belah or poplar box or bauhinia. Areas of brigalow softwood scrub occur in the north and north-east of' the district. Seat tered species

Distribution

Restricted to a discontinuous belt running generally north�est/southeast from Mitchell through south of Roma to Merino Downs.

Widespread distribution in a general arc through the east, centre and north.

Major soil types: such as wilga, sandalwood and myall occur.

Limewood, Wondolin, Eumamurrin, Glenarden

Minor soil types: Belah, Nimi tybelle, Pamaroo, unnamed texture contrast soils and skeletal soils mainly on ridges.

4-4

!able �.1. Distinguishing features of the Land R esource Areas of the Rama district (cont.)

Soils Geology

UIDOLJ!IIG PLAIIS LRA continued Coogoon

Predominantly red earths and red-brown earths-sol odic inter grades. Some skeletal soils, texture contrast soils

Weathered qua�tzose sandstones and f'erruginised sediments.

and massive earths also occur, along with minor grey and brown clays.

Major soil types: Pembroke, Riverview, Karee, Belah.

Minor soil types: Wondolin, Limewood, Nimitybelle, skeletal soils, massive red earths and texture contrast soil.s.

Predominantly Predominantly grey and brown siltstone and non-cracking and mudstone and cracking clays; labile sandstones. minor texture contrast soils.

Major soil types: Nimitybelle, Pa maroo, unnamed grey and brown cracking and noncracking clays not currently used ror cropping.

Minor soil types: Lixnewood, Pembroke and unnamed texture contrast soils.

Landform

Gently undulating plains ( 1 to 2%) and short slopes to 5% associa ted with ridges and crests.

Undulating hills and plains (1 to 4%).

Vegetation

Grassy open woodland of poplar box, silver-leaved ironbark with sandalwood understorey and sane cypress pine. Scattered belah, brigalow and Moreton Bay asb canmuni-ties may also occur ; orten associated with transi tiona! areas or mulga scrub.

Silver-leaved ironbark and poplar box open woodland with sandalwood and Acacia spp. understorey. May also occur in some areas associated with brigalow.

Distribution

Predominantly in the south-east around Surat, with isolated occurrences in the north-west.

Mainly in the north-east.

4-5

T.ab1e •.1. Distinguishing features of the Land Resource-Area of the Roma district (cont.)

Soils Geology

FLAT ALLIJYIAL l'LADIS AIID LE¥l!I!S LilA

Tartulla

Developed on old alluvial floodplains of predominantly clayey alluvia with some sandier deposits.

Predominantly deep, grey, cracking clays with welldeveloped melonhole gilgai, shallow solonised stony brown clays, with minor texture contrast soils and deep sands.

Major soil types: Woodburn, Quibet.

Minor soil types: Karee, Pembroke, unnamed deep sands and texture contrast soils.

Balorme

Predominantly deep cracking clays with minor areas of' deep sandy alluvia.

Major soil types:

Predominantly younger clay alluvia with minor sands on current floodplains and backswamps of the Balonne and other major streams.

Unnamed deep, grey and black cracking clays.

Minor soil types: Unnamed minor sands and sandy texture contrast soils.

Landform

Plains (to 1%) ranging from no gilgai to strongly gilgaied (>1Om wide and of'ten >1m deep).

Plains (to 1%) and levees.

Vegetation

Brigalow-belah open forest and belah dominant cOOJmuni ties on gilgaied areas. Poplar box, sandalwood and belah open woodland occur mainly on nongilgaied areas.

Coolibah and black box grassy open woodland; open grasslands; Moreton Bay a&h and roughbarked apple also occur along streamlines.

Distribution

Mainly in the southern central part of the district.

Conf'ined to lands adjacent to major streams.

4-6

Table .IJ.1. Distinguishing features of the Land Resource Areas of' the Roma district (cont.)

Soils Geology Landform

FLAT JLLOYIAL PLAIBS .A11D LEYEES LRA. continued llaranoa

Predominantly sandy texture contrast soils and deep sands.

lla""ood

Deep sands, texture contrast soils and hardsetting massive earths.

No soils have been defined.

Predominantly sandy alluvia, generally older than alluvia of the Balonne LRA.

Predominantly sandy alluvia.

Plains (to 1%) and some sandy levees.

Low gradient (<1%) old alluvial

plains and levees.

Vegetation

Open forest to open woodland of silverleaved ironbark, poplar box and belah with some cypress pine emergents. Areas of mulga may also occur.

Grassy open woodlands of poplar box, ironbark, rough-barked apple, tumbledown gum and cypress pine. Some areas of m\llga also occur.

Distribution

Mainly confined t o the major streams and their tri·butaries in the west.

Mainly in the south-west associated with floodplains or Mungallala Creek and the Maranoa River.

DISSBCriD RESIDUALS LRl (and associated moderately undulating plains; slopes t o 8%) bby

Mainly uniform, fine-textured black, cracking clays in the south, and stony red clays and red earths along the range. Skeletal soils occur on ridges.

Major soil type; Studley.

Minor soil types:

Developed either on basalt or on ail tstones, mudstones and labile sandstones below basalt capped ridges.

All soils of the Open Downs LRA, and skeletal soils on the ridges. Stony red clays and red earths occur in the north along the ranges.

Short, moderately steep slopes t o 5$ associated with basalt ridges. High level plateaux, dissected hills and ridges along the Great Dividing Range.

Grassy open woodland of mountain coolibah and silver-leaved ironbark. Bloodwood and stringybark open forest occur along the ranges in the north. Poplar box, sandalwood open woodland occurs where basalt influence is least.

Small areas fringing the Open Downs LRA southwest of Roma and near Amby; in the north along the Great Dividing Range.

------------ ··-----------------------···----

4-7

Table 4.1. Distinguishing features of the Land Resource Areas of the Roma district (cont.)

Soils Geology

DISSECTRD RESIDUJLS LRA continued Yul.eba

Skeletal soils and shallow stony texture contrast soils; minor areas of grey and brown cracking and non -cracking clays on the interlayered mudstone beds.

No soils have been d efined.

Struan

Shallow to mod erately deep, hard s e tting massive red earths and skeletal soils.

Major soil type: Lucknow

Minor soil types:

Predominantly coarse grained quartzose sandstones, lithic sandstones and minor mudstones.

Predominantly quartzos e and lithic sandstones.

Unnamed red and yellow massive earths often with ironston� gravels, and skeletal soils.

Landform

Moderately steep plains to 5%, low hills and s carps.

Moderately sloping plains to 4%, low hills and escarpments.

Vegetation

Open f'orest of' poplar box, bulloak, cypress pine and yapunyah. Silver-leaved ironbark and scattered Acacia spp. understorey may occur.

Open f'orest and open wood lands of' poplar box, ironbarks and mulga. Bendee occurs o n ridges and disse cted plateau remnants. Isolated communities of' stunted brigalow may occur.

Distribution

Two main areas in the east and-the north with scattered occurences elsewhere.

Mainly in the south and south-west.

4-8

Table Jt..1.. Distinguishing f'eatures of' the Land Resource Areas of the Roma district (cont.)

Soils Geology

DISSBcrED RESIDUALS LRl continued Herivale

Predominantly stony skeletal soils, texture contrast soils and sands. Minor areas of grey and brown cracking clays.

Major soil types: Unnamed skeletal soils, sands and sandy texture contrast soils.

Minor .soil types:

Slightly weathered mudstones, siltstones and quartzose sandstones.

Limewood, Wondolin, Studley and Nimi tybelle.

Landform

Undulating valley floors (1 to 5%) and rolling to steep dissected hills and scarps. Slopes to 8% in the foothills.

Vegetation

Layered woodland and open forest of stringy-bark, narrow-leaved ironbark, silverleaved ironbark, cypress pine, bloodwood and spotted gum with softwood scrub under storey, minor areas of brigalow open f'orest.

Distribution

Mainly in the north.

Fl.at Alluvia1 PlaiDs and Levees. The slopes in these areas are less than 1% with the exception of some short slopes associated with the highest parts of the older levees. These unconsolidated sediments range from deep sands to cracking clays with areas of mixed sand/clay deposits.

Dissected Residuals. These are complex areas ranging from low hills and ridges, to dissected plateaux and mountains. Small areas of more steeply undulating plains (slopes to 8%) and low gradient valley floors may also occur in this group associated with each of the LRAs.

Lithology ranges from quartzose and lithic sandstones, siltstones, mudstones and labile sandstones to basalt. In some areas, residuals of the Tertiary weathering s urface (duricrust) remain.

More detailed i n formation on crop and pasture s uitability and management practices based on individual soils is given in Part II of the manual.

4-9

11.11 Soils

Twenty soil types were defined for those areas currently used for cropping and for those areas potentially suitable for d ryland grain cropping. Soils which would be suitable for cropping only under irrigation were not investigated in detail due to the low probability at this stage of the development of any sign ificant irrigation scheme.

The soil types are defined at 1:250 000 scale. It is anticipated that more arable soils will be found in the district, particularly in those areas not yet cleared for cropping. However, the 20 soils identified so far, cover the range of soils likely to be found and represent the level to which land use management practices can be practically applied.

A summary of the distinguishing morphological features of the soils of the Roma district is given in Table 4.2. Characteristics including colour, texture profile, structure and depth are listed and other physical or morphological attributes which aid recognition of the soils are discussed. The major chemical and physical attributes of the soils which affect land use are summarised in Table 4.3. The soils are listed in the tables under the LRA with which they are predominantly associated. Due to the scale of mapping and the complexity of soil distribution in the area, particularly with respect to soils associated with brigalow, belah and poplar box communities, it is not possible to accurately define the limits o f soil distribution with respect to the LRAs. These particular vegetation communities may grow on a range of soils (grey clays, texture contrast soils and massive earths) which have developed on a range of lithologies. Thus, some soils may have minor occurrence in other LRAs and where these are known, such occurrences are listed in Table 4.1.

To further facilitate the identification of the major soils, a generalised profile description and colour photograph are provided for each soil other than the Pamaroo and Lucknow. These can be used to aid identification for both augered and exposed profiles. Several land units of predominantly massive earths, deep sands and sandy texture contrast soils have also been identified in the pastoral areas. These soils are only marginally suitable for dryland agriculture with a high level of management and consequently have not been investigated in detail. Soils in these land units can be classified according to the notation system of Vandersee as described in Vandersee and Mullins (1977) and summarised in this report as Appendix II.

The clay alluvia of the Balonne LRA, which are in part suitable for cropping, exhibit considerable variability and have not been assigned to s pecific soil types at this stage. As cropping expands onto these alluvia, further investigation will be required to define the soils and their land use limitations.

Detailed descriptions of profiles representative of the 20 soils defined are given in Appendix III. Analytical data for these profiles are presented in Appendix IV to complement the values given for selected characteristics in Table 4.3. A key to the soils is g iven in Appendix V.

Table 4.2. Distinguishing morphological features of the soils of the Roma district.

4-10

Soil

OPEN DOWNS LRA

Roma Downs

crochdantigh

Waverley Downs

Knockalong

Merino Downs

Mitchell Downs

Soil Classifica"tion

Grey and brown clay; Uq 5.33

Grey clay; Uq 5.23

Grey clay; Uq 5. 26

Grey clay; Uq 5.23

Grey clay; Ug 5. 15

Red clay; Uq 5. 37

Ug 5. 38

Colour

Brown to reddish brown. (7.5 YR 4/4 to 5 YR 3/4)

over brown to yellowish brown 1?.5 YR 5/4, 7.5 YR 4/4).

Brownish grey

( 10 YR 4/1)

over )'�llo.,ish

brown ( 10 YR 4/2' 4/3).

Grey to greyish

brown ( 2. 5 Y 4/2) over yellowish brown (�.5 y 5/4).

Brownish grey to brownish black ( 10 YR 4/1, 10 YR

3/1) over dull yellowish brown

(10 YR 4/2,4/3).

Brownish black

(10 YR 3/2) over dark brown to brown (7.5 YR 3/4, 4/6).

Dark reddish brown (5 YR 3/3,

3/6) over reddish brown

to brown ( 5 YR 4/5, 7.5 YR 4/4).

Texture Profile

Uniform medium to

heavy cracking clay.

Uniform, heary cracking clay.

Uniform, heavy cla y.

Uniform, heavy

cracking clay.

Uni form, medium

to heavy, cracking clay.

Uniform, medium to heavy, cracking clay.

Structure and Surface Characteristics

Self-mulching, moderate, fine granular surface grading to medium

blocky at depth.

Peds are stable

on wetting.

Strong, coarse granular gr�ding to strong, medium

blocky.

Crusting to weakly self-mul ching . Weak, fine granular becoming blocky to

massive at depth.

Self-mulching, moderate, fine granular grading to strong, coarse blocky at depth.

Weakly crusting to

self-mulching, weak, fine granular over fine blocky.

Self-mulching, moderate, fine granular over fine blocky.

Depth

75 to 100 em to weathered parent material.

75 to 100 em to

weathered parent material.

75 to 100 em to


100 to 150 em to


100 to 120 em to weathered parent material. May be 75 em deep in

upper slope sites.

Generally greater than 150 em.

Occurrence

1\ll slope positions on broad convex ridges.

All slope positions on broad convex

ridges.

MOSt slope positions.

occurs mainly in mid to

lower slope positions.

Most slo�

positions on

convex-concave

sl opes.

Mid to lo\oier s lopes on old

valley fills.

Other Characteristcs

This is the most widely distributed

soil of the Open Downs. The reddish brown colours dominate the western areas. Ironstone nodules throughout; gypsum generally occurs by 60 em

depth.

Major feature is coarse structure. Should be

cultivat ed at optimum moisture

conditions otherwise largt> clods forrn which are difficult to break down; Gypsum

generally occurs

by 60 em.

A dense clay pan occurs between

10 to 25 em in both cultivated and virgin soils. The surface slakes readily on wetting and exhibits sand separation.

Develops 'slump' or 'sink holes' on

drying leading to

contour bank and

waterway problems.

Generally some nodular carbonate

below 50 em.

Restricted la"rgely to south-east. May be associated

with areas of bauhinia. May have some surface stone.

Largely restricted to far west on clay alluvial outwash a"reas nea"r the Maranoa River. Large amounts of gypsum at depth.

Table 4.2. Distinguishing morphological features of the soils of the Roma district.(cont.).

4-11

Soil Soil Classification

Colour

BRIGALOW UPLANDS LRA

Limewood

Wondolin

Eumamurrin

Glenarden

1\MBY LRI\

Studley

COOGOON LRI\

Pembroke

Riverview

Belah

Karee

Grey clay; Ug 5.14

Brown clay; Ug 5. 34

Grey clay; Ug 5. 15

Brownish black to grey ( 10 YR 3/1, 4/1) over yellowish brown ( 10 YR 5/3).

Dark reddish brown to browinish black ( 5 YR 3/2 to 7. 5 YR 3/2) over brown ( 7. 5 YR 4/3, 4/6, 5/6).

Brownish black to grey ( 10 YR 3/1, 4/1) over grey ( 10 YR 6/ 1 ) and yellowish brown ( 10 YR 5/6).

Sol odic soil; Brown to greyish Dy 4. 13 brown ( 10 YR

3/1, 4/1), over brown and yellowish brown

Grey clay; Ug 5. 13, Ug 5. 23

Red earth intergrade red-brown earth; Gn 2. 13, Dr 2. 13

Red earth; Gn 2.11

Red-brown earth; Dr 4. 33

Red-brown

( 10 YR 4/4, 5/4).

Brownish black ( 10 YR 3/1,3/2) over yellowish brown (10 YR 4/4, 7.5 YR 4/4).

Reddish brown to (5 YR 3/6) over

reddish brown (5 YR 3/4, 4/4).

Dark reddish brown to reddish brown (5 YR 2/4, 3/4)

over dark reddish brown (2.5 YR 3/6).

Dark reddish brown over reddish brown (5 YR 3/4, 3/6).

Dark reddish earth/solodic brown (5 YR 3/4) soil; over reddish Dr 2.43 brown ( 2. 5 YR

3/4, 5 YR 4/8).

Texture Profile

Uniform, medium to heavy cracking clay.

Uniform, heavy clay. Both cracking and noncracking members occur.

Uniform, medium to heavy clay.

Clay loam over heavy clay, texture contrast soil.

Uniform, heavy, cracking clay.

Sandy clay loam over sandy clay texture contrast soil.

Clay loam to sandy clay loam grading to light clay at depth.

Clay loam over medium clay, texture contrast soil.

Sandy clay loam to clay loam over heavy clay, texture contrast soil.

Structure and Surface Characteristics

Self-mulching, weak fine granular over fine to medium blocky.

Weakly crusting moderate, fine blocky over medium blocky to massive at depth.

Loose to weakly crusting, weak, fine granular over fine blocky.

Massive, weakly hardsetting to crusting surface over medium blocky subsoil.

Self-mulching, weak, medium granular over fine blocky.

Massive, hardsetting surface over weak blocky subsoil.

Massive, weakly hardsetting over massive subsoil. Weak fine blocky structure in deep horizons.

Massive to weak granular over medium blocky subsoil.

Massive, hard-setting surface over coarse blocky subsoil.

Depth

Generally less than 75 em to weathered parent material.



A horizon generally less than 30 em.

Occurrence

Most slope position on gently to moderately sloping plains.

Most slope positions on gently undulating plains.

Most slope positions on moderately undulating plains.

As above.

Other Characteristics

Strongly sodic subsoil. Most extensive dark clay unit of the brigalow open foreSt areas.

Most extensive soil of the brigalow open forest areas. Strongly sadie by SO em over acid, deep subsoil.

Dominant soil of the brigalow softwood scrub areas.

Strongly sodic dispersible subsoil. Occurs in brigalow softwood scrub areas.

100 to 150 em to Mainly mid to Mixed parent weathered parent lower colluvial material and may

material. slopes. overlie either basalt or sandstone. Surface quartz/ basalt cobbles frequently present.

A horizon generally less than 30 em .

Extensive areas Subject t o wind of gently un- erosion when dulating plains.cultivated. Soil

Greater than On plateaux 150 em to and gently un-weathered parent dulating material. plains.

A horizon 25 to 30 em deep and solum generally less than 100 em.

Generally greater than 150 em deep but A horizon is less than 30 em.

Mid to lower slope positions.

Extensive old alluvial flood plains.

physical deterioration and nutrient decline is rapid following clearing and cultivation.

Very well drained; low moisture holding capacity.

Ironstone and/or siliceous gravel layer occurs at the top of the B horizon. Moderate amounts of soft carbonate at 40 to 60 em .

Strongly bleached A

2 horizon. OCcurs

as the mound profile in some areas of Woodburn soi 1 . Prone to streambank erosion.

Table 4.2. Distinguishing morphological features of the soils of the Roma district. (cont.).

4-12

Soil

TARTULLA LRA

Woodburn

(Depression

Profile)

Qui bet

BYMOUNT LRA

Nimi tybelle

Pamaroo

STRUAN LRA

Lucknow

Soil

Classification

Grey clay;

Ug 5. 16

Solonised

brown clay

soil;

Uf 6.31

Grey clay; Ug 5. 24

Sol odic

soil;

Db 1. 33

Red earth;

Gn 2.11

Colour

Brownish grey

to greyish black

( 10 YR 4/1, 5/1)

over greyish

brown ( 10 YR

6/2).

Brownish black

to brown ( 7. 5 YR

3/2, 3/3) over

brown ( 7. 5 YR

4/3, 5/4).

Brownish grey to grey ( 10 YR

4/1, 5/1) over

yellowish

brown subsoil.

( 10 YR 6/2).

Brown ( 10 YR

3/2, 7.5 YR

4/3) over

yellowish

brown ( 7. 5 YR

5/4, 10 YR

5/4, 6/4,

7/4).

Dark reddish

brown ( 2. 5 YR

3/4) over

reddish brown

(7.5 YR 4/4,

4/6).

Texture

Profile

Uniform, heavy

cracking clay.

Uniform, medium

to heavy clay;

non-cracking in

virgin state but

cracks following

cultivation.

Uniform, heavy

cracking clay.

Sandy loam

over medium to

heavy clay,

texture con

trast soil.

Sandy clay loam

or clay loam

grading to

light·

clay.

Structure and

Surface

Characteristics

Weak fine granular

to fine blocky

over coarse blocky

to massive.

Massive, hardset

ting surface which

becomes loose and

powdery when dis- '

turbed, over coarse

to medium blocky

subsoil.

Massive extremely hardsetting surface

becoming coarse

blocky with

depth.

Massive, hard

setting surface

over blocky to

columnar subsoil.

Massive, hard

setting surface

over massive

subsoil.

Depth

Greater than

150 em.

Less than 150 em

to weathered

parent material but may be as

shallow as

60 em.

Occurrence

Broad alluvial

floodplains.

Extensive old

alluvial

floodplains.

Less than 150 em Most slope to weathered positions on

parent material. moderately

A horizon

generally less

than 20 em.

Less than 75 em

to ferruginised

sandstone.

undulating

plains.

As above

On moderately

sloping

plains, low

hill and

crests above

escarpments.

Other

Characteristics

Melonhole. gilgai

(dimensions up to

15 m diameter and

1m depth) . Karee soil may form the

mound profile.

Should be cultivated

at optimum moisture

conditions.

Difficult soil to

work; strongly

sodic and low to

very low moisture

holding capacity.

Quartz cobbles are

common.

Strongly sodic

subsoil. Difficult

to cultivate and

slakes on wetting

to produce a

hardsetting, dry

surface. Low

moisture holding

capacity.

Sodic dispersible

subsoil. Occurs

in brigalow/poplar

box areas.

Subject to wind and

water erosion

removing shallow

A horizon if

cleared. Low

nutrient status.

Occurs in associat

ion with Pembroke

soil in some areas.

4-13

4.5 How to use tbe resource data

To u s e the management information reported in Part II of this f ield manual, it is first necessary to determine the soil type for which the management information is required. Until experience is gained with the soils of the district, this is best achieved by the following method.

Step 1. Refer to LRA map (Map 3), locate s i te, note LRAs at and s urrounding the site on the map.

Step 2. Compare the f ield site with the description given for the LRA in Table 4. 1.

(a) Description matches - go to Step 4.

(b) Description does NOT match - go to Step 3.

Step 3. Determine which of the four physiographic units given in Section 4.3 best describes the site and use Table 4.1 to identify the LRA; go to Step 4.

(Rote: It is important to realise that Map 3 shows a generalised d i s t ribution of the LRAs only, due to the mapping scale of 1:500 000. Therefore, s mall areas of any of the twelve defined LRAs could occur on the property being planned without being delineated on the map).

Step 4. Having determined the correct LRA, check Table 4.1 again to see what soil types have been des cribed for that LRA.

Step 5. Dig a hole, use the soil key (Appendix V) and soil descriptions to determine the soil type. Check with the colour photograph to see that the soil appearance matches the soil type.

(a) Soil matches photo and description - Go to Step 7.

(b) Soil does NOT match photo and description - Go to Step 6.

Step 6. If the soil does not match the photo and the description, try the soil key (Appendix V) again. If the soil still does not match any of the described soils, record this site and all other occurrences of the same soil. When a sufficient area has been found, this soil should be described and where soil conservation and agronomic management requirements differ from the established soils, these should be def ined.

Step 7. Refer to PART II of the manual for all soil conservation and agronomic management requirements for that soil type.

4-14

Table 4.3. Summary of chemical and physical characteristics of soils of the Roma district. Part A - Chemical characteristics

Soil Chemical Characteristics

Total Acid Bicarb. 1\epl. Surface, Salini;y SOdicity ' E><tractable E:><tra<;:table F>otassi\lm ,, (Cl% I Category

Phosphorus Phosphorus I 1:51 Category # •

Roma Downs c� Medi1.1rn � ffigh to 7.5 to 8.0 Low to Sodic to "ery high medium strongly

Ca>=- c sodic below 30 em.

C,-ochdantigh Coo Coo Very low Very high 7.0 to 7.5 very low Sodic t0 to low Cat. 0 strongly

soillc below SO em.

Waverley Downs w' Medium Very low Very high ;.o Very low Sodic below to low Cat. 0 60 em.

Knockalong wo High c= Very hlgh u Coo Sodic below Cat. 0 30 em.

Merino Downs C= wo Very low Very high 7.0 to 7.5 LOW "-0 Sodic l>elow meJium 50 em.

Cat. 0

Mitchell Downs Coo C= Very low Very high u Medulm to sodic to to medium to m"dium high at strongly

depth sodic beJ.o"' Cat. 0 30 ern.

Studley LOW to very lo"' High to 7.0 to 7.5 Low to Sadie below high to low very high ve�y low 50 ern.-

Cat. 0

l.ime\oiOOd Very low Hi.gh 7.0 to 7.5 Medium to Sodic to

high bel010 strongly "� sodic below Cat. c 30 ern.

Wondolin c= Medium to Medium High to 7.5 to 8.0 Medium to Sodic to hi<jh very hi<jh high belO>< stron<Jly

20 em sadie below C<tt. ' 30 em.

llumamurrin "" Medium Low to High 7.5 to 8.0 Very low Sadie to Medium C<tt. 0 strongly

sadie below 30 ern.

Glenarden Low to High Medium High to 7.5 to 8.5 High �n Sodic to medium very high lower A strongly

horizon sod�c below Cat. 0 - 30 ern

Cat. ;

Nimitybelle C= Low to "" High to u Medium Soillc to

medium very high below strongly 30 em sodic bel.ow Cat. 0 50 ern.

Pamaroo w" very low very low Med>um 6.0 to 6.5 w. Sadie B Cat. 0 hod2on.

Ka.ree c= Very low Very low High 6.0to6.5 Medium to Sodic to high below strongly 50 em sodic B Cat. 0 horizon.

r<iverv�ew � Low to Low to Very h�gh 6.5 �0 7.5 very lew Non-sadie

very h'igh high Cat. "

wo LOW to co' High 7.0 to 7.5 LOW to Sodi<: to Belah

rned1um medium strongly below sodi� B '"� hori�on. Cat. 0

c� very low very low H�gh to 5.5 to 6.0 very low Non-'Sodic P"mb.-oke

to low t o low very high Cat. 0 to sodie

in d.,ep subsoil.

Medium t o M.,<hurn Very high 0.0 Very low Sod�c in Woodburn Cat. 0 deep high

subsoil.

C= Medium to Medium to High 6.5 to 7.0 Medium to Strongly QUi bet

\ligh high h�gh below sodic by 20 em 30 ern.

Cat. 0

Lueknow c� Very low Very >= Medium 4.5 to 5.0 Very low Non�sodic Cat. 0

All ratings for chemical characteristics are based on

Bruce and Rayment ( 1';182) Salimty and Sodicity cat�gories after Northcote and Skene ( 1972)

A sum:mary of these ratings >S given Ht Appen<lix VI

Table 11.3.

Soil

Roma Downs

Crochdantigh

Waverley DoWns

Knockalong

Merino Downs

Mitchell Downs

studley

Lirnewood

Wondolin

Eumamurrin

Glenarden

N�mitybelle

Pamaroo

�"""

Rivervie"'

Belah

Pembroke

Woodburn

Qui bet

I.ucknow

4-15

Summary of chemical and physical characteristics of soils of the Roma district. Part B - Physical characteristics

Depth c�>

L"ss than )00

Less than '"

75 to 100

100 to 150

Les's than ""

)00 )O '"

Less than

"

>00 lo "0

�" than >00

Less than ""

Less than ""

A honzon less than "

A horizon less than

100 to 150

(may ""

"

occasionally greater than 150).

A horizon l"ss than 30

Sol1.1m less than 100.

100 to 150

Greater ttian ''"

;:.ess than 120 but often hss than 75.

Less than 75

Surface Characteristics

Moderate, fin" granular, stable aggregates.

Strong, coarse surface structure.

Slakes readily and exhibits sand separation.

Fine granular; exhibits sinkholes.

weak, very fine granular.

MOderate, fine gran\llar.

Fine gram,llar self m\llching.

Fine granular to crusting.

Loose to crusting.

Loose, weakly crusting.

cr,sting to loose; may hardset after cult1vation.

Hards«ttln<J but loose when c1.1ltivated dry.

Hardsettbg and highly .,rodible.

Hardsetting

Hardsetting but loose when dry. Wind erodible.

cr.,sting but loose when dry.

Ha.rds.,tt:ln':[; loose and wind erodible when dry.

Cracking, self mulching.

Hardsetting but loose wh�n dry. May become crackin<j with cultivat1on.

Hardsettint;�, masslve; wind erod1ble when d1sturbed.

Physical Characteristics

Workab�lity

Moderat.,ly easy.

!' an; difficult to prepare seedooo.

Diffic\llt to easy. Ass0c1ated with shallow hard �"·

Moderate; difficult if too moist.

Easy

Easy; sllo\lld not b., cultivated when dry.

Easy; do not cult�vate "'hen dry.

Easy

Mod.,rately easy

D�fficult

Easy to difflcul t depending on depth of A horizon.

Difficult. IJse of tined implements recommended.

Easy

�.,

Difficult; becomes cloddy " worked too moist.

Difficult

Difflcult

PAWC

Low to fan.

Fan to moderate.

!'air to low.

l'alr

Low to fair.

Low to fair.

!'air

Low to f"H.

!'air

'"' >o fair.

c� 00 very '�·

Moderate

'"'

very low

Stone

Occasional surface stone.

Stone free.

Stone free' occasion<tl gravel.

Stone free.

Some stone.

Stone free.

Some basalt and quartz cobble.

Occasional cobble.

Occasional stone.

Sto::te free.

Stone free.

stone free.

Stone free.

Stone free.

Stone free but ironstone gravel.

rronstone '"'

sillceo1.1s gravel.

stone free.

Stone free.

Quartz cobbles

J:ronstone gravel

Profile Drainage

Moderate -often gypsum at depth.

Imperfect to moderate (pan l.

Imperfect

).)oderate.

well drained.

Moderate

Moderate

J:mperfect

Imperfect to fair.

Poorly permeable subsoil.

Poorly permeable subsoil and low infiltratlon rate.

Poorly permeable subsoil.

Permeable subsoil but low infiltration rates.

Well drained.

Moderate >o fair.

very well drained,

'� infiltration rate when hardset.

Imperfect lgilgaiedl

Poor

very well dra>ned but low infilt-ration wh«n hardset.

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5-1

5. LARD USE .IIID DEGBADATIOII Ill THE ROHA DISTRict

5.1 Existing land use

5. 1.1 Pastoral

Cattle breeding and wool growing are the major enterprises, with grain cropping being largely restricted to the higher rainfall areas. Cattle grazing, which accounts for some 5% of the State's beef herd, is mainly undertaken to the north of the railway line. Approximately 77% of all sheep in the district, some 7.5% of the State's flock, are grazed in Warroo and Booringa Shires. Many properties are run as mixed grain and grazing enterprises.

5. 1.2 Cropping

The area under cultivation has fluctuated seasonally ranging from about 67 500 ha in 1968 to an estimated 106 300 ha in 1982. In recent years, there has been considerable expansion of grain growing into what are generally regarded as the more marginal cropping areas of the district. These areas are marginal for long-term grain cropping both in terms of rainfall and soil physical and chemical factors. The area of cropping peaked in 1971 at 120 000 ha. Wheat is the major crop grown although in recent years there has been an increase in the amount of grain sorghum planted. Barley, sunflower, safflower and mung beans are grown to a lesser extent. Oats and forage sorghums are the main grazing crops. District average wheat yield is 1 t/ha and sorghum yield is 1.2 t/ha. Yields are highly variable and are dependent on soil type and rainfall distribution. Sorghum cannot be reliably grown in climatic zone B as shown in the climate map (Map 2).

5.1.3 Sown pastures

An estimated 135 000 ha of sown pastures exist in the district. The potential for pasture improvement has not been fully exploited and little work has been done with introducing legumes into pastures.

5. 1. 4 Forestry

There are some 284 127 ha of State Forest distributed as follows:

Booringa Shire Bendemere Shire Bungil Shire Warroo Shire

151 078 ha 57 075 ha 57 266 ha 18 708 ha

Cypress pine is the only timber milled in the area with mills located at Mungallala, Mitchell, Injune, Roma, Yuleba, Surat and Miles. Hardwood is taken from north Bungil and Bendemere Shires for milling at Redbank.

5-2

5. 1. 5 Small crops

Hobby farms account for approximately 8000 ha. Small areas of melons, citrus and grapes are grown around Roma, Hodgson and Wallumbilla. A local winery, Roma Villa, was established on once extensive vineyards near Roma in 1863.

5. 1. 6 Underground water

Underground water is found throughout the district. Good quality water supplies are found in the Mooga and Gubberamunda beds, with the latter providing the larger supplies but generally at a greater depth. Subartesian, supplies from these beds are available in the north, while artesian supplies with greater quantity and better reliability exist in the south.

5. 1. 7 Mining

There are several wells in the district producing both oil and gas. The gas is pumped to Brisbane in underground pipes after being collected at a cent ral location by feeder pipes. Condensate is extracted at the collecting point and at individual wells not connected by pipes. There is a small refinery at Roma which produces petrol for local consumption.

Coal was mined in the past at Injune, but mining operations h ave now ceased. Quarrying of bas alt for road works and railway ballast is undertaken at Amby.

A brief summary of the main aspects of land use and land management is given in Table 5. 1.

5.2 Degradation

5.2. 1 Erosion

Sheet, rill and golly erosion. Sheet, rill and gully erosion occur on all soils with the degree of erosion being influenced by soil type, landslope and slope length. The Woodburn soil only presents erosion problems after the melonhole gilgai h ave been levelled.

Tunnel erosion. Tunnel erosion occurs in the Pamaroo and in some Limewood soils as well as in those texture contrast soils with di spersi bl e subs oils. The Knockalong soil produces 'slumpholes' which do not appear to lead to tunnelling. However, the surface falls into a subsurface cavity leaving a large hole which presents design problems for banks and waterways. This characteristic appears to be accentuated following prolonged dry spells when subsoil moisture is severely depleted.

Wind erosion. Wind erosion is associated soil after prolonged cultivation and with Quibet, K aree, Pembroke, Riverview, the unnamed texture contrast soils.

with the Mitchell Downs the Eumamurrin, Pamaroo, massive earths and some

5-3

Flood erosion. Flood erosion is a minor problem associated with the Balonne, Maranoa and Macwood LRAs and, to a lesser extent, Tartulla LRA.

Surf'ace ef'f'ects. The surface soil of several soils is affected by cultivation, clearing and overgrazing. The Waverley Downs soil has a naturally occurring hard pan between 10 and 25 em deep which may be further aggravated by long-term cultivation, particularly with discs or blade ploughs. The use of tined implements is recommended to overcome this hard pan problem. In addition, the surface soil of the Waverley Downs slakes rapidly on wetting and develops a weak crust with sand separation. This slaking characteristic poses problems for bank and artificial waterway construction.

Structural decline resulting in surface crusting has been observed in the Mitchell Downs soil after long-term cultivation. Stubble retention, reduced cultivation and low grazing pressure are necessary to reduce the problem.

Hard setting occurs in many soils and this is often aggravated by excessive cultivation which destroys any remaining structural units, particularly if' the soils are cultivated when dry. Hard setting occurs in the Nimi tybelle, Glenarden, Pembroke, Riverview, Karee, Qui bet, and occasionally in the Wondolin and Limewood soils. It also is a feature of the massive red and yellow earths and the texture contrast soils of the Struan, Maranoa, Yuleba, Macwood, and Merivale LRAs, although soils in these LRAs are not recommended for cultivation.

5.2.2 Salinity

At this stage, salinity is not a major problem in the district. Primary salinity is associated with most of the soils of the Open Downs, Brigalow Uplands, Coogoon, Bymount and Tartulla LRAs. Any loss of topsoil would thus expose the sodic/saline subsoils and result in poor germination or growth and leave the soil susceptible to erosion. Careful management is required to reduce the risk of exposing the subsoil.

5.2.3 Timber clearing

Restrictions on timber clearing are required for several of the soils particularly in Coogoon LRA, either to reduce slope length for water erosion or to ensure that windbreaks remain to prevent wind erosion. Timber should also be left on the ridges in the B rigalow Uplands, Bymount and Merivale LRAs to prevent outbreaks of secondary salinity. Timber should not be cleared in drainage lines on Pamaroo soils or in the Maranoa LRA. Erosion due to clear bulldozing of seismic lines associated with oil and gas exploration has occurred in all LRAs. Techniques exist to minimise such damage and should be followed in all situations. Overclearing and excessive ringbarking in the past on most LRAs without adequate follow-up management have led to serious soil erosion. Overgrazing and drought have often accentuated the problem by further decreasing surface cover. Natural regeneration in this area is slow and tenuous.

5-4

5.2.4 Subdivision

Subdivision or large pastoral holdings into small and uneconomic portions has led to gross over-utilisation or the country. This problem is common in the Wallumbilla and Injune areas on Brigalow Uplands and Bymount LRAs. Soil physical and chemical deterioration have occurred due to overgrazing, and to cultivation or soils not suitable ror long-term cropping.

Table 5.1. Land use and management practices ror the Land Resource Areas or the Roma district

Land Resource Area

Open Downs

Brigalow Uplands

Am by

Coo goon

Land use/land management

Predominantly grazing or sheep and cattle mainly on native pastures and crop residues. Suitable ror wheat and sorghum with only occasional summer cropping possible west or Muckadilla-Surat (see Map 2). Subsoil sodici ty occurs in all soils. Soil conservation measures and surrace management practices are required.

Pred o m inant ly g r azing or cattle on native pastures. Suitable ror pasture improvement mainly with burrel grass, winter cropping and opportunity summer cropping or mainly sorghum. Potential exists ror rurther expansion ror grain cropping. Subsoil sodicity is common. Soil conservation measures and surrace management practices are required.

Predominantly wheat in the Amby area and to the s o u t h with only occasional summer cropping possible. Mainly low intensity grazing or cattle on native pastures. Some areas in the north are suitable ror cropping but lack or access to major c e n t res restricts current expansion. Soil conservation measures and surrace management practices are required.

Mainly grazing or sheep and cattle on native pastures with currently some expansion or winter cropping. Unsuitable ror continuous winter cropping without a high level or management. Generally unsuitable ror summer cropping due to 1 ow s o i l moisture. Sui table ror pasture improvement. Some soils susceptible to wind erosion. These soils are marginal for cropping a n d require soil conservation measures and surrace management practices; a pasture phase is desirable.

5-5

Table 5.1. Land use and management practices for the Land Resource Areas of the Roma district (cont. )

Land Resource Area

Tartulla

Balonne

Bymount

Maranoa

Yuleba

Macwood

Struan

Merivale

Land use/land management

Predominantly grazing of sheep and cattle on n a t i v e p a s t u r e s . Suitable f o r p a s t ure improvement. Limited winter cropping at present but sui table where flooding is not a hazard. G ilgai cause problems with cultivation and pending. Subsoil sodici ty is common. Surface management practices are required.

Mainly grazing of sheep and cattle on native pastures. Suitable for pasture improvement, wheat, oats and limited summer cropping. Limited use for irrigated crops such as cotton, but potential exists for expansion. Flooding is a moderate hazard. Surface management practices are required.

Suitable m ainly for grazing of native and improved pastures. Some potential for limited w i n t e r c r o p p i n g w it h sound c o n s e r v a t i o n management. Subsoil sodici ty is common. Soil conservation measures and surface management practices are required.

Grazing of native pastures and fodder trees but suited to pasture improvement, particularly with buffel grass. Limited areas of cultivation for w i n t e r forage c rops, but low reliability. Streambank erosion can be a problem.

Major use is State Forest and apiculture. Some low intensity grazing leases on native pastures in the State Forests.

Predominantly grazing of sheep and cattle on n a t i v e p a s t u r e s . Suitable for pasture i m p r ovement in s o m e a reas. Very limited potential for cultivation unless irrigated.

Suitable for low intensity grazing of sheep and cattle, mainly on native pastures and fodder trees. Limited potential for pasture improvement with careful management. Rapid decline and soil physical deterioration follows c learing or overgrazing.

Low intensity grazing of cattle on mainly native pastures. Suitable in some areas for pasture improvement with careful management.

6-1

6. HAHAGEMERT LIHITATIOIIS AIID PRACTICES FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIOII

6.1 Introduction

The suitability of the soils of the Roma district for crop and pasture production is defined and the management requirements for optimum production are discussed. Where soils have similar agronomic and soil c onservation management requirement s , similar recommendations and practices apply.

There is a limited range of crops suitable for the district due largely to climatic effects. The 20 soils defined broadly represent the range of soils used for cropping in the district. Potential differences in crop yield, agronomic and soil conservation management requirements for the maintenance of long-term productivity are thus covered by reference to these representative soils.

Management limitations for agricultural use for each soil are listed in Chapter 11. Limitations specifically related to soil physical and chemical characteristics have already been covered in Table 4.3. The soils have been classified according to their capability and to their suitability for a range of land uses according to the 14 limiting factors defined by Rosser et aZ. (1974) as shown in Table 6. 1. The description of the type of limiting factor and the degree of limitation of each, together with the subclass, are given in Appendix VII.

6.2 Grain and f'odder crops

The main grain crops grown are wheat, barley and sorghum. safflower, chickpeas, mungbeans, cow peas, oats and forage grown to a lesser extent. Crop suitability for the soils district is presented in Table 6.2.

Sunflower, sorghum are of the Roma

Roma Downs, Wondolin, Eumamurrin, Knockalong, Crochdantigh and Waverley Downs soils are generally suitable for long-term grain cropping. Knockalong and Crochdantigh soils have crop establishment problems due to the coarse surface structure of the soil. Waverley Downs soil slakes and seals on wetting. Soil loss can be maintained at acceptable levels on these soils provided contour banks and waterways are used and stubble management practices adopted.

Mitchell Downs, Riverview, Merino Downs and Studley soils have summer cropping limitations due to low and irregular summer rainfall as they occur mainly in Climatic Zone B (see Map 2). A high erosion risk, particularly in summer, exists for the Glenarden, Limewood, Eumamurrin, Belah, Pamaroo, Nimitybelle and Karee soils.

6-2

Table 6.1. Land capability classification for agriculture for soils of the Rana district

Soil Class Limitation and subclass

OPEII DOVIJS LRA

Rana Downs IV c3 m3 d3 n2 s2 e2-3

Crochdantigh III c3 m3 p3 n2 s2 k2-3 e2-3

Waverley Downs III c3 m3 p3 n2 s2 k2-3 e2-3

Knockalong III c3 m3 P3 n2 s2 k2-3 e2-3

Merino Downs III c3 m3 n2 s2 e2-3

Mitchell Downs III c3 m3-4 p2 s2 e2-3 a2-3

BRIGALOil UPL.ARDS LRA

Limewood III-IV c3 m3-4 d3 n2 s2 e3

Wondolin III c3 m3 p2 n2 s2 e2-3

Eumamurrin III-IV c3 m3-4 n2 s2 e3

Glenarden I-V c3 m3-4 d3-4 p3 n2 s3 k2 e3

AJtiY LRA

Studley III c3 m3 n2 e3

COOGOOII LRA

Pembroke IV c3 m4 p3 n3 k3 e2-3 a3

Riverview IV c3 m3-4 p2 n2 k2 e2 a2

Belah III c3 m3 p2 n2 s2 k2 e3

Karee IV c3 m4 p3 d3-4 n3 s3 k4 e4 a3

TAR'l'ULLA LRA

Woodburn III c3 m3 p2 n2 s2 k3 g3 w3 f2

Qui bet VI c3 m3-4 d4 p3-4 n4 s4 k4 e4-6

6-3

Table 6.1. Land capability classification for agriculture for soils of the Roma district (cont.)

Soil

BDI>UIIT LRA

Nimitybelle

Pamaroo

STRU.AI!I LRA

Lucknow

BALOIDIE LRA

Unnamed cracking clays

MARAIIOA LRA

(i) deep sands

(ii) sandy texture contrast soils

YULFBA LRA

Skeletal and shallow texture contrast soils

MAGWOOD LRA

(i) deep sands

Class

IV

IV

VI-VII

III

VI-VIII

VI-VIII

VII

VI-VIII

(ii) texture contrast VI-VIII soils

(iii) massive earths VI-VIII

MERIVALE LRA

(i) skeletal and sandy VIII texture contrast soils

(ii) clays III-IV

Limitation and subclass

c3 m3-4 p3-4 n3-4 s3 k3 e4

c3 m4 p3 n3 s3 k3 e4

c3 m5 d4 p3-4 n4 k4 e4-6 a3-4

c3 m3 p3 n2 s2 k2-3 g2-3 w3 f3

c3 m6 p2-3 n3 k2-3 e4-6 f2 a3

c3 m6 d3-6 P3 n3-4 s3-4 k3 e6 a3

c3 m6 d4-6 p3-4 n4 t6 k4 r5 e6

c3 m6 p2-3 n3 k2-3 e4-6 f2 a3

c3 m6 d3-6 p3 n3-4 s3-4 k3 e6 a3

c3 m5 d4 p3-4 n4 k4 e4-6 a3-4

c3 m6 d4-6 p3-4 n4 t6 k4 r5 e6

c3 m3-4 d3 n2 s2 e3

6-4

Tabl.e 6.2. Suitability of soils of the Roma district for dryland cropping. Part A - Grain crops

Grain crops

LRA Soil W heat Barley Sorghum Sunflower Safflower

OPEN DOWNS Ram.a Downs s s s s s

Crochdantigh s s s s s

Waverley Downs s s s s s

Knockalong s s s s s

Merino Downs s s LS* LS* LS* Mitchell Downs LS LS LS* LS* LS*

BRIGALOW UPLANDS L1mewood s s LS LS s

Won dol in s s s s s

Eumamurrin s s s s s

Glenarden s s LS LS s

AMBY Studley s s S** S** s

COOGOON Pembroke LS LS NS NS NS Riverview s s LS NS s

Belah s s LS* LS* s

Karee LS LS NS NS NS

T ARTULLA Woodburn s s LS LS s

Qui bet LS LS NS NS NS

BYMOUNT Nimitybelle s s LS LS s

Pamaroo LS LS NS NS LS

STRUAN Luclmow NS NS NS NS NS

BALONNE Unnamed cracking clays s s LS LS s

MARANDA Deep sands and sandy NS NS NS NS NS texture contrast soils

YULEBA Skeletal and shallow NS NS NS NS NS

texture contrast soils

MAGWOOD Deep sands and sandy NS NS NS NS NS texture contrast soils and massive earths

MER IV ALE (i) skeletal and sandy NS NS NS NS NS texture contrast soils

(ii) clays s s LS LS s

S - suitable * This becomes NS where t his soil occurs in climatic zone B LS - limited suitability •• Not suitable for summer cropping in climatic zone B NS - not suitable

Table 6.2.

LRA

OPEN DOWNS

BRIGALOW UPLANDS

AMBY

COOGOON

TARTULLA

BYMOUNT

STRUAN

BALONNE

MARANDA

YULEBA

MACWOOD

MERIVALE

s - suitable

6-5

Suitability of soils of the Roma dist rict for dryland cropping. Part B - Fodder crops

Fodder crops

Soil Chick peas Mung beans Cow peas Oats Forage sorghum

Roma Downs s s s s s

Crochdantigh s s s s s

Waverley Downs s s s _s s Knockalong s s s s s Merino Downs NS LS* LS* s LS* Mitchell Downs LS* NS NS LS LS*

Limewood LS LS LS s s

Won dol in s s s s s

Eumamurrin s s s s s

Glenarden LS LS LS s s

Studley s s s s s

Pembroke NS NS NS LS NS Riverview LS NS NS s LS Belah NS NS NS s LS Karee NS NS NS LS NS

Woodburn LS LS LS s LS Qui bet NS NS Ns LS NS

Nimitybelle LS LS LS s LS Pamaroo NS NS NS LS NS

Lucknow NS NS NS NS NS

Unnamed cracking clays· LS LS LS s LS

Deep sands and sandy NS NS NS NS NS texture contrast soils

Skeletal and shallow NS NS NS NS NS texture contrast soils

Deep-sands and sandy NS NS NS NS NS texture contrast soils and massive earths

(i) skeletal and sandy NS NS NS NS NS texture contrast soils

(ii) clays LS LS LS s s

* This becomes NS w here this soil occurs in climatic zone B

LS - limited suitability ** Not s·ui table for summer cropping in climatic zone B NS - not sui table

6-6

Nimitybelle soil slakes, has low infiltration rates and a sodic subsoil, all of which limit its suitability for cropping, particularly in s ummer. Nimitybelle is not suitable for long-term cropping. Karee, Pembroke and Pamaroo soils have limited suitability for winter crops due to low water holding capacity and low fertility. Karee and Pembroke soils are also hard setting.

Woodburn soil has limited suitability for grain cropping due to gilgai. Wetness problems due to occasional flooding cause difficulties with cultivation and harvesting associated with differential ripening of the crop.

Lucknow soil, which is not suitable for cropping, often occurs in close association with Riverview and Pembroke soils. When cultivating the latter soils, it is important not to disturb the Lucknow soil.

6.3 Horti.cultura1 crops

Small areas of grapes, citrus, small crops and stone fruit are grown in close proximity to Roma. These crops are grown on well drained soils with low erosion hazard. Property layout to take consideration of run-off and run-on controls most erosion problems. Contour banks may be required on steeper slopes.

Some potential exists for further eXPansion of horticultural cropping in the district, particularly if small proposed irrigation schemes prove feasible.

6.11 Pastures

6.4.1 Native pastures

The predominant native grasses in the area are Queensland blue grass, pitted blue grass, forest blue grass, summer grass, barnyard grass, white spear grass, wire grasses, kangaroo grass, Mitchell grass and Flinders grass. UrochZoa spp., native millets, yabila grass and umbrella grass have become naturalised in the district.

Overgrazing, clearing and fires have led to an increase in weed species of low pasture value such as wire grasses and love grasses. Herbs and broad-leaved weeds often colonise overgrazed or scalded areas, particularly following good winter rainfall. Sheep producing areas are more susceptible than cattle areas to weed invasion through heavy grazing pressure. Wildcarrot, crowsfoot, lambs tongue, woolly burr medic, burr medic and galvanised burr are the main winter herbage (Powell and Strachan 1979).

Weir vine is a particular problem on the Coogoon LRA. Weir vine invades cultivation and overgrazed, degraded areas. The vine becomes tangled in tines when cultivating and is addictive and lethal to stock. Spraying is recommended to control the vine as disc ploughing increases the risk of erosion.

6-7

The use of nitrogenous and phosphate fertilisers can improve native pasture productivity. Fertilisers are, however, rarely used on native pastures. Pasture furrows have been used in the district to improve native pasture growth. Due to the sodic and dispersible nature of the subsoils in the soils of the native pasture areas, it is necessary to ensure that the furrows do not concentrate run-off and initiate gullying.

Native pastures in uncl eared areas of Coogoon, Bymount , Yuleba, Merivale, Macwood and Struan LRAs are very sparse and have a very low carrying capacity . Timber treatment to improve the carrying capacity is not recommended due to resulting erosion problems.

Mulga, wilga and myall are used as drought fodder for sheep. Strip clearing or lopping is preferred to total clearing for mulga. The other fodder trees are used for browsing.

Overgrazing on the Open Downs LRA results in the invasion of pastures by unpalatabl e feathertop wire grass and white speargrass, thus increasing erosion probl ems. Mitchell and Flinders grasses are slow to recolonise bare areas following cultivation due to competition from more aggressive species.

6.4.2 Sown pastures

Pasture improvement is possibl e on the majority of soils in the Roma district. The maj or pastures used include buffel grass, Rhodes grass, green panic and purpl e pigeon grass. Others such as Indian blue grass and African star grass ar e recommended as waterway species but not for broadacre pasture improvement . Poor pasture establishment and lack of growth are characteristic of attempts at pasture i mprovement in the low and unrel iable summer rainfall belt in the south and west of the region.

The soi l s of the Bymount, Yuleba , Merivale and Struan LRAs have l imited potential because of shallow, stony, infertile, hard setting and highly erodi bl e characteristics. Buffel grass is the most suitable introduced grass for these LRAs.

The establishment of buffel , Rhodes grass and green panic pastures is d if f i c ul t o n t h e soil s of t h e O pe n D ow n s L RA due to s urface characteristics such as coarse structure, self mulching surfaces, slaking and l ow moisture availability during summer. Sown pastures available for the Roma di strict are more sui tabl e for the l ighter textured soils than the heavy cracking clay soil s.

G lenarden , Karee, Riverv iew, Pembroke , Quibet, Nimitybelle and Pamaroo soils have hard setting surfaces, causing difficulties in seedling establishment . Subsequent pasture productivity generally remains low and i t is doubtful if clearing for pasture improvement is worthwhile.

There is considerable need for a suitable introduced summer l egume in the district. Many established buffel grass and green panic stands are decl ining in productivity due to diminishing nitrogen levels. Medics are the best suited legume presently available for nitrogen restoration. A shotgun mixture of the barrel medics (Jemalong and Cyprus) and the more aphid-resistant snail medic is recommended.

6-8

Burr medics are naturalised in the district . Medics can be oversown into existing pastures or sown with winter cereal crops. Purple pigeon grass has been successfully established by sowing with a wheat crop. P urple pigeon grass is a new pasture species in the district and a t present has only been grown o n heavy cracking clay soils. Rhodes grass and green panic establish successfully in areas of higher rainfall north of Roma. However, pasture quality in this area declines after two to three years. A list of sown pasture species suitable for each soil is given in Table 6.3. A glossary of common species found in the district is given in Appendix VIII.

6.5 Property iBprovement

6.5.1 Introduction

Significant erosion commonly occurs due to bad planning and siting of improvements. As these improvements are relatively permanent, proper planning of property layouts before development will minimise potential problems.

The erosion probl ems associated with improvements are greater on the Glenarden, Pembroke, Karee, Belah, Nimitybelle, Pamaroo and Lucknow soils due to their high erodibility. Those soils with sodic subsoil s (see Tabl e 4.3) are highly erodible and the subsoil should not be exposed by road or firebreak construction.

The potential erosion hazard of a soil is exacerbated by both degree and length of slope. Siting improvements on lower sloping situations will decrease this hazard.

Gully erosion may make roads and fences l ess effective. In the more extensive pastoral areas to the west, sites can be abandoned and the improvement moved. However this is not an acceptabl e practice. In the more intensively used areas, gully erosion affecting roads and fences may present a real probl em. As with most erosion in the region, once it has occurred it is difficul t if not impossible to repair, especially on the poorer, more erodible soils. Ways of minimising the potential erosion caused by farm improvements are set out below.

6.5.2 Roads

Where possible, farm roads should shed rather than collect water. should be used to divert water from

be placed on ridge lines, where they On ridge lines, sloping spur drains

tabl e drains.

Run-off on roads located directly up and down hill can be controlled and r emoved by using 'whoa-boys ' ( short diversion banks ) at strategic intervals. A ' whoa-boy ' located just before a road enters a steep slope or watercourse will help prevent a gully forming on the road.

Roads a cross sl opes accumulate and concentrate water. Inverts or 'whoa-boys' are needed to divert water across the road. Culverts (pipes ) are not recommended as they are expensive and have probl ems with siltation and washing out. They can also initiate gully formation on the downhill

6-9

side by concentrating run-off. Where roads cross a watercourse , the water flCM should be as free as possibl e.

6.5.3. Gates and watering points

Stock pads radiate from gates and watering points. The pads can collect water and wash out, making stock and vehicle movement difficult. By locating gates and watering points up slope or on a ridge, the pads will collect less run-off and will be less likely to seriously erode.

6.5.4. Lanes

Lanes should be at least 1 00 m wide and not overgrazed. Lanes should not be loca te d in erosion-prone sites such as waterways or depressions. 'Whoa-boys' or diversion banks may be necessary to divert run-off.

6.5.5. Firebreaks

Fi rebreaks shoul d be constructed with as minimal soil disturbance as possibl e. Grading or scraping the topsoil to one or both sides will create small banks which will concentrate run-off. Grading or scraping can expose the subsoil which, if sodic, will erode.

Disc ploughs can be used for making firebreaks but their use should be l imited on highly erodible soils ( see Table 4.3). Mixing of the subsoil with the topsoil creates unfavourable seedbed conditions for grass regrowth and the exposure of the subsoil may also lead to erosion. Excessive ploughing in one direction al so creates an undesirable ploughbank which may concentrate run-off.

6.6 Management for soil fertility and physical condition

Long-term cultivation of all arabl e soils in the Roma di strict will result in soil chemical and physical decline. Improved crop and soil husbandry will help sl ow this decline . In the short term, cultivation is l ikely to aggravate specific problems ( see Table 4.3) of those soils of the Coogoon and Bymount LRAs and the Mitchell Downs soil. Soil surface structure deterioration has also been observed on some clay soil s in the Open DCMns LRA near Roma.

A regular pasture l ey in these cropping areas would help arrest both the physical and chemical decline. Simply abandoning cultivation to r ecoloni sa tion by weeds and na tive grasses is not as effective as establishing a planted grass pasture. There are problems associated with pasture l eys in the Open Downs LRA due to the lack of suitable easily established introduced species. Crop/pasture rotations with three to five years of grass are practised in parts of the Brigalow Uplands LRA. These pasture phases are used on an irregular base to help remove hardsetting, massive surface layers caused by cultivation. Grass species listed in Table 6.3 for each soil are recommended for pasture l eys. Further work is required to develop suitable l egumes for inclusion in the pasture.

Tabl.e 6.3.

Soil

OPEJI DOli1IS LRA

Rom.a Downs Crochdantigh Waverley Downs Knockalong Merino Downs Mitchell Downs

6-1 0

Sui tabi l i ty of soils of the Rana district for introduced pastures

Buffel Rhodes* Panic* Purple Indian African Lucerne Medics*** pigeon blue** star grass

LS LS LS s s s s s LS LS LS s s s s s LS LS LS s s s s s LS LS LS s s s s s LS LS LS s s s s s LS LS LS s s s s s

BBIG.ILOII lll'LJllllS LRA

Limewood s LS LS LS s s LS s Won dol in s LS LS LS s s s s

Eumamurrin s LS LS LS s s s s Glenarden s LS LS LS s s LS s

.IIIU LRA

Studley s s LS s s s s s

OOOG<lOI LRA

Pembroke s NS NS NS NS NS LS s Riverview s NS NS NS NS NS LS s Belah s NS NS NS NS NS LS s Karee s NS NS NS NS NS LS s

T.IRTULLA LRA

Woodburn LS LS LS LS s LS s s

Qui bet LS NS NS NS - NS NS NS NS

BD«lOIT LRA

Nimitybelle s LS LS NS LS s NS s

Pamaroo s LS LS NS NS NS NS s

STROAII LRA

Lucknow s NS NS NS NS NS NS LS

6-1 1

Table 6.3. Suitability of soils of the Rana district for introdu ced pastures (cont.)

Soil Buffel Rhodes* Panic* Purple Indian African Lucerne Medics*** pigeon blue** star grass

B.ILOIIIIE LBA

Unnamed cracking LS-S LS LS s s s s s clays

MARABOA LRA

Deep sands and s LS LS NS NS NS NS LS sandy texture contrast soils

YULBBA LBA

Skeletal and LS NS NS NS NS NS NS LS shallow texture contrast soils

lllaiOOD LRA

Deep sands and LS-S LS LS NS NS NS NS LS sandy texture contrast soils and massive earths

I!BIIIY.ILK LBA

(i) skeletal and s LS L S NS NS NS NS LS sandy texture contrast soils

(ii) clays s LS S-LS LS LS LS LS LS

* May have low persistence s - suitable It Little experience in the district with the grass as yet LS - limited suitability

ttt Recommended varieties are: NS - not suitable - Harbinger on sands - J emalong and Cyprus on clay loams - Snail on clays

7-1

7. SPECIFICA.TIDITS l'OR RUIT-OFF COITTRIL STRUClUI!IlS

7. 1 Introduction

Run-off control structures are required on all soils in most sloping situa tions in the R oma district where cl earing for agriculture has o ccurr ed. These structures are necessary to prevent run-off water concentrating and causing erosion. The design principles for the run-off control structures are described in Part 9 of th e QueensZand SoU Conservation Handbook (Anonymous 1977).

This field manual covers the specifications, the reasons for these specification s , con struction techniques and maintenance requirements applicable in the Roma district.

7. 2 Run-of'f' estillation

The Rational Method is used to estimate surface run-off and has provided sati sfactory results for small catchments (up to 300 ha) in the Roma district .

In large catchments (greater than 300 ha) a reduction factor is used to account for variation in rainfall distribution across the catchment in design events. Area correction factors are given in Table 7.2.1 . Further investigation is required to provide more reliable estimates especially for the larger catchments.

Table 7.2. 1 . Area correction factors for the Roma district (Rational Method)

Area (ha)

300

400

Boo

Area correction factor

1 . 0

0.9

0.8

Run-off coefficient s for use in the Rational Method vary with the soil, land use, landform and rainfall intensity. The soils of the Roma district hav e been grouped int o three permeability groups based on infil tration rates under saturated conditions. These groups which rank the soils in order of their l ikelihood to produce run-off are presented in Table 7.2.2.

Run-off coefficients for two design storms ( 1 in 1 0 years and 1 in 1 00 years) based on these permeability groups for two land uses and two slope ranges are given in Table 7.2.3.

-------------"----·------·---- - ---- -----------

7-2

Table 7.2.2. Permeability groups for soils of the Roma district

Soil

OPD DOVJIS LRA

Roma Downs Crochdantigh Waverley Downs Knock along Merino Downs Mitchell Downs

BRIDALOII UPLARDS LRA

L imewood Won dol in Eumamurrin Glenarden

AIIJY LRA

Studley

COOGOOII LRA

Pembroke Riverview Belah Karee

TARl'ULLA LRA

Woodburn Qui bet

BDI>UIIT LRA

Nimitybelle Pamaroo

STRUAII LRA

Lucknow

Permeable

X

Permeability group

Moderately permeable

X X X X X X

X X X X

X

X

X X

Impermeable

X

X

X X

X

7-3

T.able 7.2.2. Permeability groups for soils of the Roma di strict (cont . )

Soil Permeable

BAL<IIRE LRA

Unnamed clays

MAIWJO.A. LRA

( i ) deep sands X

( ii) sandy texture contrast soils

YUL!m.A. LRA


MA.CilOOD LRA

( i) deep sands X

( ii) sandy texture contrast soil s and massive earths

HERIVALE LRA

(i) skeletal and sandy texture contrast soils

( ii) clays

Permeability group


X

X

Impermeable

X

X

X

X

7-4

Table 7.2.3. Run - of f c o e ff ici ent s for two l and uses i n two slope categories for the 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 years storms for the Roma district

Permeabil ity group

Permeable


Impermeable

Land use

Timber/ pasture

Cultivation

Timber/ pasture

Cultivation

Timber/ pasture

Cultivation

Slope category

( % )

< 1 0

> 1 0

< 1 0

> 1 0

< 1 0

> 1 0

< 1 0

> 1 0

< 1 0

> 1 0

< 1 0

> 1 0

7. 3 The run-of'f' control structures

Design storm

in 1 0 years 1 in 1 00 years

0. 3 0 . 4

0 . 3 0 . 4

0 . 3 0 . 4

0 . 3 0 . 4

0 . 5 0 . 6

0 . 6 0 . 7

0.5 0 . 6

0 . 6 0 . 7

0 . 7 0 . 8

0 . 7 0 . 8

0 . 7 0 . 8

0-7 0 . 8

The major run-off control structures used in the Roma district are listed below. These structures are predominantly used in arabl e areas for summer and w inter grain and fodder crops .

The structures are generally not considered economic in pasture land. They may, however, be used in areas of crop/pasture rotations , during the establishment phase of sown pastures, and for the rehabil itation of eroded pasture land.

The maj or structures are waterways, contour banks and diversion banks.

Measures such as pondage banks, grass strips and pasture furrows are also discussed.

7-5

7 .IJ Specif'ications f'or waterways

7 . 4 . 1 Introduction

Stable, grassed waterways are required in grain and fodder cropping areas in the Roma district. Both natural grassed depressions and constructed waterways ar e used. Natural grass depressions are preferred and recommended where possible due to higher cost s for construction and maintenance of constructed waterways. Natural grass depressions should not be used where :

(i) ( ii)

( iii)

actively eroding gully heads exist ; the depression is steep sided ; or the depression is silted up and would divert flows back out onto adjacent cultivation.

In the case of ( i) and ( ii) , headward erosion can occur resulting in gullying of the contour bank channel. Constructed waterways should be used for situations (i) and ( ii) employing techniques discussed in Section 7 . 4 . 8 .

A summary of specifications for waterways in the Roma district i s presented in Table 7 . 4 . 1 .

7 . 4 . 2 Suitability of soils for waterway construction

Problems exist with construction, grass establ ishment and maintenance of waterways on most soil s in the Roma district. Only the Merino Downs, Riverview and S t udl ey soil s are considered suitabl e for waterway con s tr u c t i o n u sing normal technique s . High construction cost s , difficulties with grass establ ishment , a critical need for r egular and inten sive maintenance and a high fail ur e rate are a ssociated with waterways on all other soils, especially shallow texture contrast soils with dispersible subsoils.

The suitability of the soils of the Roma district for constructed waterways is given in Table 7 . 4 . 1 .

Those soils (Table 7 . 4 . 1 ) with l imited suitability for constructed wa terways have problems such as sodic subsoil s, difficul ty with grass establ ishment or other characteristics which can be overcome by design, the use of different construction techniques and more intensive management .

The Knockal ong , Karee, Pembroke and Quibet soil s have more severe restri ctions and where an al ternative si te exi st s , should not be r ecomm ended f or waterway s . The Knockalong soil has a slumping characteristic whereby the surface soil collapses into subsurface holes. Whi l e this characteristic may only be noticeable following periods of prolonged drought and extreme subsoil moisture deficit, it is likely that when storm rains do come, waterway failure would occur. The Karee, Pembroke and Quibet soils all have hard setting surfaces, sodic subsoils and o ccur on l ow gradient areas with extreme slope l engths. These si tes/soil s are therefore not generally recommended for constructed waterways.

7-6

Tabl.e 7 . II . 1 . Summary specifications for waterways in the Roma district . Part 1.

Soil Max. permissible Vegetal Suitable Const . Soil suitability velocity (m/sec ) retard. grass sp. technique

category

OPER DOWJIS LRA

Roma Downs LS 1 . 0 D I , A T Crochdantigh LS 1 . 0 D I , A T Waverley Downs LS 1. 0 D I , A T Knock along NR-LS 1 . 0 D I , A N Merino Downs s 1 . 0 D I , A N Mitchell Downs LS 1 . 0 D I , A T

BRIGALOII Ul'LAIIDS LRA

Limewood LS 1 . 0 D R , I , A T Wondolin LS 1 . 0 D R, I , A T Eumamurrin LS 1 . 0 C-D R, I,A T Glenarden LS 1 . 0 D R , I , A TID

.A113Y LRA

Studley s 1 . 0 D R , I , A N

00000011 LRA

Pembroke NR-LS 1 . 0 D B D Riverview s 1 . 0 D B N Belah LS 1 . 0 D B , A T Karee NR-LS 0 . 6 E B D

T.ARTULLA LRA

Woodburn NA Qui bet NR-LS 0 . 6 E B D

BYI«)UIIT LRA

Nimitybelle LS 0. 8 E R , B , A D Pamaroo LS 0 . 6 E R,B D

STRUAR LRA

Lucknow NS

7 - 7

Table 7.11. 1 . Summary specifications for waterways in the Roma district. Part 1 ( cont . )

Soil Soil Max . permissibl e

suitability velocity (m/sec) Vegetal retard. category

Sui tabl e Const . grass sp. technique

B.ALOBIIE LBA


MARAIIOA LBA

NS

Deep sands and NS sandy texture contrast soil s

YOLEBA LBA

Skeletal and NS shallow texture contrast soil s

KA.CWOOD LBA

Deep sands and NS sandy texture contrast soil s and massive earths

HERIV.ALE LBA

Skel etal and NS sandy texture contrast soils

Clays

S = suitable

LS

LS = limited suitability NS = not suitable NR = not recommended NA = not appl icabl e

T = replace topsoil N = nonnal

1 . 0

D = no disturbance to channel floor

D R , I , A

R = Rhodes grass I = Indian blue grass B = Buffel grass A = African star grass

T

7-8

Table 7. �. 1. Summary specifications for waterways in the Roma district. Part 2.

( i ) Waterway type Trapezoidal with flat bottom.

Parabolic not desirable unless particularly careful during c o n s t r u c t i o n . P er ch e d waterways should be avoided where possibl e.

( ii ) Design frequency

( iii)

(a) 1 in 1 0 for waterways in natural depressions and for constructed waterways.

(b) 1 in 50 for perched waterways.

Constructed bank height

H = d + f + s where

H = constructed bank height

d = design depth of flow from calculations

f = freeboard= 0 . 1 5 m

s = settl ement factor as per tabl e for soils in section 7 . 4 . 7 .

( iv ) Construction, stabilisation and maintenance - discussed i n text.

The unnamed texture contrast soils of the Maranoa , Yuleba, Macwood and Meriv al e L RA s are unsuitabl e for waterway construction. Where waterways or cross-road drainage have to be constructed in these LRAs, extreme care should be taken with design, and construction techniques used as detailed in Section 7 . 4 . 8 .

7 . 4 . 3 Waterway channel shape

Trapezoidal waterways with a flat bottom and side slope batters of 3 in 1 are recommended.

Parabol ic waterways are not recommended for those soils with sodic subsoils in the Roma district as this waterway shape often leads to gully development , particularly with l ow flows. Replacement of topsoil during con s tr u c t i o n r e duces the risk of gullying but resul t s in ex tra construction costs.

7-9

7.4 . 4 Design criteria

Natural depressions. Stabl e, well-grassed depressions are suitable for use as waterways on all the arable soils of the Rana district. A capacity capable of taking a 1 in 1 0 run-off event should be the minimum acceptable.

The following probl ems may occur with natural depressions.

Actively eroding gully heads may exist and these can link up with contour bank outlets.

Highly variable capacity which may be insufficient for the design flow in places.

Presence of silt fans which may be higher than adjacent cultivation.

Steep sides which can result in cut backs in contour channel s.

Variable al ignment due to meanders which can create difficult turning areas for cultivation.

Uneven base due to siltation, presence of trees, stumps and fences, all of which create maintenance probl ems.

The capacity of a natural depression must be checked at critical locations. If the capacity i s less than the designed capacity a t the l ocation, the depression will require widening. As an interim measure, short kicker banks or retaining banks are r equired if the capacity is l imited by the depth or grade of the natural depression. This probl em is common in l ow er slope positions. Where the top of a depression is undefined, shaping and grassing are required for use as a waterway. Dead trees and sticks should be removed fran depressions as they reduce the capacity of the depression. Tree stumps should be removed in sodic soils to reduce the risk of tunnelling.

Constructed waterways. A return period of 1 in 10 is used in the design of constructed waterways. Waterways should be located in natural depressions and perched waterways should be avoided where possible on all soils in the Rana district.

Probl ems with perched waterways include :

(i) depth of excavation is greater and therefore increased risk of exposing sodic subsoil ;

( ii) bank height on lower side is generally constructed too high which results in greater than design velocities during run-off events ; and

( iii) the combination of ( i ) and ( ii) and the presence of a side slope in the waterway floor leads to gullying.

7-1 0

Perched waterways should not be used where a safer alternative is t o use a diversion bank to direct run-off t o a natural depression.

Waterways at the lower slope positions of larger catchments can be designed for lower frequencies where the risk of damage from overflow is considered acceptable.

7. 4 . 5 Vegetal retardance

Vegetal retardance categories are a reflection of the height and density of the grass cover in the waterway channel. The average, or most probable vegetal retardance category should be used when designing waterways. It is important to consider farm management practices such as grazing when determining v egetal retardance categories. If the crop stubbl e and waterways are normally grazed, then it is safer to use a lower vegetal retardance category when designing for waterways in such paddocks . These categories may be determined in the field by a Modified Ellinbank Pasture Meter (EPM) or the dropboard technique (Truong 1979) .

Retardance categories for the soils of the Roma district are given in Table 7 . 4 . 2.

Table 7 .11.2. Vegetal retardance categories for the soil s of the Roma district

Vegetal retardance Soils categories

Group A Karee, Quibet, Nimitybelle, Pamaroo

Group B Roma Downs, Merino Downs, Crochdantigh, Mitchell Downs, Waverley Downs, Knockalong, Wondolin, Limewood, Glenarden, Studley, Riverview, Pembroke, Belah

Group C Eumamurrin

E

D

C-D

In the Roma district , cropping is usually carried out in conjunction with cattle or sheep production. Stubble and failed grain crops are usually grazed. Waterways are also grazed as they are rarely fenced. The grazing habit s of sheep reduce vegetal retardance in waterways to a greater extent than does grazing by cattl e. The cracking clay soil s of the Open Downs and Amby LRAs in Group B have the potential to produce equal grass cover to the soils in Group C. However, properties on the Group B soils run mainly sheep, while properties in Group C run mainly cattl e. Vegetal retardance categories D and C-D respectively designate these different management strategies.

7-1 1

7 . 4 . 6 Maximum permissible velocity

Maximum permissible velocities vary depending on design retardance and soil erodibility. Maximum permissible velocities f'or waterways in the Roma district are given in Table 7 . 4 . 3 .

Table 7.1l.3. Maximum permissibl e velocities f'or the soils of' the Roma district

Soils

Group 1 Karee, Quibet , Pamaroo

Group 2 Nimitybelle

Group 3 Roma Downs, Merino Downs, Crochdantigh, Mitchell Downs, Knockalong, Wondolin, Limewood, Eumamurrin, Glenarden, Studley, Riverview, Pembroke, Belah.

Max . permissible vel . (m/sec )

0 . 6

0 . 8

1 . 0

These v el ocities a ssume that adequate surf'ace cover and channel capacity are maintained.

Group 1 soils A very low maximum permissible velocity is used due to ( i) low f'ertili ty resul ting in poor

ground cover ( retardance E ) ; and ( ii) highly erodible dispersible soils.

Group 2 soil s Although Nimitybelle has the same vegetal retardance category as the soil s in Group 1 , i t is less erodible. Due to its surf'ace characteristics and the slopes on which Nimi tybelle occurs, a higher maximum permissible velocity is tol erated.

Group 3 soils - These soils tol erate a v elocity of' 1 m/sec due to their higher vegetal retardance categories ( C-D, D ) . Provided excessive subsoil is not exposed in the channel and adequate maintenance is undertaken, these soils are stabl e at this velocity.

7-1 2

7 . 4 . 7 Constructed bank height

Constructed bank height is determined from the equation

H = d + f + s where

H = constructed bank height (m)

d = design depth of flow (m)

f = freeboard (m)

s = allowance for settlement as a percentage of d + f.

The settlement factor can vary with soil type, the moisture status of the soil during construction, and the method of construction. Settlement factors are as given in Table 7 . 4 . 4 .

Table 7·-·-· Settlement factors for soil s of the Roma district

Soils

Glenarden, Karee, Riverview Pamaroo, Pembroke, Belah

Roma Downs, Merino Downs, Crochdantigh Mitchell Downs, Waverley Downs, Knockalong, Wondolin, Limewood, Eumamurrin, Studley, Quibet, Nimitybelle

Settlement factor (%)

Dozer construction

25

30

Grader construction

20

25

A standard freeboard of 0. 1 5 m is added for all soils to allow for variations in bed slope and for depth of flow increase at curves in the waterway.

7 . 4 .8 Waterway construction

Waterway construction techniques are explained in an advisory leaflet by Lehmann and Bartels ( 1978a ) .

Graders, dozers and scrapers are used for waterway construction in th e Roma district. The dozer is the more versatile machine and is generally recommended parti cularly for waterways with bottom widths greater than 10 m. The dozer can move soil more efficiently during

7-13

waterway construction than either a grader or scraper. particularly effective where :

gullied sections have to be filled and battered ;

obstructions such as trees have to be removed;

large banks have to be made across washout s ; and

waterways are greater than 1 0 m wide .

The dozer is

The recommended construction methods for use on each soil in the Roma district are given in Tabl e 7 . 4 . 1 .

For those soil s where the topsoil should be replaced, construction should be done in sections of about 30 m in length in the following manner.

Push the topsoil onto the lower section

Construct the waterway bank with the subsoil

Push the topsoil back over the excavated area.

The majority of soils in the Roma district have sodic subsoils and r equire the replacement of topsoil to prevent erosion of the channel floor. It is important to build waterways with flat bottoms on those soils with sodic subsoil s to prevent scouring at periods of low flow. Those soils for which no disturbance is recommended have, in addition t o sodic subsoils, surface characteristics which make grass establishment and maintenance of acceptabl e vegetal retardance difficult to achieve if the topsoil is disturbed. Care should therefore be taken with construction of waterways on these soils.

Normal construction techniques are recommended only for the Merino Downs, Knockalong, Riverview and Studl ey soil s as subsoil characteristics do not warrant the extra costs associated with topsoil replacement . In the case of the Knockalong soil, the intermittent slumping characteristic is unlikely to be affected by adopting special construction techniques.

On the shallow texture contrast soils and those soils where grass cover is minimal and should not be disturbed during construction, the waterways should be built as follows:

construct the bank from the out side ;

block the out side channel at regular intervals until contour banks are built ; and

avoid any perched sections in the waterway.

It i s e ssential that following construction, cross-sectional area (width and depth) and constructed bank height should be checked. The side slope of the bottom of perched waterways should not exceed 1 % .

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7 . 4 . 9 Grassing of waterways

Grass species. Rhodes grass and African star grass are the two most suitable species used for grassing waterways in the Roma district. Buffel grass is readily established on most soils in the area though i t performs best on the lighter textured soil s. However, due to its tussocky growth habit , it is l ess suitable for waterway stabilisation than those grasses with a creeping growth habit.

Indian blue grass is showing promise as a waterway species on a range of soils in the Central Highlands and will be evaluated as a waterway species in the Roma district. Its ability to establish on heavy clay soils may indicate good potential for use on the clay soil s of the Open Downs and Brigalow Uplands LRAs. The grass species most suitable for use on the soil s of the Roma district are listed in Table 7 . 4 . 1 .

Al though Rhodes grass and African star grass are not recommended improved pasture species for Maranoa, Yuleba, Macwood, Struan and Merivale LRAs, they have potential for use as waterway species. Special management such a s topdressing, f ertilising and watering may be needed for the establishment and effective growth of these grasses.

Characteristics of waterway grasses:

(i)

( ii)

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

African star grass (Cynodon nZemfuensis)

L ow growing habi t and therefore sel dom exceeds design retardance.

Does not set viable seed and has to be propagated vegetatively.

Good for stabilising gullied areas .

Fairly drought resistant •

Well suited to clay soils but poorly suited to shallow, hard setting texture contrast soils.

Rhodes grass (ChZoris gayana)

Tall growth habit necessitates slashing or controlled grazing to keep retardance to design level.

Easily established from seed •

Not as suitable as African star grass in gullied areas as it becomes tufted and provides a lower l evel of surface cover.

• Stands generally require renovation after a few years.

( iii)

•

•

•

•

•

•

( iv )

•

•

•

7-1 5

Indian blue grass (BothriochZoa pertusa)

Low growth habit, pegs down at the nodes, establishes easily from seed.

Withstands heavy graz ing and is moderately drought and heat tol erant.

Well suited to heavy clay soils •

Top growth may be knocked by frost •

Does not tol erate shading •

High cost and low availability of seed •

Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciZiaris)

Grows well on l ighter textured soils •

Good grazing value and seed readily available •

Not generally recommended for waterways as it has a tussocky growth habit.

The use of other grasses including creeping blue grass (BothriochZoa inscuZpta) and purple pigeon grass (Setaria porphyrantha) as waterway grasses is being evaluated.

Gra ss establisiDent. The floor of a newly constructed waterway generally provides a poor seedbed for grass establishment. It may be compacted, rough and cloddy or have a sodic subsoil exposed. Ground cover should, however, be established as quickly as possible. The following methods are recommended.

African star grass establ ishes best when planted during summer in l arge clumps and covered well with moist soil. During the establishment phase, watering is recommended to ensure good growth, particularly if dry conditions occur.

Rhodes grass has been successfully established elsewhere using a cover crop for protection in the early stages. The best results in the Wandoan district have occurred when planting Rhodes grass with oats or wheat in winter or millets in summer. The seed should be broadcast and l ightly harrowed. A similar approach, although not yet tried, is suggested for the Roma district.

Indian blue grass should be either broadcast , or planted using a buffel planter, and then lightly harrowed. It is not suitable for planting w ith a cover crop as it does not tolerate shading.

Buffel grass should be established by broadcasting or by using a buffel planter, and then lightly harrowed. A good seedbed should be prepared prior to planting.

�� - ----------------------

7-16

Indian blue grass and buffel grass can be planted from September to April though better germination and establishment have been achieved when planted from J anuary to April . While early plantings ( from September to December) run the risk of heat waves, the grass has more time to grow and set seed befor e w inter than w ith l ate plantings . Successful early plantings are less common in the district. All grasses should be planted when soil moisture is adequate. Dry planting is not recommended.

Planting rates for the

• African star grass

• Rhodes grass

• Indian blue grass

• Buffel grass

grasses are:

1 sod per

2 kg/ha

5 kg/ha

4 kg/ha

square metre

Fertiliser and maintenance requirEDents.

• The use of fertil iser will assist establ ishment and growth of grasses on all soil s in the Roma district. While the use of fertil iser is rare in the district, the establishment of a stable , well-grassed waterway i s integral to the success of the run-off control system and the use of fertiliser should be recommended. Fertiliser type and rates vary for each soil and should be assessed for each situation.

• S pray ing o f w e eds t o r educe compe ti tion i s r ecommended , particularly during the establishment phase.

• Slashing or controlled graz ing is recommended both to maintain design retardance and to reduce tall weed growth. This also aids in persistence and vigour of the grasses.

• Continuous or intensive grazing of waterways should be avoided as this will reduce ground cover to very low levels. Intensive grazing a l so often l eads to the formation of well-established cattle pads which can initiate gullying.

• Controlled burning should be used as a last resort if grass growth becomes tall and rank and no other means are available to reduce grass height to design retardance.

• Medics can be planted with the grasses to improve pasture growth in the waterway.

• All structural damage to the floor or banks of waterways should be repaired immediately.

• Waterways should not be used a s access tracks for vehicles, cultivation implement s or stock. Alternative access should be provided.

-------------�- ------------------

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• Regular maintenance is recommended to ensure that adequate ground cover and capacity exist.

7 . 4 . 1 0 Waterway stability

Much of the damage to waterways occurs in the first two years before adequate grass cover is established. Damage may be reduced by:

• allowing the waterway to be grassed before discharging run-off water into it ;

• using construction techniques to suit the limitations of the soil type ;

• caref'ul sel ection of waterway outlets into major watercourses. Avoid discharging over steep banks. Use stable, natural, gently sloping areas where possible ;

• grassing gully prone outlets before waterway carries run-off ;

• discharging onto undisturbed permanent pasture if possible ;

• ensuring the design i s correctly calculated;

• fencing waterways to exclude stock and vehicles;

• using rock f il l s in gull y washout s , replanting grass around gullies, repairing damaged banks ; and

• e n s ur i ng a de q ua t e mai ntenance (sl ashing, fertil ising and replanting ) .

7 .4 . 1 1 Stabilising eroded waterways and gullies

Gullied areas can often be successfully stabilised though the degree of success is strongly related to cost and effort involved. The following methods of reclamation are recommended.

Rock filling. This is labour intensive and the rocks may be washed out in high flows. Water should be directed over the centre of the sil l . A rock apron below the overfall t o dissipate the energy and reduce the chance or scouring is also required. A range of graded rock sizes should be used to ensure dense packing. A minimum depth of 0 . 5 m of rock fill is recommended.

Grassing. The use of African star grass to provide a dense ground cover in the gully floor is a simpl e method. However, this may only provide temporary stability until the gully has silted up unless the development of further active gully heads is prevented.

Gabian weirs. These are expensive to install but can be used in critical waterways. Weirs using rock in wire baskets or sand/cement bag walls have both been used successfully in other districts. No waterways have been stabilised by this method so far in the Rana district .

7-1 8

Diverti ng run-off. Run-off water can be diverted away from the gully t o a stable disposal area using a diversion bank or a bypass waterway. A perched waterway should not be used for the bypass.

7.5 Specificati ons for contour banks

7. 5 . 1 . Introduction

Contour banks are used t o r educe erosion by controll ing run-off . Concentration of run-off i s limited by reducing slope length. Water is removed from the cultivation in bank channels and waterways. Contour banks are required on all soils on sloping land steeper than 1 % in the Roma district. A summary of specifications for contour banks is given in Table 7 . 5 . 1 .

7 . 5 . 2 Suitability of soils and sites for contour bank construction

Contour banks are required on all soils sui tabl e for cultivation in the Roma district except the Woodburn soil. Some of the soils have a limited suitability for construction of contour banks due to physical and chemical characteristics.

Sodic subsoils. The removal of topsoil for the construction of contour banks may expose the highly erodible sodic subsoil. Soils that h ave l imited suitability for contour banks because of sodic subsoils include Glenarden, Karee, Pembroke, Pamaroo, Limewood and Nimi tybell e.

Slaki ng soils. The slaking na ture of the Wav erl ey Downs and Nimi tybelle soils results in bank height reduction following rain. Bank maintenance is required more frequently than on the other soils.

Texture contrast soils. Contour bank construction is not recommended on the texture contrast soils FSI (TC ) , CSI (TC ) , FMI (TC ) , CMI (TC ) as bank construction results in exposure and erosion of the impermeabl e and dispersible subsoil. Where these soils have been developed for agricul tur e , erosion control has been diff icul t due to their unsuitability for the construction of contour banks and waterways.

7 . 5 . 2 . Contour bank type

(a) Narrow based contour banks are recommended for the Glenarden, Karee, Riverview, Pembroke, Belah, Quibet, and Pamaroo soil s. These soils have shallow A horizons above sodic B horizons. Less soil is required for the construction of narrow based contour banks in comparison with broad based banks. It is therefore l ess l ikely that the sodic B horizon will be exposed.

(b ) Broad based topside contour banks are recommended for the Wondolin, Limewood, Eumamurrin and Nimitybelle soil s.

( c ) Broad based cultivated contour banks are the m1n1mum type r ecommended for the Roma Downs, Cro chdantigh, Waverley Downs, Knockalong, Merino Downs, Mitchell Downs and Studley soils. Cultivation of broad based banks reduces problems associated with the cracking clay soil s. Broad based grasse d contour banks are r ecommended for Waverley Downs to reduce problems related to its slaking nature.

7-19

Tab1e 7 .5. 1 . Summary specif' icati ons f'or contour banks in the R om a district. Part 1.

Soil Soil Minimum Drainage Maximum suitability type design permiss.

specif'ied rating velocity (m l sec )

OPER DOVIfS LRA

Roma Downs s BB 6 . 5 0 . 35 Crochdantigh s BB 6 . 5 0 . 35 Waverley Downs LS BB 6 . 5 0 . 3 5 Knock along LS BB 6 . 5 0 . 35 Merino Downs s BB 6 . 5 0 . 35 Mitchell Downs s BB 6 . 5 0 . 35

BRIG.ALCll UPLANDS LRA

Limewood LS BBTS 6 . 5 0 . 35 Wondolin s BBTS 6 . 5 0 . 35 Eumamurrin s BBTS 6 . 5 0 . 35 Glenarden LS NB 6 . 0 0 . 30

.AIIIY LRA

Studley s BB 6 . 5 0 . 35

<XlOGOOlf LRA

Pembroke LS NB 6 . 0 0 . 30 Riverview s NB 7 . 5 0 . 40 Belah s NB 6 . 0 0 . 3 0 Karee LS NB 6 . 0 0 . 3 0

TARl'ULL.A. LRA

Woodburn NA Qui bet NS/LS NB 6 . 0 0 . 3 0

BDI)UBT LRA

Nimitybelle LS BBTS 6 . 0 0 . 35 Pamaroo LS NB 5 . 0 0 . 30

STRU.AH LRA

Lucknow NA

7-20

Table 7 .5. 1 . Summary specif ica tions for contour banks in the R om a district. Part 1. ( Cont . )

Soil

B.ALOIIIIE LBA

Soil suitability

Unnamed cracking NA clays

HAJIAIIOA LBA

Deep sands and sandy texture contrast soils

YULmA LBA

NA

Skeletal and NA shallow texture contrast soils

MACVOOD LBA

Deep sands and NA sandy texture contrast soils and massive earths

MERIY.ALE LBA

Skeletal and sandy NA texture contrast soils

S - suitable LS - limited suitability NS - not suitable NA - not applicable

Minimum type

specified

Drainage design rating

BB - broad based BBTS - broad based topside

(cultivated topside ) NB - narrow based

Maximum permiss. velocity {m/sec)

7-21

Table 7 .5. 1 . Summary spe cif ications for contour banks in the Roma district. Part 2.

( i) Contour bank spacing

(a) Standard spacing VI = 0.2 (s + x ) (b ) Double standard spacing V I = 0 . 4 ( s + x ) where country is

under pasture.

( ii) Constructed bank height

H

d

f

s

( iii)

H = d + f + s where for the R oma district for standard bank spacing and banks up to 1 200 m in length

constructed bank height (m)

design depth of flow (m)

freeboard (m)

settlement (m)

Bank l ength

Narrow based bank

o.Bo

0 . 35

0 . 20

0 . 25

Broad based bank

0.70

0 . 35

0. 1 5

0 . 20

are suitable for standard spaced banks up t o Banks longer than 1 200 m require attention to construction and subsequent maintenance .

Design standards 1 200 m in length. gradient , velocity ,

( iv ) Design frequency 1 in 1 0 storm

(v) Channel gradient - maximum gradient 0 . 2% except where specified in Section 7 . 5 . 5 .

(vi) Maintenance discussed i n text.

7-22

7 . 5 . 3 Contour bank spacing

Contour bank spacing i s calculated using the formula

VI = 0 . 2 (s + x )

where V I = vertical interval between banks s = slope gradient x =drainage design rating (see Tabl e 7 . 5 .2) .

The figures given for the drainage design rating are based on those used elsewhere in the State and on observation of the perfonnance of contour banks under different conditions at the various spacings.

All contour banks should be constructed at the recommended spacing to allow acceptable erosion control.

Spacing may be changed when :

there is an unstable outlet for the contour bank ;

property improvements or natural features prevent bank construction; or

the country is under pasture or is to be sown to pasture. In this case, banks on twice the specified spacing may be used.

Table 7.5.2. Drainage design ratings for soils of the Roma district

Group 1 .

Group 2.

Group 3.

Group II.

Soils group

Pamaroo

Glenarden, Karee, Pembroke , Belah, Quibet, Nimi tybell e

Roma Downs, Merino Downs, Crochdantigh , Mitchell Downs, Waverley Downs, Knockalong, Wondol in, Limewood, Eumamurrin, Studley

Riverview

Drainage design rating

5 . 0

6 . 0

6 . 5

7 . 0

Cul tivation i s not r ecommended for slopes greater than 8%. In temporary cultivation, banks at twice standard spacing can be used on slopes up to 8 % . On slopes greater than 6% , a minimum horizontal spacing of 40 m should be used.

7-23

When determining the taken as slopes can vary. modal slope should be used

' s ' for a paddock, several readings should be In areas where the land form is undulating, the in the formula.

In pastoral areas, strategically placed banks of no particular design spacing can be used to control run-off in critical situations. Also on slopes l ess than 1 % , strategic banks can be used to control run-off in problem areas.

7 . 5 . 4 Maximum permissible channel velocity

Maximum permissible velocities for bare channels for contour banks are summarised in Table 7 . 5 . 1 . The soil s of the Roma district are grouped as shown in Table 7 . 5 . 3 . in terms of the maximum permissible velocities.

Table 7.5.3. Maximum permissible velocities for soils in the Roma district

Group 1 .

Group 2.

Group 3.

Soil groups

Glenarden, Karee, Pembroke, Belah, Quibet, Pamaroo

Roma Downs, Merino Downs, Crochdantigh, Mitchell Downs, Waverley Downs, Knockalong, Wondolin, Limewood, Eumamurrin, Studley, Nimitybelle

Riverview

Max. perm. veloc. (m/sec )

0 . 3 0

0 . 35

0 . 40

Channel vel ocity should be suffici ent t o r educe deposition of sediment in the channel, but not so high as to cause scouring. The Pamaroo soil requires a velocity of 0 . 3 m/sec to reduce ponding which, if allowed to occur in the channel, may lead to tunnel erosion.

The Nimitybelle and Waverley Downs soils have the same recommended design velocity as the soil s of the Open Downs LRA in order to prevent slow fl ows which could pond in those sections of the channel where the slaking of the bank has reduced both channel capacity and grade.

7 . 5 . 5 Channel gradient

As soil detachability and transportability are related to flow velocity , it is important to select an appropriate velocity for bare earth channels so that scouring does not occur.

7-24

The recommended gradient for all soil s in the Roma district is 0 . 2% . This gradient should not be exceeded, particularly for long banks where ther e is a corresponding increase in depth and v elocity of flow with increasing discharge. However, gradients may be increased to 0 . 3% for 1 00 m or so where channels cross gullies or depressions. This helps to even out sharp bends and reduces pending.

The discharge ends of contour banks should not be turned down. This w ill increa se water velocity and may result in scouring of the bank channel .

Level contour banks are not recommended. In this situation, the result of bank failure is severe erosion, as the total volume of stored water discharges through the breakage.

7 . 5 . 6

Parall el banks are not practicable in most of the district a s :

land slopes are uneven;

paddocks are large and irregular contours make the design of long runs impossibl e ; and

higher gradients would be required in some parts to keep the banks parallel and this is not possible as channel gradients should not exceed 0 . 2 % , except where specified above.

Constructed bank height

Contour bank height is determined by the equation

H = d + f + s where

H = constructed bank height (before settlement )

d = design depth of flow

f = freeboard

s = settlement where s = 0 . 5 (d + f)

The design depth of flow is determined in the following manner.

( i) The Rational Method is used to derive Q for the catchment to the contour bank outlet Q(ra t . )

( ii) The value of Q ( rat. ) and maximum permissible velocity ( V) are substituted in the formula Q = aV to derive cross-sectional area (a ) .

( iii) Design depth of flow is dependent on the channel shape (that is, triangular or trapezoidal) and is determined by substitution for depth and w idth v alues in the cross-sectional area (a) value determined in ( ii) above.

7-25

As maximum permissibl e v elocities have been set for the district , the cross-sectional area can be easily detennined. The shape of the channel cross-section influences ' d ' . The most common form in the district is triangular. This shape also results over time foll owing cultivation, even where flat bottom channel s were constructed.

Freeboard ( f) is generally set at 0 . 20 m for the Roma district for the foll owing reasons.

( i) Due to the uneven sl opes, banks frequently have sudden change s in direction which result in increased depth of flow, particularly during large discharge s.

( ii) The top of the contour bank is narrow and frequently cracks, or has ca ttle pads through i t . During surging of th e fl ows, downslope hydr aul ic pr essure can cause bank failure at these points without bank capacity being exceeded.

S et tl ement ( s ) is added t o compensate for post-construction settl ement of the banks, ensuring sufficient channel capacity for the design storm . Settl ement factors for contour bank construction for the soil s of the Roma district are as given in Table 7 . 4 .4 . If the bank is constructed when the soil is too wet, settl ement may exceed those values given in Table 7 . 4 . 4 . Bank height should also be increased across gullies and depressions to allow for the additi onal settl ement expected.

Recommended values for the factors for standard bank height in the district are :

d = 0 . 35 m f = 0. 20 m s = 0 . 25 m

This results in an average constructed bank height of 0 . 8 0 m.

7 . 5 . 7 Contour bank l ength

Contour banks can be built up to 1 200 m long if design specifications and maintenance requirements are observed and each bank is properly laid out. Banks l onger than 1 200 m can be constructed if ;

( i ) the last 300 m at the outlet end of the bank is buil t at l ea st 1 . 2 m high ;

( ii) the channel gradient is reduced to 0 . 1 5% for that section of the bank at the top end which is greater than 1 200 m in length ; and

( iii) extra care is taken in construction where the bank crosses gullies and washouts.

7-26

7 . 5 . 8 Channel shape

Contour channel s tend to become triangular in shape within two to three years f'ollowing construction (Lehmann and Bartel s , 1 978b ) . The semitrapezoidal shape apparent at construction becomes triangular due to cul tivation, sil tation and the ' evening out' ef'f'ect of' f'low in the channel. The triangular channel also has broad batters, so that f'or a given depth of' f'low, the hydraulic radius is less than f'or the same depth of' f'low in a trapezoidal channel . This results in a lower f'low velocity. Thus, a small increase in bank height results in a large increase in channel capacity. Frequently, banks designed f'or a 1 in 1 0 storm can of'ten saf'ely carry a 1 in 1 00 storm due to the banks being constructed higher than design requirements.

7 . 5 . 9 Construction

Dozers, graders, tractor-mounted blades and trailing grader blades can all be used f'or bank construction in the Roma district. In most situations, a dozer i s the most practical and economic machine f'or building banks . Graders are suited to long bank construction, particularly where there are f'ew washouts and gullies to f'ill and cross. However, a grader is l ess sui tabl e f'or constructing a narrow based bank.

Gullies and depressions which are crossed by banks need to be f'illed and l evelled. Dozers and scrapers should be used f'or larger gullies. Graders can be used f'or f'ill ing small depressions and cattle pads.

Care should be taken not to expose the sodic subsoil on the Roma Downs, Nimitybelle, Glenarden, Pamaroo, Quibet and Karee soils and al so on those texture contrast soils with impermeable subsoils (FDI (TC) , CDI (TC) ) which are f'ound in the Maranoa, Yuleba, Macwood and Merivale LRAs.

7 . 5 . 1 0 Maintenance

Regular bank maintenance is required to maintain channel capacity which decreases due to the settling of' the bank and the accumulation of' silt in the channels. Maintenance to correct these problems is usually required every two to f'ive years depending on the seasons and the f'arming system employed.

A grader is a usef'ul machine f'or cl eaning bank channel s, while a dozer blade or scraper is needed to repair broken banks. Bank f'ailure or damage should be repaired as soon as possible to reduce f'urther damage and erosion.

Disc ploughs have not been successf'ul in maintaining bank height, particularly at sharp bends, in gullies and on ridge tops. Graders cannot generally f'unction ef'f'ectively in sharp corners or in depressions. Dozers are, theref'ore, recommended f'or use in gullies and f'or ridge tops where a greater depth of' f'ill or excavation is needed to reduce the angle of' the bank. Where erosion in the disposal area threatens channel stability, stone sills or other methods as described in Section 7. 4 . 1 1 should be used.

7-27

7 . 5 . 1 1 Implementation and construction

The conv entional way of surv ey ing bank l ayouts is to start at the top of the area, cane down the recommended spacing for that slope and soil type and mark in the first contour bank. Subsequent banks are then surveyed progressively at the correct spacing down the slope until th e area is covered. Slope readings should be measured initially and then checked regularly during surveying. Surveyed lines should be smoothed out to eliminate any sharp angles prior to constructing the banks .

The conventional method may be varied wher e :

( i ) the discharge area is unstabl e. Banks should be moved u p or down the slope until a stable outlet such as a waterway or grassed area is reached.

( ii) rock outcrops , shade belts or other physical barriers exist . location can be adjusted to pass through a thin area of shade or to avoid the rock outcrops .

Bank belt

( iii) slopes al ong ridges are variable causing variation in bank spacing and l ength as the bank is surveyed around th e ridge. Design effects on bank spacing and l ength in these sites can be minimised as follows :

• direct water flow away from the ridge by designing a system of banks which split the flows to either side of the ridge ;

• where water has to be taken across a flat ridge , use a nearl ev el grade on the high side of the ridge and a steeper grade for a few readings on the lower side ; or

• locate banks at the change s in slope to minimise uneven bays. For instance, where a saddle exists on a ridge, locate one bank through the saddl e. This el iminates the bank running around the second l ow hill near its crest which only provides minimal additional run-off protection.

In si tuations where there is considerabl e run-on water from above a paddock, a diversion bank should be used. Contour banks at recommended spacing are then used below the diversion bank .

The difference in recommended grades between the diversion and the contour bank can cause probl ems with maintaining the recommended vertical interval , and this should be considered when deciding the placement of the first contour bank.

L ocation of fences, gates and roads should be considered in the layout. Roads are best located on ridges or along the contour and should avoid crossing waterways.

7-28

Run-off should not be diverted through boundary fences or into adjoining catchment s where adjacent properties will be adversely affected. Th e contour bank l ayouts in future areas of develojXllent should be considered when l ayouts of adjacent areas of cultivation are being designed.

Three methods of surveying cont our banks are used in the Roma district.

Hand staff and engineer' s level. Markers should be put down every 30m. Markers should always be surveyed at likely point s of bank failure such as in depressions. This system is accurate but slower than other methods. It is particularly suited to rough or steep areas, or country on which vehicle access is limited.

The HcLatchey electronic staff. This is a tractor-mounted staff and moving target which is electronically controlled. The target moves up or down the staff (depending on the direction of grade in the bank) an amount proportional to the distance travelled. An engineer' s l evel is used to sight onto the target. Two-way radios are used to control the positi oning of the tractor.

Being a continuous method, this system is faster than hand surveying, particularly on land slopes less than 3%. About 30 minutes should be allowed for setting up the equijXllent on a tractor. This system produces an irregular survey line which must be evened out prior to construction.

The laser-based surveying system. Thi s o perates o n the same principl e as the Mcl..atchey electronic staff except that in this method, the soil conservation officer drives along the l ine. The engineer ' s l evel is replaced by a laser beacon which produces a level plane of laser light. L ight sensors on a travelling shuttle in a mast mounted on a vehicle pick up the beam and a set of lights enables the drum to be corrected for position.

The advantages of this system are similar to those for the McLatchey electronic staff. However, it is a system which allows the officer doing the surveying to travel the survey line. This has advantages in terms of checking the bank location at outlets and where crossing washout s. Setup time for the equijXllent is about 1 5 minutes. The beacon should be correctly positioned initially to ensure efficiency in surveying, both with regard to time and to area covered. The survey line produced also needs to be evened out after initial surveying.

7-29

7.6 Specif'ications for diversion banka

7 . 6 . 1 Introduction

Diversion banks are large contour banks which :

(i) are designed to have grassed channels ;

( ii) are not cultivated ; and

( iii) generally maintain a trapezoidal cross-section after construction.

Diversion banks are used in the Roma district t o :

• protect cultivation from run-on water from areas higher up the slope. These areas can be native or sown pastures, timbered or rocky areas or adj acent fields not treated with contour banks .

• divert water from unstable areas. This can involve taking water out of the natural depression with actively eroding gully heads and diverting it to a stable depression or constructed waterway.

• divert water from natural depressions or constructed waterways into other drainage lines as part of a coordinated drainage plan.

• coll ect water from cross-road or rail drainage points and di rect it into natural depressions or constructed waterways.

• divert water into or away from farm dams.

Summary specifications for diversion banks are presented in Table 7 . 6 . 1 .

7 . 6 . 2 Soil and site suitability

Diversion banks can be constructed on most soils in the Roma district provided adequate care is taken during design and construction, and with maintenance .

Soi l s w i th l imited s ui ta bi l i ty for contour banks have similar l imitations for diversion banks. Diversion banks are often required on non-arable soils. Exposure of sodic subsoils is more l ikely than with contour banks as a greater quantity of topsoil is removed when building diversion banks.

7-30

Tab1e 7 .6. 1 . Summary specif ications for diversion banks in the Roma district. Part 1.

Soil Suitability Maximum Grass permissible retardance

velocity (m/sec)

OPEB OOVIfS LRA

Roma Downs LS 1 . 0 D Crochdantigh LS 1 . 0 D Waverl ey Downs LS 1 . 0 D Knockalong LS 1 . 0 D Merino Downs LS 1 . 0 D Mitchell Downs LS 1 . 0 D

BRIGALOII UPL.AI!IDS LRA

L imewood LS 1 . 0 D Wondolin LS 1 . 0 D Eumamurrin LS 1 . 0 C-D Glenarden LS 1 . 0 D

AIIJY LRA

Studley s 1 . 0 D

COOGOOIT LRA

Pembroke LS 1 . 0 D

Riverview s 1 . 0 D

Belah LS 1 . 0 D Karee LS 0 . 6 E

TARl'OLLA LRA

Woodburn LS 1 . 0 D

Qui bet LS/NS 0 . 6 E

BYI«>URT LRA

Nimitybelle LS 0 . 8 E

Pamaroo LS 0 . 6 E

STRU.Alll LRA

L ucknow LS 0 . 6 E

BALOIIIIE LRA

Unnamed cracking LS o . B D clays

7-3 1

Table 7.6 . 1 . Summary spe cifications for diversion banks in the Roma district. Part 1 (cont. )

Soil

MARAJIOA LRA

Deep sands and sandy texture contrast soils

YULDJA LRA


HA.CVOOD LRA

Deep sands and sandy texture contrast soils and massive earths

MERIVALE LRA

Skeletal and sandy texture contrast soils

Suitability

NA

NA

LS

LS

Maximum permissible

velocity (mlsec)

0 . 8

0 . 6-1 . 0

Grass retardance

D-E

D -E

Table 7.6 . 1 . Summary spe cif ications for diversion banks in the Roma district. Part 2.

(i) Design frequency 1 in 50 years

(ii) Constructed height

H = d + f + s where

H = constructed height in metres d = design depth of flow f = freeboard (standard 0.3 m)

( iii) Channel gradient

Average - 0 . 3% Maximum - 0 . 4%

s = settlement where s = 0 . 5 (d + f)

7-32

Soils such as the Pamaroo, Karee, Limewood, Nimitybelle and Glenarden soil s with impermeabl e , sodic subsoils have limited suitability for diversion bank construction. Care should also be taken not to expose the subsoil during construction on all other soil s with sodic subsoil s. The slumping nature of the Knockal ong soil reduces its suitability for diversion banks. The Nimitybelle and Waverl ey Downs soils have limited suitabil ity for diversion banks due to their slaking characteristic. Problems with stabilising diversion banks may occur on the Lucknow soil. The Woodburn soil has l imited suitability due to gilgai.

7 . 6 . 3 Design criteria

Diversion banks are v ital to the success of the overall drainage plan. They are, therefore, designed to carry a 1 in 50 storm event. Design is based on r etardance D except for :

Eumamurrin soil - retardance C-D ;

Soils of the Macwood and Merival e LRAs - retardance D-E; and

Karee, Quibet, Nimitybelle, Pamaroo, and L ucknow soils - retardance E.

7 . 6 . 4 Maximum permissible veloci ty

Maximum permissible velocity for diversion banks for the majority of soils is 1 m/sec. Exceptions are the Nimitybelle soil and the soils of the Macwood LRA which have a maximum permissible velocity of 0 . 8 m/sec, and the Karee, Quibet, Pamaroo and Lucknow where i t is 0 . 6 m/sec. Due to the variability of the soils of Merivale LRA, the maximum permissible velocity varies between 0 . 6 and 1 . 0 m/sec.

7 . 6 . 5 Constructed bank height

The constructed bank height is calculated by estimating the peak run-off and using waterway design charts to find channel width and depth of flow, then substituting in the following formula :

where H d f s

=

=

=

=

constructed height depth of flow freeboard = 0 . 3 m ( includes settl ing allowance ) settlement = 0 . 5 (d + f)

7 . 6 . 6 Channel gradient

Design charts based on Manning ' s formula are used to determine depth of flow. An ' n ' value of 0 . 03 is used. Most diversion banks surveyed at a grade of 0 . 3 % hav e proved successful . Scme variations in grade are warranted in particular situations. For example, grades of between 0 . 1 % and 0.5% can be used safely for short distances on those soils considered suitabl e for diversion banks.

7-33

7 . 6 . 7 Construction

Care should be taken when constructing diversion banks to ensure that the design channel capacity is obtained. The channel shape should be broad and flat. Bank shape is not critical . However, a base of at least 3 m is needed on most soils and 4 m for cracking clay soil s. Dozers should be used for construction for the following reasons:

the large volume of soil to be moved, particularly where crossing gullies or drainage line s ;

the need to deep rip the area over which the bank is built to aid bonding and prevent seepage between the original surface and the bank ; and

diversion banks are often constructed on shallow stony soils, where there is little depth of loose material available for construction.

7 . 6 . 8 Maintenance

Most diversion banks do not require frequent maintenance, particularly if they are well constructed and have adequate grass cover. Grass cover can be improved by broadcasting seed and spraying for weed control in the early stages. Maintenance may be required to remove silt from the bank channel , or to reinstate channel capacity where cattl e pads have lowered bank height.

7 . 6 . 9 Surveying

When surveying the should be avoided. with overfalls into

bank location, shelter belt areas and rocky Outlets should be carefully selected to avoid actively eroding gullies.

outcrops problems

If the diversion bank is very long, allowance must be made for machinery a ccess, as diversion banks cannot be easily crossed. One technique is to break the bank and start off again about 1 0 m downslope allowing a 20 to 40 m overlap.

7-34

7. 7 Specif'ications foro pondage banks

Pondage banks are level diversion banks with partially closed ends . are designed to hold as much run-off water as possible in areas there are unsuitabl e outlet sites. They are only used in pastoral on permeable soil s.

Pondage banks are not suited to the Roma district as:

there are no suitabl e grass species;

They where areas

because of the extra height required, construction costs are higher and there is a greater depth of erodible subsoil exposed ;

there is a higher erosion risk if surcharging occurs; and

they may act as short-term storage dams if evaporation rates are low, particularly on soils with impermeable subsoils. The risk of followup events exceeding the storage capacity of most pondage banks is fairly high. This leads to the risk of surcharging and erosion.

Where pondage banks have to be used, a design frequency of at l east 1 in 50 is used with a minimum freeboard of 0 . 5 m. These design requirements tend to make the construction of pondage banks uneconomic and impractical except in special circumstances.

7-35

1.8 Specif'ications �or spreader channels

Spreader channels are l evel channels, used to spread concentrated flows of run-off onto grassland. The use of spreader channels is not recanmended in the Roma district for the following reasons :

they have a small er channel capacity than the diversion or contour banks from which they receive con centra ted run-off ;

large flows do not discharge evenly over the l evel spillway resulting in concentrated flows with higher v elocity and greater erosion potential ;

providing stable pastures and maintaining adequate ground cover for outlet areas of spreader channel s is difficult ; and

lack of maintenance causes silt deposits, debris and clumps of grass to block the channel, which results in concentrated discharge.

7-36

7.9 Specif'ications for grass strips

Grass strips are strips of grass, either l eft during clearing or planted on the contour as an inexpensive alternative to contour banks. They do not provide a long-term solution for run-off control . They have been used extensively in the Roma district in the past.

7 . 9 . 1 Disadvantages of grass strips :

They induce sequential downslope erosion. Silt and debris are trapped by the grass strip. However, the run-off leaving the strip has a high transport capacity , causing erosion on the next inter strip area downslope.

Any sl ight depressi ons concentrate run-off, resulting in further erosion.

Silt caught in grass strips eventually builds up into uneven level banks. Div er sion and concentration of run-off causing serious erosion then occurs.

They are rarely maintained at a sui table width and may only act as a general guide to contour cultivation.

Their effectiveness is greatly reduced due to the decrease in surface cover with grazing.

7 . 9 . 2 Role of grass strips

They can be used on texture contrast soils which are not suitable for contour banks.

Where ther e are no sui tabl e outl ets for contour banks , or in difficult locations, grass strips may have to be used instead of contour banks.

7 . 9 . 3 Design

Where grass strips are used, they should have a minimum width of 1 0 m. They are not recommended for long-term erosion control on land slopes greater than 3%. The design and layout for grass strips is the same as that for contour banks and is based on the 1 in 10 year storm. Spacing is the same as for standard spaced contour banks to facilitate the change to contour banks in the future.

7 . 9 . 4 . Establishment and maintenance

S tr i ps of either undisturbed native grasses or planted buffel grass, Rhodes grass or creeping blue grass are suitable. Grass strips should not be overgrazed. Strips of weeds are not effective and cause the spreading of weeds into the cultivation.

7-37

7. 10 Specif'ications f'or pasture f'urr011s

Pasture furrows are used to reduce run-off and increase infiltration to improve pasture growth. They are particularly useful in pasture lands in the Roma district as many of the soil s have massive, hard setting surfaces resulting in high run-off rates. Pasture furrows greatly increase the effectiveness of rainfall for pasture growth. Pasture furrows should be opened along the contour in pastures , with the soil turned downhill. The typical depth of pasture furrows is 1 0 to 1 5 em. Pasture furrows should not exceed 40 m in length. The design spacing for pasture furrows should not exceed that for standard spaced contour banks . Continuous furrows concentrat e run-off and may lead to scouring. Special care in this respect should be taken w ith soils with sodic subsoils.

Pasture furrows are used in preference to deep ripping. Deep ripping is not recommended in the Roma district due to the potential for exposing the erodible sodic subsoils.

A safer alternative in the Roma district is to use shallow contour ripping to improve infiltration in pasture areas. The presence of pasture furrows al so l eads t o diff iculty with m ustering paddocks both with vehicles and horses.

8-1

8. AGROROMlC PRACriCES FOR JmOOIOif OOifTR(L

8 . 1 Introduction

Properly designed and adequately maintained run-off control structures will safely remove run-off water fran cultivation. However, erosion can still occur between contour banks . Vegetative cover to reduce raindrop impact and soil particle detachment i s required t o reduce interbank soil loss to an acceptabl e level .

Conventional tillage methods reduce surface stubble cover and produce a fine surface tilth which is conducive to run-off and soil loss. This fine tilth condi tion is also highly susceptible to wind erosion on some soil s, particularly those with massive surface soil. Agronomic practices which reduce soil loss in the Roma district are discussed.

8.2 Grain and f'odder crops

The use of agronomic measures to control erosion - conservation croppingaims to achieve maximum soil surface protection by retaining crop residues and by having crop cover during the critical summer storm period.

The use of practices such as :

crops which produce good surface cover ; tillage implements which retain surface stubble ; and herbicides to control weeds and thus reduce the number of tillage operations

would appear to be the best approach to long term cropping. The frequency of drought, and thus crop failures leading to long periods of l ow levels of surface cover, emphasises the need to develop conservation cropping methods appropriate to conditions prevailing in the Rana area.

8 . 2 . 1 Crop sel ection

The main crop grown in the district i s wheat, generally as a continuous cro p, with l e sser amounts of barley and oats. Cropping of sorghum, sunflowers, safflower and grain l egumes, while l ess common, is l ikely to increase, particularly with sorghum, which has high grazing value as a failed crop. Summer cropping in most years, however, is not possible west of the summer cropping line shown in Map 2.

Characteristics of the main crops in terms of their value for stubble production for erosion protection are as follows.

• Wheat and barley produce high l evels of stubble in good years (up to 1700 kg/tonne of grain) and give good protection fran early summer storms.

• Sorghum produces a reasonable l evel of stubble (up to 1 1 00 kg/tonne of grain ) . This stubble tends to break down quickly and in addition

8-2

is normally grazed. The growing crop gives adequate cover from February to May, but the fine bare seedbed produced in December is very sus ceptibl e to erosion. Ground worked for sorghum and subsequently not planted due to inadequate planting r ains is particularly erosion pr one .

• Sunflower s and safflower produce low levels of stubble which readily breaks down. The stubble of these crops is light and floats a!tlay during run-off events, often clogging contour banks or collecting along fences. The crops offer little surface protection and the fine seedbed produced in December-January is particularly susceptible to erosion.

• Millets provide good summer cover if planted in spring. However , the r el iabil i ty of s pring r ainfall i s low and good cover is seldom achieved.

• Cow pea has been used as a gr een manur e crop to improve fertil ity and soil physical conditions. These benefits are only shor t-lived and as such the practice is generally uneconomic.

8 . 2 . 2 . Crop rotations

Due to the poor rainfall rel iabil ity , no rigid crop rotation system is practised. Rotations based on a major proportion of winter crop are r ecommended, as the r etention of winter stubble offer s the best potential for surface protection during the early summer storms. A summary of the degr ee of erosion protection afforded by the most common cr op rotations is given in Table 8 . 1 . Crop rotation options suitabl e for the soil s of the Roma district are given in Table 8 . 2, based on crop suitability as defined in Table 6 . 2 .

Table 8 . 1 . Degr ee of erosion pr otect i on for th e most common cr op rotations in the Roma district

Crop rotation

A. After wheat harvest (i) shor t fallow-continuous wheat

( ii) double crop into late sorghum ( iii) long fallow into wheat

B . After sorghum harvest {i) winter fallow then sorghum

( ii) double crop into wheat

( iii) long fallow into wheat

Degr ee of erosion protection *

Best Good Fair

Fair to poor ( if late planting) Fair to good (low probability of sufficient soil moistur e and rainfall)

Poor

* These potential l ev el s of surface pr otect i on are dependent on management and assume that reasonable stubble l evels are produced, the ar ea is not grazed and stubble r etaining impl ements and/or herbicides are used.

8-3

Table 8.2. Crop rotation options suitabl e for soils of the Roma district

Soils Continuous wheat

OPEII OOVRS LRA

Roma Downs s Crochdantigh s Waverley Downs s Knock along s Merino Downs s Mitchell Downs s

BRIGAL(Jl OPLAIIDS LRA

L imewood Won dol in Eumamurrin Glenarden

AHJY LRA

Studley

OOOGOOR LRA


T.ARTOLLA LRA

Woodburn Qui bet

s s s s

s

s

Crop rotation options

Wheat Wheat Continuous*

doubl e- extended sorghum crop fallow wheat sorghum

s s s s s s s s

s s

s s s s

s s s s s s s

s

s s

s s s s

s

s

Sorghum*

long fallow wheat

s s s s

s s s s

s

s

8-4

Tab1e 8.2. Crop rotation options suitable for soil s of the Roma district ( cont . )

Soils

BDI>UIIT LRA

Nimitybelle Pamaroo

STRUAII LRA

Lucknow

B.ALOJINE LRA

Continuous wheat

Unnamed cracking S clays

Crop rotation options

Wheat doublecrop sorghum

s

Wheat extended

fallow wheat

s s

s

Continuous*

sorghum

s

* This crop option applies to soil s in Climatic Zone A only. S - suitabl e.

8 . 2 . 3 Tillage

Sorghum*

long fallow wheat

s

s

Till age practices which may help reduce run-off and soil loss are as follows.

Blade and chisel ploughs should be used in preference to one-way disc ploughs. Tined implements have better stubble retention ability and cause l ess ground disturbance than disc implements.

The number of tillage operations should be reduced to improve soil moist ur e and stubbl e retention. Chemical weed control can be substi tuted for till age operations. Options for zero tillage appropriate to the district are being investigated.

Early till age w ith a bl ade or chisel plough soon after harvest followed by the use of knockdown and residual chemicals to control weeds during the fallow , appears to be a suitabl e system in the district.

8-5

Zero tillage trials are being undertaken on soils in the Open Downs and Brigalow Uplands LRAs. Field observations and measurements in the Roma district have shown that zero tillage will :

reduce soil loss signi:ficantly ;

produce about the same amount of' run-o:r:r as conventional tillage ; and

give similar yields to those obtained :from conventional practices.

However, costs are generally higher than with conventional cropping and management and technical expertise needs to be improved to ensure the system is e:f:fective. In addition, there is a need :for sui table planting equipment to be developed. Additional pre-planting cultivation may be required to establ ish a seed-bed on the massive, hard setting soils in the district.

Tillage practices which are suitable :for the soils of' the Roma district are given in Table 8 . 3 .

Table 8.3. Tillage practices suitable :for soils of' th e Roma district

Tillage practices

Soils Tined Blade and Mounted implements rod impl ements harrows

OPEII IJOVIIS LRA Roma Downs s s s Crochdantigh s s s Waverley Downs s s s Knockalong s s s Merino Downs s s s Mitchell Downs s s s

BRIGAI.Oif UPL.AHDS LRA L imewood Wondolin Eumamurrin Glenarden

AIIJY LRA Studley

WOGOOR LRA Pembroke Riverview Belah Karee

T AR'I.'OLLA LRA Woodburn Qui bet

S* S* S* S*

S*

S* S* S* S*

S*

- --- -----·�----------

S* s S* s S* s S** s

S* s

S** s S* s S* s

S* s

Herbicides

s s s s s s

s s s S***

s

S*** S*** S*** S***

s

8-6

Table 8.3. Tillage practices suitable for soils of the Roma district (cont . )

Tillage practices

Soils Tined Blade and Mounted Herbicides impl ement s rod implements harrows

BDI>UIIT LRA Nimitybelle S* S** s S***

Pamaroo S* S** s S***

STRUAII LRA Lucknow

BJLODE LRA Unnamed cracking clays S* S* s s

* Stumps need to be removed.

**

1!1!!1

Stumps need to be removed and the hard soil s make implement use difficult . narrow moisture range when they can be

setting properties of these These soil s also have a

cultivated.

These soils dry out rapidly, hence weeds can become stressed and harder to kill.

8 . 2. 4 Crop/pasture rotations

Due to the opportunistic nature of farming in the district , no set crop or crop/pasture rotations are practised. Although crop/pasture rotations are desirable, it is difficult to see them become an established management practice due t o the rainf al l variability of the di strict and the l imitations of dual management of cropping and grazing enterprises.

8.3 Grazing lands

Grazing management practices should aim to maintain adequate ground cover at all times and prevent the concentration of surface run-off. Grazing management practices recommended include :

The establ ishment of suitable pastures (see recommended species for the soils in Table 6 . 3 ) . Pasture furrows and contour ripping are recommended to improve pasture establishment and growth, particularly on degraded areas.

The control of stocking rates to prevent overgrazing. Stock numbers should b e reduced to maintain reccxnmended stocking rates on the property when grazing l and i s brought into cultivation. This reduces grazing pressure on the r emaining pasture areas. Due to the unrel iabl e climate, fodder crops should not be relied on either for stock fattening or to maintain a high stocking rate.

------------- --- - - ----- --------

8-7

The l ayout of paddocks should consider the needs of both pasture and stock management. While it is desirable to fence similar types of country into the one paddock to use pastures effectively, it i s sel dom po ssible t o d o thi s e conomically on l arge properties. Therefore, pasture management through rotational grazing should be undertaken to avoid overuse. This method could be used to exclude cattle from critical areas of silver-leaved ironbark country during sawfly outbreaks (see Section 9) .

Stock watering points, fences and gateways should be l ocated to avoid the creation of stock tracks which concentrate water and cause soil erosion. Watering points should also be located to ensure an even grazing pressure across the paddock.

Firebreaks should be maintained to reduce the risk of wild f ires during the early summer months.

8.11 Clearing strategies

8 . 4 . 1 Cul tivation areas

The following recommendations should be applied.

Land sl ope l imits for cultivated areas for the soils should not exceed those given in Tabl e 9 . 4 .

Shade bel t s should b e l ef t when cl earing in all LRAs as most properties run stock. Approximately 10 to 20% of the area should be left as shade belts. Clumps larger than five hectares or strips of timber at l east 20 m wide enable natural regeneration of the shade bel t , are more effective than i sol ated trees and cause 1 ess interference with farming.

Strip clearing for cultivation is desirabl e to reduce both wind and water erosion on most soil s, particularly those of the Coogoon LRA. Cultivation strips should not exceed 200 m in width (downslope direction ) or 500 m in length. These dimensions may vary for a particular site depending on paddock size and landform.

The most effective protection against wind erosion is prov ided by aligning the tree belts north-south.

Disc ploughing followed by two to three years of summer crops is a common practice to control sucker regrowth when establishing pastures in the Brigalow Uplands LRA. This practice also provides an income to recoup the cost s of clearing and pasture establishment. This method has a high erosion risk as soil conservation structures are seldom constructed. Erosion can be minimised by using heavy duty blade ploughs for ini tial sucker control. Blade ploughs can also be used for pasture establishment- in high erosion risk areas on soils that are not sui ted for cultivation.

8-8

8 . 4 . 2 Grazing areas

Cl ear f'ell ing , total ringbarking or poisoning should not be undertaken on land above the slope l imits recommended in Table 9 . 4 . Depending on the nature of' the v egetation community, the soil s and the erosion risk, a reasonable level of' tree thinning may be an acceptable alternative management practice.

Only areas which can be adequately managed f'or pasture establ ishment (both size and development cost ) should be cleared a t any stage. This will minimise the amount of' regrowth by ensuring that suf'f'icient re sources are available to control the problem bef'ore it becanes unmanageable.

Stock should be excluded or stocking rates controlled on new areas until the pasture is well established.

Debris should not be pushed into drainage l ines during clearing. This reduces stream capacity and increases the potential f'or gullying to occur.

Adequate shade clumps should be lef't in areas cl eared f'or pasture development. Approximately 1 0 to 20% of' the cleared area should be lef't in timber, pref'erably as large units rather than as i solated trees. Too little shade results in heavy pressure on those areas remaining, causing erosion and degradation of' the shade belts.

Recommenda tions f'or grazing management of' the brigalow areas are given in Nevell et az . ( 1 98 1 ) and Anonymous ( 1 976) .

9-1

9. CORSERVATIOli HAIIAGEMaT SJSTEJ�;

9 . 1 Introduction

The majority of cultivation is on land slopes between 2 and 5% with some areas of lower gradient plains and alluvial areas. Much of the cultivated land has very long slopes often with poorly defined drainage patterns. The effect of cul tivation on the soil s on these long slope s , in a sso ciation with the seasonal distribution and erosivity of the rain, predisposes the area to serious erosion. This erosion potential is further exacerbated by the frequency of drought and subsequent crop failur e l eading t o l ow l evel s of surface protection throughout the district .

Conservation management systems are required to both control and reduce the amount of r un-off and soil loss. These systems must be designed to protect the soil against severe erosion events at planting time or during the summer storm period when surface protection is normally inadequate. A conservation management system is thus an integrated a pproach t o land use designed to ensure the long-term maintenance of productivity. This requires a recognition of the inherent l imitations of soils and the develo!lllent of cropping and pasture management techniques consistent with those l imitations.

A conservation management system is based on:

the identification of the soils of the area and the determination of their physical and chemical limitations ( see Sections 4 and 6 ) ;

the development of suitable run-off control structures and agronomic practices to reduce soil loss ( see Sections 7 and 8 ) ; and

the integration of these factors into a total farm management system.

9.2 Grain and fodder cropping

The sui tabil ity of the soi l s of the R oma di strict for cropping is pre sented in Table 6 . 2 . The inherent erodibil i ty of these soils infl uences the l evel of protection needed to provide adequate erosion control. An estimate of this erodibility is given by the K factor (Wischmeier and Smith 1 978) which is shown for all Roma district soils in Table 9 . 1 .

A consideration of the erodibility of the soil s and the district potential to produce stubble l evels sufficient to influence soil loss control in average years has been used to assign crop options as shown in Table 8 . 2. The potential of the soil s to produce stubble is a function of their productivity and can be summarised as shown in Table 9 . 2 These estimates are ba sed on continuous wheat cropping, which is the most favoured crop rotation in the district .

�--- ----- ---------

9-2

Table 9 . 1 . K ractors ror soil s or the Roma district

LRA Soil

Open Downs Roma Downs Crochdantigh Waverley Downs Knock along Merino Downs Mitchell Downs

Brigalow Uplands Limewood Wondolin Eumamurrin Glenarden

Am by

Coo goon

Tartulla

Balonne

Bymount

Maranoa

Yuleba

Macwood

Struan

Merivale

Studl ey


Woodburn Qui bet

Unnamed clay soils

Nimitybelle Pamaroo

Deep sands Sandy texture contrast soils Massive earths

Sandy texture contrast soils Skeletal soils

Deep sands Sandy texture contrast soils Massive earths

Lucknow

Skeletal soils Clay soils Sandy texture contrast soils

K Factor*

0 . 25 - 0 . 35 0 . 25 - 0 . 35 0 . 25 - 0 . 35 0 . 25 - 0 . 35 0 . 25 - 0 . 35 0 . 25 - 0 . 35

0 . 25 - 0 . 35 0 . 25 - 0 . 35 0 . 25 - 0 . 35 > 0 . 35

0 . 25 - 0 . 35

> 0 . 35 > 0 . 35 > 0 . 35 > 0 . 3 5

0 . 25 - 0 . 35 > 0 . 35

0 . 25 - 0 . 35

> 0 . 35 > 0 . 35

0 . 25 - 0 . 35 > 0 . 35 > 0 . 35

> 0 . 35 > 0 . 35

0 . 25 - 0 . 35 > 0 . 35 > 0 . 35

> 0 . 35

> 0 . 35 > 0 . 35 > 0 . 35

ll These rankings are tentative and are based on an evaluation or work on similar soils investigated on the eastern Darling Downs (R. Loch, pers. comm. 1 983 ) .

9-3

Table 9.2. Potential stubble levels for soils of the Roma district based on a continuous wheat rotation

Stubble l evel

High ( > 1 500 kg/ha)

Moderate ( 1 000 to 1 500 kg/ha)

Low ( < 1 000 kg/ha)

Soils

C r o chdant i gh , Wav erl ey Downs , Knockalong, Merino Downs, Wondolin, Eumamurrin, Studley, Balonne LRA.

R om a D ow n s , M i t c h e l l L i m ew o o d , G l e n ar d e n , Riverview, Woodburn.

D o w n s , B e l a h ,

K a r e e , Pembrok e , Nim i ty b e l l e , Pamaroo.

Those soi l s which h av e the potential to produce high level s of stubble have more crop options available (Table 8 . 2) and are more suitable for conservation tillage practices (Tabl e 8 .3) . As these soils are the most productive in the district, the application of sound conservation and agronomic practices is required to ensure their sustained productivity.

On .the other hand, the soils which produce low stubble l evels have least crop and tillage options availabl e and appear in particular, to be least adaptable for chemical tillage practices. In general , problems al so exist with the design, construction and maintenance of stabl e, mechanical s o i l conservation measures on these soi l s . Their potential for productivity decline with continued cropping is thus greater than for the other soils of the district . Long-term pasture leys are recommended to prevent severe physical and chemical deterioration of the low stubble soils.

Conservation management systems for the soils of the Roma district therefore require :

selection of the most suitable soils for the proposed land use ;

the use of run-off control structures as set out in Section 7 ;

the selection of crop rotations which give the best surface cover and highest stubble l evel s ;

the use of tillage practices which retain maximum stubble cover and do not cause soil physical deterioration ;

controlled grazing of crop residues to retain stubble protection and limit damage to run-off control structures ; and

the use of pasture l eys on those soils which are not suited to longterm cultivation.

9-4

Interim conservation management systems recommended for the soils of the Roma district are given in Table 9 . 3. These are based on four slope zones and three categories of land use. The management systems are not soil specific but do reflect the broad requirements for the maintenance of productivity and erosion control of all the arable soils of the district .

Table 9.3. Interim conservation management systems for grain and fodder cropping for all arable soil s of the Roma district

Land use Slope zones ( % )

< 1 1 - 6 6 - 8 > 8

Continuous grain cropping SM SSCB/SM NR NR

Fodder cropping SB SSCB/SM NR NR

Temporary grain or SB/SM DSCB/SM DSCB/SM NR fodder cropping *

• This applies to areas being cropped for sucker regrowth or woody weed control and then being sown to permanent pasture within three years.

Note

9-3 Pastures

The above recommendations are minimum requirements.

The use of reduced or zero tillage practices is recommended where information is available and the soils are suitable.

SM stubbl e mulching SB strategic banking SSCB standard spaced contour banks DSCB double standard spaced contour banks NR not recommended.

R ecomm ended management practices to control erosion and maintain productivity in grazing areas are given in Table 9 . 4. Pasture species which are suitable for the soil s of the district are given in Table 6 . 3 .

9 . 3 . 1 Stocking rates

R ecommended stocking rates to maintain adequate ground cover and prevent degradation are given in Table 9 . 5. These are maximum rates and if these rates are exceeded, pasture degradation, soil erosion and a decl ine in productivity will occur.

Dest ocking, particularly after periods of prolonged drought, is necessary to allow the pasture to recover and set seed. Reduced grazing pressure on degraded or eroded areas helps maintain soil cover and assists in regeneration of the area.

9-5

There are a number of sui table fodder trees in the Rcxna district which provide valuable standby feed during droughts. The larger tree species such as myal l , wilga and kurrajong should be lopped rather than pulled to allow for regeneration. Mulga should only be pulled in strips or lopped, as complete felling of mulga will lead to degeneration of the mulga ccxnmuni ty and resul t in severe erosion. The success of pasture establishment in cleared mulga areas is very low. Additional information on management of fodder trees can be found in Burrows ( 1 973) and Pressland ( 1 975) .

A summary of all recommended management pract i ces designed to maintain productivity and control erosion in the grazing lands is given in Tabl e 9 . 4 .

9 . 3 . 2 Burning

R egular burning for the regeneration of native and improved pastures is not recommended in the Roma district. Some disadvantages of regular burning are :

the failure of summer rains following a spring burn may result in a man-induced drought due to lack of pasture growth ;

the invasion of pastures by unpalatable, fire-tolerant species ;

soil loss due to a lack of surface cover ; and

the decl ine of seed and nutrient stores in the surface soil .

Control l ed burning strategies may be acceptable in the following situations :

for suppressing sucker regrowth where the species are susceptible to fire ;

the reduction of fire hazard and the establishment of an effective firebreak system ; and

burning to revitalise old, rank pastures.

Table 9.4. Recommended management practices for grazing lands for all Land Resource Areas.

9-6

LRA

OPEN DOWNS

BRIGALOW

UPLANDS

AMBY

COOGOON

TARTULLA

BALONNE

BYMOUNT

YULEBA

MACWOOD

STRUAN

MERIVALE

MARANO A

WATER

See sections 6 . 4 and 8. 3

See sections

6 . 4 and 8 . 3

see sections 6 . 4 and 8 . 3

See sections 6 . 4 and a . 3

see sections 6 . 4 and 8 . 3

See sections

6 . 4 and 8 . 3

See sections

6 . 4 and 8 . 3

See sections 6 . 4 and 8 . 3 .

See sections

6 . 4 and 8 . 3

See sections 6 . 4 and 8 . 3

see sections

6 . 4 and 8 . 3

See sections

6 . 4 and 8 . 3

EROSION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

WIND

Mitchell Downs soil can be susceptible to wind erosion . Grass cover should

be maintained .

N . A .

N . A .

See sections 8 . 4 . 1 and 8 . 4 . 2 .

N . A .

N . A .

See sections 8 . 4 . 1 and 8 . 4 . 2 . Soils with loose# sandy surface are

suscepti ble. Retention of grass

cover needed .

See sections 8 . 4 . 1 and 8 . 4 . 2 . , loose sandy soils are susceptible; wind

breaks and grass cover needed.

See methods for Yuleba LRA.

See sections 8 . 4 . 1 and 8 . 4 . 2 .

See methods for Yuleba LRA.

See sections 8. 4. 1 and 8. 4 . 2 and

Bymount LRA recommendation.

GULLY

RECLAMATION

See section 7 . 4 . 1 1 Diffi

culty in establi shment and persistence of sui table

grass.

See sections 7 . 4 . 8 to 7 . 4 . 1 1 .

Care should be taken with

soils with dispersible

subsoils and/or shallow

topsoils. Pangola grass

( D . decumbens ) useful in

texture contrast soils.

See recommendation for

Open Downs LRA.

See section 7. 4 . 1 1 .

See section 7 . 4 . 1 1 . Not a problem in Woodburn soil

unless levelled.

See section 7. 4 . 1 1 . Flood

flows can be a problem.

See section 7. 4 . 1 1 . Also

Briga low Uplands LRA

recommendations.

Methods in 7. 4 . 1 1 useful but difficult on soils

with impermeable and dispersible subsoil s .

A s for Yuleba LRA

Difficult in this LRA.

Use methods detailed in

section 7. 4. 1 1 .

Use methods from section 7 . 4 . 1 1 , difficult on

skeletal and impermeable

texture contrast soils.

Methods in section 7. 4 . 1 1

suitable for COP ( U ) and

CMP (Gn ) soils. Diffi

cult on COl { TC ) , CHI ( TC ) ,

CSI ( TC ) , and FSI (TC)

soils.

USE OF

MECHANICAL MEASURES IN ERODED PASTURES

See Chapter 7 .

See Chapter 7 .

See Chapter 7 .

See Chapter 7 . Not recommended for PSI (TC)

and CSI (TC) soils.

See Chapter 7. Shallow contour ripping useful on texture contrast

soils and massive earths.

Suitable on clays and

soils with deep top

soils and/or permeable

subsoi l s . See Chapter

7 .

See Chapter 7 . Not

recommended on shallow

clay soils or CSI (TC)

soils.

See Chapter 7. Not

suitable on CSI ( TC ) ,

CHI (TC) and CSI ( U ) soils.

See Chapter 7. Not

sui table on CSI ( TC)

and FSI (TC) soils.

Limited suitabi lity.

Difficult to establish

protective grasses.

See Chapter 7, and methods for Yuleba

LRA.

See Chapter 7, but

methods only sui table

for COP ( U ) , CMP (Gn ) ,

COl (TC) and CHI (TC) soils.

Table 9.4. Recommended management practices for grazing lands for all Land Resource Areas. (cont.).

9-7

LRA

OPEN DOWNS

BRIGALOW UPLANDS

AMBY

COOGOON

TARTULLA

BALONNE

BY MOUNT

YULEBA

MACWOOD

STRUAN

MER I VALE

MARANDA

WOODY WEED REGROWTH CONTROL

N . A .

See recommendations for Amby LRA.

See section 8. 4. Ploughing,

slashing, using herbicides ,

fire and heavy grazing with

sheep have been successful. E.rosion management prac

tices are needed particularly

when ploughing.

See section 8 . 4 and Amby LRA. Ploughing not recommended on soi 1 s

unsuitable for cultivation

or which cannot be

protected from erosion.

See section 8. 4. Refer

to Coogoon LRA recommend

ations.

See section 8. 4 and

recommendation for

Coogoon LRA.

See section 8. 4. Refer to Coogoon LRA recommenda tions.

See section 8. 4 and recommendations for Coogoon LRA.

See section 8. 4 and the

use of methods other

than ploughing on CSI ( TC) soils.

Spraying, chemical treatment s , or slashing

recommended. Do not

plough.


recommendations for Coogoon LRA.


recommendations for

Coogoon LRA .

WATERING POINTS, FENCES ,

GATEWAYS, ACCESS TRACKS , LANEWAYS

See section 6. 5

See section 6. 5 .

See section 6 . 5

See section 6. 5

See section 6. 5. Low lying areas should be avoided due

to wetness and poor drainage .

See section 6 . 5 l ighter

textured soil more sui table

sites than the clays.

See section 6 . 5

See section 6 . 5

See section 6 . 5

See section 6 . 5

See section 6 . 5

See section 6 . 5

SALINITY

See section 5. 2 . 2

See section 5. 2 . 2 . Potent i a l

salinity problems where

Brigalow Uplands LRA occurs below Merivale LRA or Yuleba

LRA. Limit clearing in

these LRls <3nd in the contact

areas.

N . A .

N . A .

See section 5 . 2 . 2

N . A .

See section 5 . 2 . 2

See recommendations for

Brigalow Upland s .

N . A .

N . A .

See section 5 . 2 . 2 and

recormnendations for

Brigalow Uplands LRJL

N . A .

TIMBER CLEARING

N . A .

Maximum slope 1 5 \ . See sections 5 . 2 and 8 . 4

Little value in clear�ng

ridge lines as soils are

usually shallow and stony .

See sections 5 . 2 . 3 and 8 . 4 .

See section 8 . 4

N . A .

Maximum slope 1 5 \ . See

sections 5 . 2 . 3 and 8 . 4 .

Maximum slope o f 1 5 \ . On CSI ( TC) , CMI (TC ) , FSI (TC) , FMI ( TC ) , CMI ( U ) and CSI ( U )

r1aximum slope o f 1 0 \ .

N . A .

Maximum slope 1 0 \ . Minimum of

16 mulga trees/ha should be

left for regeneration. Lop

trees when necessary and only

clear thick patches of mulga

that cannot be thinned.

As for Yuleba LRA.

N . A .

9-8

T.ab1e 9 .5. Pasture carrying capacity of native and improved pastures

Soils Carrying capacity ( ha/beast )*

OPEII DOVIIS LRA

Roma Downs Crochdantigh Waverl ey Downs Knock along Merino Downs Mitchell Downs

BRIGALOII Ul'LARDS LRA

Limewood Won dol in Eumamurrin Glenarden

AIIJY LRA

S tudley

OOOGOO!f LRA


TABTULLA LRA

Woodburn Qui bet

BDmUJIIT LRA

Nimitybelle Pamaroo

smuAR LRA

Lucknow

BALOIIIIE LRA


Native

6 6 6 6 6 6

1 5 20 24 24

6

20 1 5 1 5 25

20 20

23 23

22

1 2

Improved

U** u u u u u

8 9 8

1 0

u

1 2 8 8

1 4

1 0 1 2

1 4 1 5

1 2

1 0

9-9

T.able 9.5. Pasture carrying capacity of native and improved pastures (cont . )

Soils Carrying capacity ( ha/beast )*

HARAJJOA LRA

Deep sands , sandy texture contrast soils, massive earths

YOLI!BA LRA

Sandy texture contrast soil s, skeletal soils

Deep sands , sandy texture contrast soil s and massive earths

MERIV.ALE LRA

Skel etal soil s, clay soil s, sandy texture contrast soils

Native

1 5

25

1 8

1 4-20

* 1 adult beast = 7 to 8 wethers ** U = Unknown *** predominantly used for sheep

9 . 3 . 3 Timber clearing

Improved

1 0

1 5

22

1 4

Tree-clearing slope l imits for both cultivation and pasture lands for soils of the Roma district are given in Table 9 . 4. Erosion control is difficult and expensive to achieve on all soils on l and slopes steeper than those recommended for cultivation. Tree-clearing limits do not apply to the Open Downs soils as only scattered timber occurs.

Acceptable tree densities to prevent land degradation and provide adequate stock shelter have not been established for the soils of the Roma district . The following general guidelines apply.

In areas of highly erodible texture contrast soils (Yul eba , Merivale, Coogoon and Bymount LRAs ) selective tree thinning rather than total clearing is recommended.

Recommendations for clearing practices in the Brigalow Uplands LRA are given in Section 8 . 4 .

9-10

Regular belts of' trees should be l eft in areas susceptible to wind erosion such as Coogoon LRA ( see section 8 . 4 ) .

The practice of' clear-felling silver-leaved ironbark communities for controlling sawfly poisoning in cattle is not reccmmended. Silverl eaved ironbark commonly grows on the more erodible texture contrast soils found in the Brigalow Uplands, Merivale and Bymount LRAs. Soil disturbance caused by these clearing practices results in severe soil erosion. Rehabilitation is dif'f'icul t, particularly once the topsoil has been lost.

Fencing of' these areas to allow destocking at critical times and the provision of' alternative pastures are preferred management strategies to cl ear-felling. Some additional guidelines for tree management can be found in Anonymous ( 1 968) , Anonymous ( 1 976) , Pressland ( 1 976) and Nevell et a Z . ( 1 981 ) .

9 • .1! Future conaervation ma.uage.ent systems

The systems described in Sections 9 . 2 and 9 . 3 are interim proposals only. Improvements in these systems can be made in the future as new techniques are developed. Some areas where additional research is needed are given in Appendix IX. Methods of' erosion control , evaluation of' new structure designs, an assessment of' tillage and surface management practices, and investigations into waterway stabilisation currently being evaluated in the di strict are given in Appendix IX. The results of' any of' these investigations could therefore be relevant to the modification of' the interim conservation management systems.

1 0-1

10. SPECIFICATIOIIS I'OR SPECIAL-PURPOSE LAIID USE

10. 1 Introduction

Mining, forestry and public utilities all affect land use in the Roma district, generally in relation to improvements such as the construction of roads , seismic l ines, pipelines and firebreaks .

10.2 Clearing for tracks, firebreaks, sei111.ic lines and public utilities

These tracks are generally seen as low cost , temporary improvements and often little care is taken with siting and construction. This may result in severe erosion so that these improvements become a permanent degraded feature of the landscape and are seldom repaired.

The use of th e fol l owing general principles will help reduce potential erosion problems ;

Siting. The flexibility of siting may be restricted in some cases such as seismic investigations where a regular grid pattern is required. Where this is not the case , the clearing should be sited along ridge lines or directly up and down a slope. 'Whoa-boys' should be used to divert runoff .

If tracks must be sited across slopes, inverts and short diversion banks are needed to transfer water from the high to the lower side of the track. Care should be taken to ensure that the track itself does not act as a major diversion bank across the slope.

Construction. The main aim when constructing temporary tracks is t o minimise both soil and vegetation disturbance. This can be achieved by the use of stick rakes and pl oughs rather than cl ear-felling with bulldozers and graders. Ploughs are particularly useful for firebreak construction but continuous use will l ead to the formation of plough banks which will concentrate water and cause erosion.

Th e di sturbance a n d r emoval of topsoil should be avoide d , particula rly on texture contrast soil s with shallow A horizons and di spersible subsoils.

Grading or angl e-blade dozing of tracks results in the formation of windrows which act as low diversion banks. Where this practice has occurred rehabilitation should include either grading the windrow back over the track or making frequent breaks in the windrow to avoid flow accumulation. This is particularly important where the tracks run across the slope.

Watercourses. Timber should not be pushed and cleared within 100 m of a major drainage line. A chainsaw should be used to r emove any trees where necessary near a drainage l ine. Avoid crossing drainage l ines where there are steep banks.

1 0-2

At crossings, whoa-boys should be constructed at the top of the stream bank to div er t wa ter off the track and avoid erosion on the approach to the channel.

Rehabilitation. As these tracks are usually temporary, once their purpose has been served some attempt at rehabilitation is required to ensure that they do not become a permanent , degraded feature of the landscape. S om e measures have already been outlined. Other useful measures are the replacement of topsoil where removal has occurred and pushing fallen timber back over the track. This will prevent continued use of the tracks .

Revegetation should be assisted where possible.

10.3 Fonaed roads

Gully and tunnel erosion are common problems associated with roadworks, particularly where dispersible subsoils are exposed. The following steps are recommended.

Benches should be cut into road cuttings and fill batters. Topsoil should be used to help grass grow and stabilise the slopes.

Where tabl e drains are used to carry water out of discharge should not be allowed to drop straight down. extended around the hill to a stable outlet area should reduces the risk of gully erosion in the table drain, and the road fill .

cuttings , the A spur drain

be used. This undercutting of

Spur drains should be built with a flat bottom to avoid high velocity flows and excessive exposure of erodible subsoil. This also permits easy maintenance by slashing. This provides a stabl e well-grassed drain rather than a graded bare drain as is more common. To avoid making deep wheel ruts and exposing the dispersible subsoil , maintenance should not be carried out when the drain is wet. Spur drains should be surveyed with grades of 0 . 1 % on texture contrast soils of the Merivale and Yuleba LRAs and 0 . 3% on other soil s.

Spreading t opsoil on spur and table drain floors to assist in revegetation is recommended for all texture contrast soil s, and those soils of the Brigalow Uplands LRA with dispersible subsoils.

Where road cross-drainage sites require vegetation to stabilise inlet or outlet structures, a quick-growing sward crop such as wheat, oats or millet should be planted with a suitable grass species such as Rhodes grass, or African star grass.

Where roads cross alluvial plains, care should be taken so that water is not diverted long distances by high road crowns. The design of level road crowns 20 em higher than natural ground level has proved successful in other areas. Frequent cross-drainage sites are also required.

1 0-3

10 • .1! Forestry

The maj ori ty of' soils in the area under State Forest are the highly erodible texture contrast soils, sandy skeletal soils and some areas of' red and yellow earths. Several steps can be taken to reduce the erosion risk in these areas as f'ollows.

Forestry land is of'ten l eased to f'armers f'or extensive grazing. Pastures under the f'orests generally consist only of' sparse, poor quality native species. This increases the risk of' overgrazing with l ittle chance of' pasture regrowth particularly in the vicinity of watering points. Watering points should be located to ensure an even grazing pressure over the l eased area (see Section 6) .

Siting of roads and access tracks has been discussed in Section 6 . In addition, zigzagging and the incl usion of' sections running directly downhill can be used to reduce run-of'f' volume and keep the l ength of steep grades to a minimum. Where side drains are required, topsoil should be r eplaced in the drain bottom to assist grass growth and stabilise the drain. Drains should be surveyed with a low gradient (approximately 0. 1 % ) .

The shallow texture contrast soils are susceptible to sheet, gully, tunnel and wind erosion once the vegetative cover is removed. Particular care should theref'ore be taken with road construction to ensure minimal surface disturbance.

10.5 Pipelines

General guidelines f'or the temporary clearing of' pipeline locations are the same as discussed in Section 1 0 . 2. Important practices specific to pipeline construction include :

the replacement of' topsoil in the top of' the trench when backfill ing t o aid revegetation. This requires the separate stockpiling of topsoil and subsoil whil e the trench is being constructed ; and

the mound af'ter backfill ing should be l eft as f'lat as possible and breached at regular interval s to prevent the accumulation of run-of'f.

1 1 -1

1 1 . SOMKARY OF HDAGEMDT PRActiCES fOR l11E SOTI.S OF THE ROHA DISTRict

SI.DD!Daries of physical and chemical characteristics, major agronomic and soil conservation management practices for the soils of the Roma district are given. For further details, refer to specific chapters of the manual.

The following abbreviations have been used :

S - suitabl e LS - limited suitability NS - not suitabl e NA - not applicable NB - narrow OO:sed contour banks BBTS - broad based topside contour banks BB - broad based cultivated contour banks

1 1 -2

OPD DOliiS LJID RBSOORCE AREA ROHI. lXlllliS son.

SOn. mrRIDT STArUS - low N; low to medium P, but generally low; adequate K

SUBFACE pll - 7 . 9

l'L.I.RT AY.I.TI.ABLE VATER CAPACITY - rair

PHYSICAL CRARAcrERISTICS - Strongly ag gregated surrace; strongly sodic by 50 em.

GRAIII CROPPIRG SOMIII!II VIIITEII

USJ! SUITABTI.ITY - S s

FODDRR CROPPIRG SOMIII!II VIIITEII

s s

SMALL CROPS

TREE

CROPS RATIVE PJSTOIIB

s

li!IITILISEB R!ii!UIRI!II!IITS - Nitrogen and Phosphorus ( variable, high risk factor)

SOVR PJSTOIIB

s

SOWR PASTURE SPECIES - Burrel grass, panics, medics, lucerne, Rhodes grass, purple pigeon grass

PJSTURR CUIIIYIIJG CAPACITY -{ha/beast)

{i) Native - 1 beast to 6 ha (ii) Sown - Unknown

RUR-OFF COITROL STRUCfURim - (i) Contour banks - S; Type BB

EAiml DAM CORSTRUCriOR - S

(ii) Wa terways - LS (a) Grass species - African star grass, Indian blue grass (b) Fertiliser - Nitrogen ( c ) Construction technique - Replace topsoil

(iii) Diversion banks - LS (iv) Pasture furrows - S

IIAlliiJll PERMISSIBLE VELOCITY - {i) bare earth channel - 0.35 m/sec (ii) grassed wa terway channel - 1 . 0 m/sec

(iii) diversion bank channel - 1 . 0 m/sec

RUB-OFF COBFFICIEIIT SOn. CATEGORY - Moderately permeable

DIIAIRAGE DESIGR II.I.TIRG - 6 . 5

son. EBODIBTI.ITY {K FACIOR) - 0. 25 to 0. 35

GRASS RET.I.RDARCE VALUE - D

UPPER LJID SLOPE LIMIT FOR PE111W1E11T CIJLTIY.ITIOR - NA

UPPER LJID SLOPE LIMIT FOR Tlii!E CLEARIRG - NA

LJID CAPJBTI.ITY CL.I.SSIFICATIOR - III c3 m3 d 3 n2 s2 e2-3

O'IBKR IIIFORMI.TIOI - This is the most widespread soil of' the Open Downs LRA. The strongly a g gregated surfa ce soil results in poor seed/soil c o n t a c t a n d low germination requiring the use of' presswheels.

1 1-3

OPEl! DOIIBS L.DD RESOOIICK AIII!A CIIOCIIDAIITIGH son.

son. IDTBIEI'I' STATUS - low Nj low P, adequate K

SOBFACE pll - 7 . 0 - 7 . 5

PLAIT AVAILABLE VAtER ClPACITI - fair to moderate

PBISICIL CBARlcrBRISTICS - Coarse surface structure, weakly self mulching, cracking heavy clay

GRADI CIIOPPPDIG

SIMII!II VIIITBR

USB SOITJBILITY - S s

lODDEB CIIOPPDIG SIMII!II VIIITBR

s s

SHILL CIIOPS

TREE

CIIOPS

FERTILISER BEQUIREMBiiS - Nitrogen and Phosphorus (response variable)

IIUIYE PASTOBB

s

SOVII PASTOIII!

s

SOWI PASTORE SPECIES - Buffel grass, panics, medics, lucerne , Rhodes grass, purple pigeon grass

PASTOIII! CAIIIIYIIIG CAPACITY -(ha/beast;)

(i) Native - 1 beast to 6 ha ( ii) Sown - Unknown

RUR� COJITlKL STIW'cruRBS - ( i ) Contour banks- - S; Type BB (ii) Waterways - LS

(a) Grass species - African star grass, Indian blue grass (b) Fertiliser - N and P (c ) Construction technique - Replace topsoil


� PERMISSIBLE VELOCirY - (i) bare earth channel - 0. 35 m/sec (ii) grassed waterway channel � 1 . 0 m/sec


ROB....QFF COEFFICIDT son. ClTEGOBY - Moderately permeable

DRADIAGB DBSIGR B.&rDG - 6 . 5

SOn. I!RODIBTI.ITY (K FAcroB) - 0. 25 to 0. 35

GBASS RBTAIIDAIICE YALOB - D

OPPI!R L.DD SLOPE LDIIT lOB PI!RHlliDT COLTIYATJOR - NA

OPPI!R L.DD SLOPE LD1IT lOB TREE CLBAIIDG - NA

L.DD CAPABILITY CLASSIFICATJOR - III c3 m3 P3 n2 s2 k2-3 e2-3

�EB IBFOBMlTIOR - Coarse surface structure results in poor seed/soil contact and press wheels are required. Should not be cultivated when too moist as large clods form and are difficult to break down.

1 1 -4

OPEB DOliiiS LAIID BESOOBCE AREA VAVKBLI!Y DOllliS SOn.

SOIL � STArUS - Low to very low N ; low to medium P, adequate K

SURFACE pll - 7. 0

PL1RT AVAILABLE VATER CAPACITY - Low to fair

PHYSICAL CBIBACTEBISTICS - Surface slakes and exhibits sand separation; a hard pan occurs at 1 0-20 em depth and is particularly obvious at times of extreme subsoil moisture deficit.

USE SUITABTI.ITY - S s s s

SIW.L CROPS

TBI!E CROPS

FERTILISER RBQUIRBMEI!S - Nitrogen and Phosphorus (response variable)

BMIYE PASTURE

s

SOVB PASTURE

s

SOWB PASTORE SPECIES - Buffel grass, panics , medics, lucerne, Rhodes grass, purple pigeon grass

PASTURE CABBYIBG CAPACITY -(ba/beast)

( i ) Native - 1 beast to -6 ha ( ii) Sown - Unknown

RUR-OFF COftROL STBUcrtJRES - (i) Contour banks - LS; Type BB

EAIITII DAM COIISTIIUCTIOB - S

(ii) Waterways - LS (a) Grass species - African star grass, Indian blue grass (b) Fertiliser - N and P (c) Construction technique - Replace topsoil


� PERMISSIBLE VELOCitY - ( i ) bare earth channel - 0 . 35 m/sec (ii) grassed waterway channel - 1 . 0 m/sec


RUB-OFF COEFFICIKIIT SOIL CATEGORY - Moderately permeable

DBAIBAGE DESIGB BMIBG - 6. 5

SOD. ERODIBILITY (K FACTOR) - O. 25 to O. 35

GRASS BETABDABCE VALUE - D

UPPER LARD SLOPE LIMIT FOB PEB1W1E11T CULTIVATIOB - NA

UPPER LARD SLOPE LIMIT FOB TREE a.JWIDIG - NA

LARD CAPABTI.ITY CLASSIFIC.I.TIOR - III c3 m3 P3 n2 s2 k2-3 e2-3

OTHER IIFOHMlTIOR -Bank stability is poor due to soil slaking on wetting and adequate maintenance is required. Deep ripping may overcome hardpan problem and improve crop growth.

1 1 -5

OPEl IJOVIS LliiD IIBSOOIICE ABEl UOCEALORG son.

SOn. RUTBIEIIT STUOS - low N; low to high P, adequate K

SURFACE pll - 7 . 5

l'LJIIT AY.I.ILAIILE VATI!R CAPACITY - Fair

PBISICAL CRARlcrERISTICS - Weakly self mulching, cracking heavy clay. Develops sinkholes which are accentuated at times of severe subsoil moisture deficit.

VIIITEB

USE SUITABILITY - S s s s

SMALL CROPS

TREE CROPS

FBBTD.ISBR BBQUDEHKITS - Nitrogen and Phosphorus (response variabie)

BATIYE PASTOIIR

s

SOIIB PASTOIIR

s

SOWB PASTURE SPECIES - Buffel grass, panics, medics, lucerne , Rhodes grass, purple pigeon grass

PASWRE CARliYDIG CAPACITY -

(balbeast) ( i ) Native - 1 beast to 6 ba

(ii) Sown - Unknown

RUB� COIITROL STRUCTURES - ( i ) Contour banks - LS; Type BB

IWml DAM OOBSrRUCfiOB - S

(ii) Waterways - NR-LS (a) Grass species - African star grass , Indian blue grass (b) Fertiliser - N and P (c) Construction technique - Normal

(iii) Diversion banks - LS (iv) Pasture furrows - S but care must be taken to stay on contour

HAXDIJH PEBMISSIBLB VELOCITY - ( i ) bare earth channel - 0. 35 m/ sec (ii) grassed waterway channel - 1 . 0 m/sec


RUR� COBFFICIEIIT SOD. CATEGOB:Y - Moderately permeable

DBAIBAGE DESIGB RATIIG - 6 . 5

SOn. I!RODIBTI.ITY (1: FACfOR) - 0. 25 t o Q . 35

GBASS BErJBDABCE VALUE - D

UPPER LARD SLOPE LIIIIT FOR PE8IIAIIEIIT CULTIYATIOR - NA

UPPER LARD SLOPE LIIIIT FOR TREE CLEJBIBG - NA

LARD CAPJBTI.ITY CLASSIFICATIOB - III c3 m3 p3 n2 s2 k2-3 e2-3

OTHER IRPORHATIOB - Presence of sinkholes may lead to stability problems with waterways, contour and diversion banks. These sinkholes may only be detectable f'ollowing prolonged dry periods. Cultivation of' broad based contour banks is recommended.

1 1 -6

OPEII DOVBS L.IBD lll!SOOIICE AliJ!A HEBIBO DOIIIIS

SOD. IUTRIRIIT STArOS - Low N; low to very low P, adequate K

SUliFACE pll - 7. 7

PLAliT AYAILIBLI! VArl!ll CAPACITY - Fair

PRISICAL CHARACTERISTICS - Self mulching, medium, cracking clay. Weak surface crust may develop. Generally less than 1 . 2 m deep. Sadie by 80 em.

GRAIR CIIOPPIIIG

SUMMEII VIliTBII

USE SUITABILITY - NS s

JIODDKII CIIOPPIIIG SUMMEII VIIITl!ll

NS s

SHILL CIIOPS

TRKII CIIOPS

FERTILISER RBQ� - Nitrogen and Phosphorus (response variable)

1117:nE PASTOIIE

s

SOVI P.lliTOIIE

s

SOWK PASTORE SPECIES - Buffel grass, panics, medics, lucerne , Rhodes grass, purple pigeon grass

PASTURE ClJIIIYDIG CAPACITY -(ha/beast)

( i ) Native - 1 beast to 6 ha (ii) Sown - Unknown

HOB� COIITROL STBUcroRES - (i) Contour banks - S; Type BB

Ellml DAM COBSTRUCTIOB - S

(ii) Waterways - S (a) Grass species· - African star grass, Indian blue grass (b) Fertiliser - N and P (c) Construction technique - Normal


� PERMISSIBLE VELOCITY - (i) bare earth channel - 0 . 35 m/sec (ii) grassed waterway channel - 1 . 0 m/sec


ROB� OOEFFICIERT SOIL CATEGORY - Moderately permeable

DRAIRAGE DESIGB BATIBG - 6. 5

son. KIIODIBILITY (1: FACTOR) - 0. 25 to 0. 35

GRASS RBTABDABCE VALUE - D

UPPKII L.IBD SLOPE LIMIT JIOB PI!BIIUIEIIT COLTIYAriOB - NA

UPPKII LARD SLOPE LIMIT 110ft THEE CLI!AIIIBG - NA

LARD CAPABll.ITY CLASSIFICAriOB - III c3 m3 n2 s2 e2-3

OTHER IIFORHlTIOR - Most occurrences or this soil lie outside the summer cropping line (Map 2) and frequency or successrul summer grain and grazing crops is low.

1 1 -7

OPD DOVIS L.IIID liJ!SOUJICil Alll!.l HITCIII!LL DOIIBS

son. IIOTBIBIIT STA'fUS - Low N; low to medium P, adequate K

SURFACE pll - 7. 5

PLJJIT J.YAILIBLI! VArEII CAPACITY - Fair

PHYSICAL alllllCTERISTICS - Self mulching, medium, cracking clay. Some minor surface crusting after rain. Sodic by 80 om.

GBAIII CROPPIRG SUIIIIKR VIITEB

USE SUITABILITY - NS LS

FODDER CROPPIIIG SUMIIEB VIJTEB

NS LS

SMALL CROPS

'!'BEE CROPS

FERTILISER RBQUIREMIIT.S - Nitrogen and Phosphorus (response variable)

RAriYE PASTUIIE

s

SOVR PASTUIIE

s

SOVR PASTORE SPECIES - Buffel grass, panics, medics, lucerne , Rhodes grass, purple pigeon grass

PASTUIIE CAJIIIIIIIG CAPACITY -(ba/beast)

(i) Native - 1 beast to 6 ha (ii) Sown - Unknown

RUB.OFF COITROL STRUcrDRES - (i) Contour banks - S; Type BB

EAIITII DAM CORS'l'BUCTIOR - S

(ii) Waterways - LS (a) Grass species - African star grass, Indian blue grass (b) Fertiliser - N (c) Construction technique - Replace topsoil


� PERMISSIBLE YELOCTrY - ( i ) bare earth channel - 0 . 35 m/sec (ii) grassed waterway channel - 1 . 0 m/sec

(iii) diversion bank channel. - 1 . 0 m/sec

RUB� OOEFFICIEIT SOIL CATEGORY - Moderately permeable

DBAIIIAGE DESIGR IIATIRG - 6. 5

SOIL ERODIBILITY (1: FACTOR) - 0. 25 to 0. 35

GRASS lll!TABDARCE VALUE - D

UPPER L.IIID SLOP!! LIKIT FOB Pl!liiiUIEIIT CULTIYAriOR - NA

UPPEB L.111D SLOP!! LIKIT FOR '!'BEE CLEJ.BIRG - NA

LAID CAP.ABn.ITY CLASSIFICA.TIOB - I�I c3 m3-4 p2 n2 s2 e2-3 a2-3

OTHER IIFORMlTIOR - This soil largely occurs outside the summer cropping line and the chance or success with summer crops is limited. Maximum surrace cover should be retained for protection during the summer storm period.

1 1 -8

BBIGJLOII UPLJIDS L.IIID IIESOOIICE A11EA LIIII!IIOOD SOD.

son. IO'l'RIEIIT STATUS - Low N; low P, adequate K

SllliFACE pll - 7. 5

PLJJJT .I.VAD ART E VATER CAPACITY - Low to fair

PHYSICAL CBARlcrBRISTICS - Self mulching, medium, cracking clay. Sodic to strongly sodic subsoil by 50 em.

GIIAIII CEOPPDIG SIHIEI! liiliTl!ll

USE SUITABD.ITY - LS s

FODDER CBOPPIRG SIHIEI! liiliTl!ll

s s

SKILL CHOPS

rRBJ! CHOPS

FERTILISER RBQUIBEMKITS - Nitrogen and Phosphorus (response variable)

BAr lYE PASTOIIE

s

SOllll PASTOIIE

s

SOWR PASTURE SPECIES - Buffel grass, panics, medics, lucerne, Rhodes grass, purple pigeon grass

PASmHI! CAIIIIIIIIG CAPACITY -(ba/beast)

( i ) Native - 1 beast to 15 ha (ii) Sown - 1 beast to 8 ha

BUR-OFF COIITBOL STRUCTURES - ( i ) Contour banks - LS; Type BBTS (ii) Waterways - LS

EAiml DAM COIIS'!'BUCTIOR - S

(a) Grass species - African star grass, Indian blue grass, Rhodes grass

(b) Fertiliser - N (c) Construction technique - Replace topsoil


� PERMISSIBLE VELOCITY - ( i ) bare earth channel - 0.35 m/sec (ii) grassed waterway channel - 1 . 0· m/sec


RUR�FF COEWICIKIIT son. CATEGORY - Moderately permeable

DRAIRAGK DKSIGR BATIRG - 6 . 5

SOD. ERODmD.ITY (1: FACTOR) - 0. 2 5 to O . 35

GRASS Hl!'rAIIDAIICE YALUJ! - D

DPPER L.111D SLOPE LIIII'f FOR PKIIIIAIII!IIT CULTIYHIOR - 6%

DPPER LARD SLOPE LIIII'f FOR rRBJ! a.EIJIDIG - 15%

L.IIID CAPABD.ITY CLASSIPICAriOR - III c3 m3-4 d3 n2 s2 e3

OTHER IRFORMI.TIOB - This soil is generally <75 em deep to weathered sediments and is strongly sodic by 50 em deep. Management should aim at maximum retention of surface cover and prevention of soil loss.

1 1 -9

BRIGALOII OPLAIIDS LAXD IIBSOOIICK AIIEA VOII])(X.IR son.

SOD. RUTBIEIT STATUS - Low N; medium P, adequate K

SUBFACK pll - 7 . 9

PLOT AVID ART E VATER CAPACITY - Low

PBISICAL CBAR!CTKRISTICS - Non-cracking, heavy clay which may crack following cultivation. High Cl- by 30 em .

GBADI CHOPPIIIG

SUHIII!R VIBTilB

USE SUITABn.ITY - S s

l'ODDI!B CBOPPIIIG SIHil!B VIBTilB

s s

SHALL CHOPS

rBEI! CHOPS

FERTILISER RBQ� - Nitrogen and Phosphorus (response variable)

RAriYE PISTUIIJ!

s

SOVII PISTUIIJ!

s

SOWR PASTURE SPECIES - Buffel grass, medics, lucerne , Rhodes grass, purple pigeon grass

PISTOBK ClBIIIIIIG CAPACITY -(balbeast)

(i) Native - 1 beast to 20 ha (ii) Sown - 1 beast to 9 ha

RUB-OFF OOIITROL STBUcroBES - (i) Contour binks - S; Type BBTS (ii) Waterways - LS

K.lBTO DAM COIISTlllJCTIOR - S

(a) G�ass species - African star grass, Indian blue grass, Rhodes grass



� PERMISSIBLE YELocrrY - (i) bare earth channel - 0 . 35 m/sec (ii} grassed waterway channel - 1 . 0 m/sec


ROB� COEF.FICIKIT SOIL CATEGORY - Moderately permeable

DBADIAGK DKSIGR BATIRG - 6. 5

son. l!BODIIIILITY (1: FACTOR) - 0. 25 to 0. 35

GBISS lii!UBDARCK VALUE - D

UPPI!B LARD SLOPE LIIII'r l'OB Pl!BIWII!IIT COLTIVATIOR - 6$

UPPI!B LARD SLOPE LIIII'r l'OB rBEI! CLEABIRG - 15%

LAXD CAPABILITY CLISSIPICATIOR - III c3 m3 p2 n2 s2 e2-3

OTIIEil IRFOBHA.TIOR - Most widespread reddish brown clay soil of the brigalow open f'orest areas. May develop cracking characteristics after cl earing and cultivation. Occasional large surface stone.

1 1 - 1 0

BBIGJLOII UPLAIIDS LJIID lii!SOOIICE ABEl EOIIAMUBIIIII son.

son. IUTlliEIIT ST.&rUS - Low to medium N; low to medium P, adequate K

SURFACE pH - 8 . 2

PLAIIT .A.YAD am E V.A'l'EB CAPACITY - Fair

PHYSICAL CIIARACTERISTICS - Weak , fine granular surface structure. Sadie to strongly sodic below 30 em ; some gilgai may occur.

USB SUITJ.BTI.ITY - S s s s

SKILL CIIOPS

Tlll!J! CIIOPS

� � - Nitrogen and Phosphorus (response variable)

IIUIYE PJ.STIIIIE

s

SOllll PJ.STUIIE

s

SOVR P� SPECIES - Buffel grass, panics, medics, lucerne , Rhodes grass, purple pigeon grass

PJ.STIIIIE ClBRIIJIG CAPACITY -(halbeast)


RID-OFF COJr.rROL STRUCTURES - ( i ) Contour banks - S; Type BBTS (ii) Waterways - LS




IWITII DAM COBSTIIUCTIOB - S



ROB� OOEFFICIERT SOIL CATEGOHY - Moderately permeable

DRJ.IIIAGE DESIGR RJ.TIJIG - 6. 5

son. BRODIBn.lTY (1: FACTOR) - 0. 25 to O. 35

GRASS llllTJ.BDJ.BCE VALUE - C-D

UPPER LJ.BU SLOPE LIIIIT FOR PERIIliiKIIT CULTIYJ.TIOB - 6�

UPPER LJ.BU SLOPE LIIIIT FOR TBI!I! CLEUIIIIG - 1 5�

LJIID CJ.PJ.BTI.ITY CLJ.SSIFICJ.TIOB - III-IV c3 m3-4 n2 s2 e3

OTHER IBFORMATIOR -Some areas of this soil may have gilgai which can cause delays with cultivation and harvesting. This soil is associated with the brigalow softwood scrub areas.

1 1 -1 1

BRIGALOII OPLAillS LAID BESOOIICI! AREA m QIBDD SOTI.

son. RUTBIBRT STATUS - Moderate N; medium to high P but variable, adequate K

SUBFACE pH - 8 . 5

PLAIT AY.IILABLE V.ATKR CAPACITY - Low

PBISICAL CBARlcrBRISTICS - Massive, weakly hard setting to crusting surface. Strongly sodic dispersible subsoil, high Cl- by 20 em.

GBADI CROPPIIIG SUMIIKll VIIITEII

USE SUITABll.ITY - LS s

FODDER CROPPIIIG SUMIIKll VIIITEII

s s

SHILL CROPS

TBI!E CROPS

FERTILISER � - Nitrogen and Phosphorus (response variable)

�lYE PASTUIII!

s

SOliB PASTIJIIE

s

SOVI PASTURE SPECIES - Buffel grass, panics, medics, lucerne, Rhodes grass, purple pigeon grass

PASTUBE ClBBYDIG CAPACITY -(ha/beast)

(i) Native - 1 beast to 24 ha (ii) Sown - 1 beast to 1 0 ha

RUB� COJITB.OL STRUcroRES - ( i ) Contour banks - LS; Type NB (ii) -waterways - LS


(b) Fertiliser - N and P (c) Construction technique - No disturbance to channel floor.

EAliTII DAM CORSTBUCTIOR - LS


Replace topsoil.



RUR�FF COKFFICIEBT SOD. CATEGORY - Moderately permeable

DBADIAGB DESIGR BArlliG - 6. 0

son. BRODllllLITY (II: FACTOR) - >O. 35

GRASS BETAllllARCE YALIJB - D

UPPER LAID SLOPE LIMIT FOR l'ERIIAIIBIIT COLTIYAriOR - 6%

UPPER LA1ID SLOPE LIMIT FOR TBI!E a.IWIIIIG - 15%

LA1ID CAPABn.ITY CLASSIFICATIOR - IV c3 m3-4 d3-4 P3 n2 s2 k2 e3

OTHER IIFOBMlTIOB - This is a texture contrast soil with generally <30 em of A horizon overlying the sadie, clay B horizon. This soil is associated with - the brigalow softwood scrub areas. Optimum use is permanent pasture.

1 1- 1 2

JJ!BY LAID RESOURCE AilE! STlJDLEY SOIL

SOIL IIUTIIIl!IIT ST.D'US - Low N; low to high P, adequate K

SURFACE pll - 7. 1 - 7 . 5

PJ..Uir AVAILABLE V.lrRR CAPACITY - Moderate

PHYSICAL Cll.lB.lcrEIIISTICS - Self mulching, heavy, cracking clay; formed on mixed basaltic and sedimentary material.

USE SUITABILITY - S s

FODDER CROPPIIIG SUMIU!R VlllrRR

s s

Sll.lLL CROPS

FERTILISER REQUIREMEITS - Nitrogen and Phosphorus (response variable)

ll.lri1E PJ.Sl'OIIB

s

son P.lSl'OIIB

s

SOWI PASTURE SPECIES - Buffel grass, panics, medics, lucerne, Rhodes grass, purple pigeon grass

PJ.Sl'OIIB C.lliiiYIJIG CAPACITY -(balbeast)

(i) Native - 1 beast to 6 ha (ii) Sown - Unknown

BUB...()FF COJITBOL STRUCTURES - (i) Contour banks - S ; Type BB (ii) Waterways - S

EAJml DAM COJISriiOCTIOB - S

{a) Grass species - African star grass, Indian blue grass, Rhodes grass

(b) Fertiliser - N (c) Construction technique - Normal

(iii) Diversion banks - S (iv) Pasture furrows - S

MllDDtOOK PERMISSIBLE VELOCITY - {i) bare earth channel - 0.35 m/sec (ii) grassed waterway channel - 1 . 0 m/sec


RUR...QFF COEFFICIEIT SOD. CATEGORY - Moderately permeable

DRAIBJGE DESIGB RATIBG - 6.5

SOIL ERODmiLITT (K FACTOR) - 0. 2 5 t o 0 . 35

GRASS RET.lRD.lBCE Y.lLOE - D

OPPER LAID SLOPE LnnT FOR PEIIIWil!IIT COLTIYATIOB - 6%

OPPER LAID SLOPE LnnT FOR TREE a.EARIBG - 15%

LAID CAPABILITT CL.lSSIFICATIOR - III c3 m3 n2 e3

OTHER IRFOBMI.TIOR -Soil is variable in response to f'ertiliser due .to variation in degree of' mixing of' parent materials. Use of' presswheels will aid seed germination. Quartz and basalt cobbles may occur on the surf'ace.

1 1 - 1 3

COOGOOB UIID Bl!SOOJICI! AliEA

PI!IIBIIOKB son.

SOIL � STArDS - Low to very low N; low to medium P ; adequate K

SURFACE pR - 6 . 0

PLAIT AVAU.IBI K V.lrKB CAPACITY - Low to very low

PHYSICAL CBIRAcrDIS'I'ICS - Massive hard setting surface. Strongly sodic below 60 em.

GIIAIII CROPPIBG SUI!KKII liiiiTKII

SUITABILITY - NS LS

FODDER CROPPIBG S1II!IIEll liiiiTKII

NS LS

SIIALL CROPS

TIII!E CROPS

�IR REQ� - Nitrogen and Phosphorus (response variable)

SOWR PASTORE SPECIES - Buffel grass, medics, lucerne

PASTOIIE ClJiliYiliG CAPACITY -(ba/beast)

(i) Native - 1 beast to 20 ha (ii) Sown - 1 beast to 1 2 ha

RUB-OFF COIITBOL STBOcruRES - (i) Contour banks - LS; Type NB (ii) Waterways � NR to LS

(a) Grass species - Buffel grass (b) Fertiliser - N and P

BAriYE PASTUIIJ!

s

SOllll PASTUIIJ!

s

{c) Construction technique - No disturbance to channel floor. (iii) Diversion banks - LS

(iv) Pasture furrows - S

IWml DAM COIISTIIUCTIOB - S

� PERMISSIBLE YELOCirY - (i) bare earth channel - 0 . 35 m/sec (ii) grassed waterway channel - 1 . 0 m/sec


RUB-OFF COEFFICIBIIT SOn. CATEGOBY - Impermeable

DIIAIIIAGE DESIGB BAriBG - 6. 0

SOn. ERODIBILITY (II: FACTOR) - >O. 35

GRASS RErABDABCE VALUE - D

UPPER UIID SLOPE LIIIIT FOR PERIIAliEliT CULTIYATIOB - NA

UPPER LARD SLOPE LI11IT FOR TREE CLIWIIBG - NA

LARD CJ.PJBll.ITY CLJ.SSIFICATIOB - IV c3 m4 p3 n3 k3 e2-3 a3

OTHER IIFOBHATIOR - Soil responds to light falls of rain. Hard setting problem increases with cultivation. This sOil is not recommended for continuous cropping and should include a long-term pasture phase. This soil is wind erodible and should not be cultivated when .dry as this produces a very fine surface. Summer cropping and fodder cropping should form a limited part of the rotation.

1 1 - 1 4

COOGOOB LARD BESOOIICE 1111!!

SOIL � STAIUS - Low N; generally low P but may be high in young cultivation; adequate K

SURFACE pH - 7. 9

PLAliT AYAILIIILE VArEII CAPAcrtY - Low

PHYSICAL CIIIRAcrERISTICS - Massive, weakly hard setting surface, freely drained ; wind erodible

GRllll CROPPIIG SUMIII!R 1IIIITEII

USE SUITABTI.ITY - LS-NS S LS s

SHILL CROPS

TIII!E CROPS


SOW:I PASTORE SPECIES - Buffel grass, medics, lucerne

PAS1'1lliE CAIIliYIIIG CAPAcrtY -(ha/beast)

(i) Native - 1 beast to 1 5 ha (ii) Sown - 1 beast to 8 ha

RUB-OFF COJJTROL STRU� - ( i) Contour banks -- S; Type NB

IWml DAII COIISTJIUCTIOB - S

(ii) Waterways - S (a) Grass species - Buffel grass (b) Fertiliser - N (c) Construction technique - Normal

(iii) Diversion banks - S (iv) Pasture furrows - S

� PERMISSIBLE YELOCITY - (i) bare earth channel - 0 . �0 m/sec (ii) grassed waterway channel - 1 . 0 m/sec


RUB...on' COEFFICI::aT SOIL CATEGOBY - Permeable

DRliRJGB DBSIGB RATIBG - 7.5

son. ERODIBILITY (II: FACTOR) - >O. 35

GIIISS IIBTAHDAICE YJLUI! - D

UPPl!B LARD SLOPE LIMIT !'OR PBIIHAJIBIIT COLTIYATIOB - NA

UPPER LARD SLOPE LIMIT !'OR TIIJ!E CLI!AIIIBG - NA

LARD CAPABTI.ITY CLASSIFICATIDR - IV c3 m3-4 p2 n2 k2 e2 a2

s

son PASTOIIE

s

OTBER IBFORMATIOR - Easy to produce fine seedbed but excessive cultivation particularly when dry should be avoided to maintain weak surface structure , and reduce tendency to hard set. Soil is wind erodible. Maximum surface cover should be retained . Frequency of success with summer cropping is low.

1 1 - 1 5

CO<lGOili LJIIIl IIBSOUIICI! .llll!A BI!I.AII son.

son. JIDTRIDT STATUS - Low N; low to medium P ; adequate K

SOJIFJ.CI! pH - 7. 5

PLAIIT J.YJ.n..IBIJ! VATER ClPACITY - Low to fair

PHYSIClL aiJ.RACTKBISTICS - Crusting, weak , granular surface; ironstone and siliceous gravel below A horizon

GIIAIII CIIOPPIRG SOI!III!JI liiliTl!JI

!'ODDER CIIOPPIRG SOI!III!JI liiliTl!JI

USE SUIT!Bn.ITY - LS S LS s NS - climatic zone B

SlllLL CIIOPS

TIIEI! CIIOPS


SOVll PASTORE SPECIES - Buf'f'el grass, medi9s , lucerne

PASTURE CliiJIYIIIG ClPACITY -(ba/beast)

( i ) Native - 1 beast to 1 5 ha (ii) Sown - 1 beast to 8 ha

BUI-OFF COJITROL STRUcruRES - ( i ) Contour banks - S; Type NB (ii) Waterways - LS

RATIVE PASTURE

s

(a) Grass species - Buffel grass, African star grass (b) Fertiliser - N and P

I!J.RTII DAM CORSTIIDCTIOR - S

(c) Construction technique - Replace topsoil (iii) Diversion banks - LS


� �E � - (i) bare earth channel - 0.30 m/sec (ii) grassed waterway channel - 1 . 0 m/sec


RUB-OFF COBFFICIBIIT SOn. CATEGORY - Moderately permeable

DIIAIIIJ.GE DESIGR R.lTIRG - 6. 0

SOD. ERODffiD.lTY (1: FACTOR) - >D. 35

GRASS REr!RD!RCI! VALUE - D

UPPER LARD SLOPE LIIIIT FOR PER1W1ERI CULTIYJ.TIOB - 6%

UPPER LJ.JID SLOPE LIIIIT FOB TIIEI! CLI!J.BIRG - 15%

LJIIIl CJ.PJ.BD.ITY CLASSIFIClriOR - III c3 m3 p2 n2 s2 k2 e3

son PASTURE

s

OTHER DIFOBMI.TIOB - Strongly sodic below 30 em and exposure o.f subsoil in waterways or bank channels will lead to erosion. Establishment of pastures difficult in sodic subsoil.

1 1 -16

COOGOOII LJIIIl lll!SOOJICI! Jlll!A IWIEE son.

SOn. IUI'lliDT STATUS - Very low to low N ; low to very low P ; adequate K

SUIIFACE pH - 6 . 4

PLOT AVID ARt E VATER CAPACITY - Very low

PHISICAL CIWIACTI!RISTICS - Massive, hard setting surrace. High Cl- by 50 to 60 em; stronSly sadie by 50 em.

GR.UII CROPPIBG

SIHII!II liiiiTBII

USB SOITAHll.ITY - NS LS

FODDBB CROPPIBG SIH!I!H liiiiTBII

NS LS

SHALL CROPS

rHEE CROPS

� BEQ� - Nitrogen and Phosphorus (response variable)

SOVK PASTURE SPECIES - Buffel grass, medics, lucerne

PASTOHH CAIIliYIIIG CAPACITY -(ha/beast)


RUI�FF COJITB.OL STRUCTOBES - (i) Contour bcink:s - LS; Type NB (ii) Waterways - NR to LS


IIAriYI!

PASTUIIE

s

SOIII PASTUIII!

s

(c) Construction technique - No disturbance to channel floor. (iii) Diversion banks - LS


I!AIITII DAII COIISTIIOCTIOI - S

� PKRMISSIBLE VELOCITY - (i) bare earth channel - 0 . 30 m/sec (ii) grassed waterway channel - 0.6 m/sec

(iii) diversion bank channel - 0.6 m/sec

RUJI-OFF COEFFICIEIIT SOD. CATEGORY - Impermeable

DIIAIIIGK DHSIGR RATIIG - 6. 0

SOn. BHODIBn.ITY (It FACTOR) - >O. 35

GRASS RR!'ABDUCE VALUE - E

UPPHH LJIIIl SLOPE LIMIT FOB PI!IIMAIIEIIT cm.TIVATIOR - NA

UPPHH LJIIIl SLOPE LIMIT FOB TRKI! O.I!AHIIG - NA

LAID CAPABll.ITY CLASSIFICATIOI - IV c3 m4 p3 d3-4 n3 s3 k4 e4 a3

OTHER IRFORMI.TIOI -Ripping may be necessary to improve permeability due to hard setting. Hard setting problem increases f'ollowing cultivation. Use for summer cropping and fodder cropping should be restricted. Use of' gypsum may help crop and pasture establishment . Retention of maximum surface cover is recommended . This soil may occur as the mound prof'ile in association with the Woodburn soil .

1 1-17

VOODBURII SOn.

SOn. IIDT'BIBI'J' S'!'A'l'OS - Low N; moderate to low P ; adequate K

SURFACE pH - 6. 3

PLAIT AV.liL.liiLE VATEII CAPACITY - Moderate

PBISICAL CIIARlC!'KBISTICS - Heavy, cracking clay; nuram (melonhole ) gilgai.

USE SUITABILITY - LS s

FODDER CBOPPIBG SOIIIIEJI VIRTER

LS s

SlllLL CROPS

1'liJ!E CROPS

� BEQOIBEHEI!S - Nitrogen and Phosphorus (response variable)

s

SOVII PASTOIIE

s

SOWI PASTORE SPECIES - Burfel grass , medics, lucerne, Rhodes grass, panic, purple pigeon grass

P.lSTOIIE C.lllliYIBG CAPACITY -(ha/beo.st)

( i ) Native - 1 beast to 20 ha (ii) Sown - 1 beast to 1 0 ha

BUR ....OW COITROL STBUCTUBES - ( i ) Contour banks - NA

E.llml DAM OOIISrBUCTIOR - S

(ii) Waterways - NA (a) Grass species - NA (b) Fertiliser - NA (c) Construction technique - NA

(iii) Diversion banks - LS (iv) Pasture furrows - NA

� PERMISSIBLE YELOcrrY - ( i ) bare earth channel - NA (ii) grassed waterway channel - NA


RUB-OFF COKFFICIEIIT son. CATEGORY - Moderately permeable

DIIAIIIAGE DESIGN RAriBG - NA.

SOn. ERODIBll.ITY (I FACTOR) - 0. 25 to 0. 35

GBASS IIKIABDAIICE YALDE - D

OPPER LAJID SLOPE LIMIT FOR PEIIIWil!IT CDLTIYATIOR - NA

OPPER LAIID SLOPE LIMIT FOR 1'liJ!E Q EIRIBG - NA

LAIID CAPABILITY CLASSIFICATIOR - III c3 m3 p2 n2 s2 g3 w3

Ol'BER IIIFOBKA.TIOB - Presence of large gilgai delays cultivation and/or harvesting and limits width of' machinery. Presswheels required to ensure satisf'actory establishment . Can become cloddy if cultivated when too moist. Subject to occasional overland f'looding. May occur in association with Karee soil as the mound profile in transitional areas to the main floodplain.

1 1 - 1 8

rJimJLLA LAID IIESOUIICI! .liii!A QUIBEr son.

son. IIUTBIEft STATUS - Low N; low P ; adequate K

SOBFACI! pB - 7. 1

PL111'r A \'III am I! VArl!ll CAPACITY - Low

PHYSICAL aw!Acri!IIISriC.S - Massive, hard setting surrace may become loose and powdery after trampling. This soil may develop a cracking characteristic following cultivation. Sodic from surface, high Cl- from 10 em.

USE SUir.IBILirY - NS LS NS LS

SHALL CROPS

rJIJ!I! CROPS


SOVB PASTURE SPECIES - Bltffel grass

PASWBI! CAIIIIYIIIG CAPACITY -(balbeaat)

(i) Native - � beast to 20 ha (ii) Sown - 1 beast to 1 2 ha

RUB-OFF COBTROL STROcruBES - ( i ) Contour banks - NS - LS; Type NB (ii) Waterways - NR - LS


IIAriYB PAS:rtJJIB

s

SOIIll PAS:rtJJIB

LS

{c ) Construction technique - no disturbance to channel floor (iii) Diversion banks - LS

(iv) Pasture furrows - S - rip carefully on contour

I!Aiml DAM COIISTBUCTIOB - S

MA.XDIJM PERMISSIBLE YELOCITY - ( i ) bare earth channel - 0. 35 m/ sec (ii) grassed waterway channel - 0 . 6 m/sec


RUB� COBFFICIEIIT SOn. CATEGORY - Impermeable

DRAIIIAGE DI!SIGR BAriRG - 6 . 0

SOTI. EBODmTI.IrY (11: FACTOR) - >D. 35

GRASS Bl!rABD.I.RCI! VALUE - E

UPPI!R LAID SLOPE LIMIT FOR Pl!liiWil!llr CULriYAriOR. - NA

UPPI!JI LARD SLOPE LIMIT FOR rJIJ!I! CLI!AIIIRG � NA

LAID CAP.IBTI.IrY CLASSIFICJ.riOI - VI c3 m3-4 d4 p3-4 n4 s4 k4 e4-6

OTHER IIFOBMATIOW - Not suitable for long term cropping. Management should include a pasture phase. Gypsum may be required to aid infiltration and assist in establishment. Nutrient and physical decline follows cultivation.

1 1-19

BIImOIIT LAIID III!SOUIICE Alll!A IIIIIITIBELLl! son.

SOn. ltJTRIEI"J' STA'l'OS - Low N; low to medium P ; adequate K

SUIIFACE pll - 7 . 4

PLOT AYAD ART R VATU CAPACITY - Low

PBISICAL CIWIACTBBISTICS - Massive, extremely hard setting surface; wetting. Strongly sodic subsoil below 60 em.

80 - 90 em.

sur:f'ace slakes on High Cl- below

GBAIB CROPPIBG SOIMER lii1ITl!ll

FODDER CROPPIBG SOIIIIEII lii1ITl!ll

SKILL CROPS

1'll1!E CROPS

IIATIVE PASTOIIE

SOIIII PASTOIIE

USE SUITIBll.ITY - LS s LS s

FERTILISER REQOIREMERTS - Nitrogen and Phosphorus (response variable)

SOVR PASTORE SPECIES - Buffel grass, medics, Rhodes grass, panics

PASTOHI! CAIUIIDJG CAPACITY -(!Ill/beast)

(i) Native - 1 beast to 23 ha (ii) So�n - l beast to 14 ha

RUB-OFF OORTROL STBUcroRES - (i) Contour banks - LS; Type BBTS (ii) Waterways - LS

s s

(a) Grass species - Buffel grass, Rhodes grass, African star grass

EAIITII DJH COBSTBUCTIOR - S

(b) Fertiliser - N and P (c) Construction technique - no disturbance to channel floor


� PERMISSIBLE VELOCITY - ( i ) bare earth channel - 0 . 35 fu/sec (ii) grassed waterway channel - 0.8 m/sec


RUB-OFF COEFFICIDT SOTI. CATEGORY - Impermeable

DBAIBAGE DESIGN RATIBG - 6. 0

son. ERODIBILITY (K FACTOR) - >O. 35

GRASS Hl!rARDAIICE VALUE - E

UPPER LARD SLOPE LIMIT FOR PI!RHAIIEIIT CULTIVATION - 6%

UPPER LAIID SLOPE LIMIT FOR 1'll1!E CLEARIIIG - 15%

LAIID CAPIBn.ITY CLASSIFICATIOR - IV c3 m3-4 p3-4 n3-4 s3 k3 e4

OTHER IRFOBMATIOR - Not recommended for pe:-manent cultivation. A pasture phase is required to reduce erosion and maintain surface stability. This soil should not be cultivated when dry as further destruction of soil structure will occur and increase the- problem of hard setting.

1 1 -20

IIDilUIIT L.UIJl lll!SODliCI! Alll!.l PJHAIIOO SOTI.

SOIL � STJ!US - Low N; very low P, adequate K

SlJIIFACE pll - 5. 9

PLOT AVAILABLE VATER CAPACITY - Low to very low

mYSICAL CIIARACTICBISTICS - Massive, hard setting surface. Sadie in B horizon, High Cl- by 60 em. Very erodible, dispersible subsoil.

GRAIB CIIOPPIIIG SOHHI!II liiiiTI!ll

USE SOIT.IBTI.ITY - NS LS

PODDKB CIIOPPIIIG SOHHI!II liiiiTI!ll

NS LS

FERTILISER REQ� - Nitrogen and Phosphorus

SIIALL CIIOPS

SOWR PASTORE SPECIES - Buffel grass, medics, Rhodes grass, panics

PASTORE CAIIIIYiliG CAPACITY -

(ba/beast) (i) Native - 1 beast to 23 ha

(ii) Sown - 1 beast to 1 5 ha

RUB�FF CORrROL STRUCTOBF3 - ( i) Contoup banks - LSi Type NB (ii) Waterways - LS

Tlii!E CIIOPS

IUIYE PASTUIIE

s

(a) Grass species - Buffel grass, Rhodes grass (b) Fertiliser - N and P

son PASTORE

s

(c) Construction technique - no disturbance to channel floor (iii) Diversion banks - LS

(iv) Pasture furrows - S - rip carefully on contour

EAIITH DAII COIISTIIOCTIOI - S

� PERMISSIBLE VELOCitY - (i) bare earth channel - 0.3 m/sec (ii) grassed waterway channel - 0 . 6 m/sec


RUB-OFF COEFFICIERT SOn. CATEGORY - Impermeable

DRAIIAGE DESIGN RATIIG - 5 . 0

son. KBODIBTI.ITY (K FACTOR) - >O. 35

GEASS BETAI!DAIICE VALUE - E

OPPKB LAID SLOPE LIHIT lOB PEliiiAliEIIT CULTIYATIOI - 6$

OPPKB LAID SLOPE LIHIT lOB Tlii!E Q.EAIIIIG - 15$

L.UIJl CAP.IBTI.ITY Q.ASSIFICATIOI - IV c3 m4 P3 n2 s3 k3 e4

OTHER IRFORHA.TIOH -This soil is highly erodible when cleared and cultivated. Maximum surf'ace cover should be retained at all times, particularly during the early summer storms. Fodder cropping and summer cropping should be limited. A long-term pasture phase is recommended.

1 1 -21

STBUAII LA11D BBSOOBCE ABEA LUCDIOV son.

SOn. RDTRIERT STATUS - Low N; very low P, adequate K

SllliFACE pH - 4. 5

PLAIIT AY&n.ABLE VATER CAPACITY - Very low

l'IIYSICJ.L CIIABJ.CTEIIISTICS - Hard setting, massive shallow soil , large amounts of ironStone and siliceous gravels.

GRADI CROPPIRG SIMlER VIIITEII

USE SIJITJ.BILITY - NS NS

FODDER CROPPIRG S1JMIIEll VIIITEII

NS NS

SHALL CROPS

TREE CROPS

FERTILISER REQDIREHEITS - NA ror cultivation; NPK required for sown pastures

SOVI PASTURE SPECIES - Buffel grass, medics, panics, Rhodes grass

PJ.SWBE CABIIYJJIG CAPACITY -(ba/beast)

(i) Native - 1 beast to 12 ha (ii) Sown - 1 beast to 16 ba

RUB-OFF COITBOL STRUcruR£3 - ( i ) Contour banks - NA

EABm DAM CORSTBUCTIOR - S

(ii) Waterways - NA (a) Grass species - NA (b) Fertiliser - NA (c) Construction technique - NA

(iii) Diversion banks - LS (iv) Pasture furrows - Ls

� PERMISSIBLE VELOCITY - (i) bare earth channel - NA (ii) grassed waterway channel - NA

(iii) diversion bank channel � 0 . 6 m/sec

IIIJII-OFF COEWICIERT SOn. CATEGORY - NA

DRAIIIJ.GE DBSIGR RATIRG - NA

SOn. ERODIBILITY (1: FACTOR) - >O. 35

GRASS RETABDAIICE VALUE - E

UPPER LAIID SLOPE LIIIIT FOR PEIIIIAIIEIIT CULTIYATIOR - NA

UPPER LA11D SLOPE LI11IT FOR TREE CLEABIRG - 1 0�

LA11D CAPABILITY CLJ.SSIFICJ.TIOR - Vl"VII c3 m5 d4 p3-4 n4 k4 e4-6 a3-4

IIJ.TIVE PJ.STOIIE

s

SOVII PJ.STOIII!

s

OTHER IIIFORMATIOII -This soil is highly erodible if' cleared. Establishment of pastures is diff'icult due to hard setting surface, low nutrient status and very low plant available water capacity. This soil may occur on ridges associated with mulga/poplar box communities tonguing into areas of Pembroke soils.

1 2-1

12. REFEREHCES

Anonymous ( 1 968) , Brigalow development , Queensland Department of Primary Industries.

Anonymous ( 1 976) , Brigalow farm management handbook , Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Division of Land Utilisation, Advisory Leaflet No. 40.

Anonymous, ( 1977 ) , Soil conservation handbook , Soil Conservation Branch, Queensland Department of Primary Industries.

Beal , D . J . and Tiller, A.B. ( 197 1 ) , Warroo Shire handbook , Queensland Department of Primary Industries.

Bruce , R. C. and Rayment , G. E. ( 1 982) , Analytical methods and interpretations used by the Agricultural Chemistry Branch for soil and land use surveys, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Bulletin QB82004 .

Burrows, W.H. ( 1973) , Regeneration and spatial patterns of Acacia aneura in south-west Queensland, Tropical Grasslands 7( 1 ) , 57-68.

Exon, N.F. ( 1968) , Eddystone. Queensland, 1 : 250 000 Geological Series - Explanatory Notes, Australian Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics, Sheet SG/55-7.

Exon, N.F. ( 1971a) , Mitchell. Queensland, 1 : 250 000 Geological Series - Explanatory Notes, Australian Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics , Sheet SG/55-1 1 .

Exon, N.F. ( 1971b ) , Roma. Queensland, 1 : 250 000 Geological Series - Explanatory Notes , Australian Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics, Sheet SG/55-12.

Forbes, V.R. ( 1968 ) , Taroom. Queensland, 1 : 250 000 Geological Series - Explanatory Notes, Australian Bureau of Mineral Resources , Geology and Geophysics, Sheet SG/55-8.

Galloway, R.W. , Gunn , R.H. , Pedley, L. , Cocks , K.D. and Kalma, J . D. ( 1974) , Lands of the Balonne-Maranoa Area. Queensland , Land Research Series No. 34, CSIRO, Australia.

Hammer, G.L. , Woodruff, D . R. and Robinson, J . B. ( 1984) , Reliability of wheat production, in D.A.K. McNee (ed . ) Cropping in the Maranoa and Warrego , Queensl and Department of Primary Industries Information Series QI84012, 1 6-28.

Lehmann, G.M. and Bartels, H. ( 1978a ) , Build your own waterways with a farm dozer , Soil Conservation Branch , Queensland Department of Primary Industries.

1 2-2

Lehmann, G.M. and Bartels , H. ( 1 978b ) , Build your contour banks �ith a farm dozer , Soil Conservation Branch , Queensland Department of Primary Industries.

Mollan, R . G. ( 1967 ) , Springsure, Queensland, 1 : 250 000 Geological Series - Explanatory Notes, Australian Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics, Sheet SG/55-3.

Nevell , P . P . , Truong, P . N. and Turner, E . J . ( 1981 ) , Conservation grazing management , Division of Land Utilisation, Queensland Department of Primary Industries Report 8 1/ 1 .

Northcote, K.H. and Skene, J . M. K . ( 1972) , Australian soils �ith saline and sodic properties , D ivision of Soi l s , CSIRO , Austral i a , Soil Publication No. 27.

Powell , E . E . and Strachan, R . T . ( 1979 ) , Beef production in the Western Do�ns and Maranoa , Beef Cattl e Husbandry Branch , Queensland Department of Primary Industries , Technical Bulletin No. 1 9 .

Pressland, A . J . ( 1975) , Productivity and management of mulga in southwestern Queensland in relation t o tree structure and density, Australian Journal of Botany 23, 965-76.

Pressland, A.J. ( 1976) , Possible effects of removal of mulga on rangeland stability in south-western Queensland, Australian Rangelands Journal 1 , 24-30.

Reiser, R.F. ( 1 97 1 ) , Surat, Queensland, 1 : 250 000 Geological Series - Explanatory Notes, Australian Bureau of Mineral Resources , Geology and Geophysics, Sheet SG/55-1 6 .

Rosenthal , K . M. and White, B . J . ( 1980 ) , Distribution of a rainfall erosion index in Queensland, Division of Land Util isation, Queensland Department of Primary Industries , Technical Report No. 80/8.

Rosser, J . , Swartz , G .L. , Dawson, N.M. and Briggs, H. S. ( 1974 ) , A land capability classification for agricultural purposes, Division of Land Utilisation, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Technical Bulletin No. 14 .

Senior, B . R . ( 1971 ) , Homeboin, Queensland, 1 : 250 000 Geological Series - Explanatory Notes, Australian Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics, Sheet SG/55-15.

Stirl ing, G . O . ( 1971 ) , Bendemere Shire handbook , Queensland Department of Primary Industries.

Tiller, A.B. ( 1971 ) , Bungil Shire handbook , Queensland Department of Primary Industries.

Tiller, A.B. ( 1973) , Booringa Shire handbook , Queensland Department of Primary Industries.

12-3

Truong, P.N. ( 1979) , The EZZinbank Pasture Meter - a new method for measuring retardanae aategories in grassed waterways, Division of Land Utilisation, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Technical News No. 3.

Vandersee, B.E. and Mullins, J.A. ( 1977) , Land evaZuation of representative areas of the Marburg Formation and the PopZar Bo� WaZZoons of the Eastern Downs , QueensZand, Division of Land Util i sation, Queensland Department of Primary Industries , Technical Bulletin, No. 21 .

1 2-4

AClOIOVLEDGEMENTS

The information contained in this manual represents the combined efforts of officers of Land Resources, Soil Conservation Services and Agriculture branches. The specifications were ratified at two workshops.

Particular thanks are due to:

* Mr P. Scott and his staff for preparation of the maps

* Mr J . McLatchey for information on soil conservation measures

* Mr B . K . Slater for Chapter 3 , information on soils and land use and editorial assistance

* Mr N.A. Hamilton for information on crops and pasture management

* Mr E . J . Turner and Mr R.M. Stephens for editorial assistance

• Ms A . Miss D . Miss T .

Leverington for assistance with editing and proofreading and Nash, Mrs L . Bryant , Mrs J . Leeson, Mrs K . Martell , Van Bruggen and Ms L . Landers who typed the final manuscript.

I - 1

APPENDIX I GLOSSARY OF MAJOR ROCK TYPES EXPOSED IN THE ROMA DISTRICT

( i ) Sedimentary Rocks

The major types of sedimentary rocks can be classified as follows : -

Depositional Sedimentary Rocks

Clay-sized particles

s i lt-si zed particles

sand-sized particles

gravel-sized material

1 ��=��g to split )

non-flssile

Shale

Mudstone

Siltstone

Sandstone

Conglomerate

Within the Sandstone group, a further subdivision can be made . These types can be associated with specific soil formation processes in general terms . As rigidly defined classes seldom occur , transitional rock types and subsequently soils are common .

Sandstone

greater than 9 0 % of clasts ( ie . : grains ) are quartz

75-90% of clasts are quart z

less than 7 5 % o f clasts

Quartzose Sandstone ( coarse sandy soils )

Sublabile Sandstone ( sandy loamy to

clay soils )

Labile Sandstone*

dominated by feldspar - Feldspathic Sandstone ( clay soils )

* Labile Sandstone -[

( i i ) Volcanic Rocks

dominated by rock fragments - Lithic Sandstone ( shallow, stony loam and clay soils )

The volcanic rocks of the district are of two types : -

( a ) Basalt

( b ) Dolerite

fine grained and mostly as lava flows ; results in stony clays and colluvial cracking clays .

medium to coarser grained and mostly as dykes and plugs ; generally occurs as resistant outcrop or as shallow, stony loams and clays .

I I - 1

APPENDIX I I THE CLASSIFICATION O F TEXTURE CONTRAST AND SANDY SOILS OF THE ROMA DISTRICT

These soils can be classified in a code format according to the four properties defined by Vandersee in Vandersee and Mullins ( 1 977 ) . Each soi l can thus be described according to the properties in Table 1 .

Table 1 � Categories of four soil properties and associated symbols for classifYing the texture contrast and sandy soil s of the Roma district .

Soil Property

1 . Texture of the A Horizon

2 . Depth of the A Horizon

3 . Permeability of the B Horizon

4 . Texture profile type

Category

Fine - ( loam to clay loam) Coarse - { coarser than loam)

Shallow - ( less than 1 5cm) Moderate - ( 1 5 to 30cm ) Deep - ( greater than 30cm)

Impermeable Permeable

Texture contrast Gradational Uniform

Symbol

F c

s M D

I p

TC G u

Soil properties 1 and 2 can be easily determined in the field . Techniques for field assessment of the permeability of the B horizon are presented in Vandersee ( 1 977 ) and Mullins ( 1 97 7 ) .

An example of a classified soil i s as follows :

CSI ( TC )

C coarse textured surface i . e . : - sandy loam

S A horizon i s less than 1 5cm deep

I B horizon i s impermeable

TC - profi l e i s texture contrast

This type of profile would be common in the Roma district and would be classified as a solodic or solodized solonetz .

I I I - 1

APPENDIX I I I DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE PROFILES O F THE

SOILS OF THE ROMA DISTRICT

Rolling Downs LRA Coogoon LRA

( i ) Roma Downs ( i ) Pembroke

( i i ) Crochdantigh ( i i ) Riverview

( i ii ) Waverley Downs ( ii i ) Belah

( iv ) Knockalong ( iv ) Karee

( v ) Merino Downs

( vi ) Mitchell Downs

Tartulla LRA

( i ) Woodburn

Brigalow Uplands LRA ( ii ) Qui bet

( i )

( i i )

( i ii )

( iv )

Amby

( i )

NOT E :

L imewood

Wondolin Bymount LRA Eumamurrin

Glenarden ( i ) Nimi tybelle

( i i ) Pamaroo

LRA Struan LRA

Studley

( i ) Lucknow

Further experience in the f i e l d since the initial survey and

definition of the main s oi l s of the district has shown some

variation in surface textures and depth of A horizons to those

values given in Appendix I I I . This is partly reflected in the

analyses for the representative s o i l s , which were s ampled at

virgin s i tes , as given in Appendix I V . Some variation is to be

expected given the broad nature of the s o i l s defined. Should

further subdivision of the s o i l s be indicated after a f ew years

evaluation of the present specifications , this will occur when

the manual is f irst updated.

I I I-2

DETAILED PROFILE DESCRIPTIONS OF SOILS OF THE ROMA DISTRICT

Detailed descriptions of the major soils of the Roma district are given based on the Land Resource Areas .

OPEN DOWNS LAND RESOURCE AREA

SITE 1 1

Soi l : Roma Downs

Great Soil Group: Brown clay

Principal Profile Form : Ug 5 . 3 3

Date of Description : 20 October 1 9 8 1

Location : Roma district , Queensland 1 : 2 50 0 0 0 Map sheet SG 5 5/ 1 2 . Lat . 2 6 ° 38 ' S Long . 1 48 ° 5 2 ' E

Topography: Upper convex slope ( 1 % ) on plains of low relief

Parent Material : Cretaceous mudstones and shales

Profile Drainage : Moderately well drained

Vegetation : Open tussock grassland of A.t.tfl.eb!a spp . ( Mitchell grasses ) , V�Qha��um .6�Qeum ( Queensland blue gras s ) and A��da spp . ( Spear grasses ) now cleared for cultivation .

Land Use : Dryland grain cropping

Depth ( em ) Description

0 - 1 0

1 0 - 3 0

30 - 9 0

90+

Brown ( 7 . 5YR 4/4 moist ) self-mulching , heavy clay ; hard ( dry ) ; Clear to -

moderate , fine granular ; trace of ironstone gravel .

cracking , slightly

pH 7 . 8 .

Brown ( 7 . 5YR 4/4 moist ) , heavy clay ; moderate , fine blocky; slightly hard to hard ( dry ) ; trace of ironstone gravel and some calcium carbonate segregation by 25cm. pH 8 . 0 - 8 . 5 . Diffuse to -

Dull brown ( 7 . 5YR 5/4 moist ) , heavy clay ; blocky structur e ; very hard ( dry ) ; trace of ironstone gravel and small amounts of gypsum below 50cm. pH 8 . 7 . Diffuse to -

Weathered mudstone .

I I I-3

SITE 4

Soi l : Crochdantigh

Great Soil Group : Grey clay


Date of Description : 2 0 October , 1 9 8 1

Location : Roma district , Queensland 1 : 2 50 0 0 0 map sheet SG 5 5 / 1 1 Lat . 2 6 ° 37 ' S Long . 1 48 ° 2 7 ' E

Topography : Mid to upper slope ( 1 % ) on plains of low relief

Parent Material :' Cretaceous mudstones and shales


Vegetation :

Land Use :

Depth ( ern )

0 - 1 0

1 0 - 2 0

2 0 - 60

60 - 80

90+

Open tussock grassland of A��ebla ( Mitchell grasses ) , V�eha�hium ��eeum ( Queensland blue grass ) and A��da spp . ( spear grasses ) now cleared for cultivation .

Dryland grain cropping

Description

Brownish grey ( 1 0YR 4/1 moist ) , cracking , heavy clay; strong , coarse granular ; hard { dry ) ; trace of quartz gravel . pH 7 . 0 . Clear to -

Brownish grey ( 1 0YR 4/ 1 moist ) , heavy clay ; strong , medium blocky; hard ( dry ) ; trace of quartz grave l s . pH 7 . 5 . Diffuse to -

Greyish yellow brown ( 1 0 YR 4/2 moist ) , heavy clay; strong , medium to coarse blocky ; very hard to extremely hard ( dry ) ; trace of gypsum below 45crn . pH 7 . 7 - 8 . 5 . Diffuse to -

Dull yellowish brown ( 1 0 YR 4/3 moist ) , heavy clay; small amounts of gypsum . pH 8 . 7 . Diffuse to -

Weathered mudstone with moderate amounts of gypsum .

III-4

SITE 7

Soi l : Waverley Downs

Great Soil Group: Grey clay

Principal Profile Form : Ug 5 . 26


Location : Roma district , Queensland 1 : 2 5 0 0 0 0 Map sheet Sg 5 5 / 1 1 Lat . 26° 40 ' S Long. 148° 3 1 ' E

Topography : Mid to upper slope ( 2% ) on plains of low relief


Profile Drainage : Imperfect

Vegetation : As for Sites 4 and 1 1 with occasional Eucatyp� tene�Qon� ( Queensland blue gum ) in the drainage lines .



0 - 1 0 Dark greyish yellow ( 2 . 5Y 4/2 moist ) , cracking , heavy clay ; weak , fine granular surface ; surface slakes and develops a crust with sand separation on wetting ; slightly hard ( dry ) ; trace of quartz gravel . pH 7 . 5 . Clear to -

1 0 - 2 5

2 5 - 6 0

60 - 90

Dark greyish yellow ( 2 . 5Y 4/2 moist ) , heavy clay ; massive hard pan; hard to extremely hard ( dry ) . pH 8 . 0 . Gradual to -

Dark greyish yellow ( 2 . 5Y 4/2 moist ) , heavy clay ; coarse blocky ; sma l l amounts of gypsum below SOcm . pH B . S . Occasional yellow and grey mottles . Diffuse to -

Yellowish grey ( 2 . 5Y 5/4 moist ) , heavy clay ; moderate amounts of gypsum and weathered mudstone . pH 8 . 7 . Weathered mudstone continuing .

SITE 6

Soil : Knockalong



I I I - 5


Location : Roma district , Queensland 1 : 2 5 0 0 0 0 map sheet Sg 5 5/ 1 1 Lat . 2 6 ° 4 0 ' S Long . 1 48 ° 3 0 ' E

Topography : Mid slope ( 2% ) on plains of low relief


Profile Drainage : Well drained when dry and cracked ; imperfect when moi st .

Vegetation : As for sites 4 and 1 1 but generally associated with scattered communities of A�alaya hem�glauca ( Whitewood ) on the crests .



0 - 1 0 Brownish grey ( 1 0YR 4/1 moist ) , cracking , selfmulching , heavy clay ; moderate , fine granular ; hard ( dry ) ; pH 7 . 0 . Clear to -

1 0 - 2 0 Greyish yellow brown ( 1 0 YR 4/2 moist ) , heavy clay ; moderat e , fine blocky ; very hard ( dry ) . pH 7 . 8 . Diffuse to -

2 0 - 60 Greyish yellow brown ( 1 OYR 4/2 moist ) to dull yellowish brown ( 1 0YR 4/3 moist ) , heavy clay ; strong , coarse blocky ; very hard ( dry ) ; small amounts of calcium carbonate nodules . pH 8 . 5 . Diffuse to -

6 0 - 90 Dull yellowish ( 1 OYR 4/3 moist ) , heavy clay ; coarse blocky ; very hard ( dry ) ; moderate amounts of weathered mudstone and some calcium carbonate nodules ; yellowish brown mottles common . pH 9 . 0 . Diffuse to -

90+ Weathered mudstone .

- --- ----- --------------------

SITE 1 2

Soi l : Merino Downs



I I I - 6

Date o f Description : 26 October , 1 9 8 1

Location : Roma district , Queensland 1 : 2 5 0 0 0 0 Map sheet SG 5 5 / 1 6 Lat . 2 7 ° 1 5 ' S Long . 1 48 ° 58 ' E

Topography: Mid to lower slope ( 2 % ) on plains of low to moderate relief .



Vegetation : Predominantly V�ch�nthium � �ceum ( Queensland blue grass ) open tussock grassland .



0 - 1 0 Brownish black ( 1 OYR 3/2 moist ) , sel f-mulching , medium clay; weak , fine granular ; slightly hard ( dry ) ; weak crusting surface with scattered ironstone gravel . pH 7 . 5 . Gradual to -

1 0 - 6 0 Brownish black ( 1 OYR 3 / 2 moist ) , heavy clay ; weak granular grading to weak to moderate fine blocky ; hard to very hard ( dry ) ; ironstone gravel and trace of calcium carbonate nodules . pH 9 . 0 - 9 . 2 . Diffuse to -

6 0 - 9 0 Dark brown ( 7 . 5YR 3/4 moist ) , heavy clay ; medium blocky ; very hard ( dry ) ; trace of ironstone gravel and soft and nodular calcium carbonate . pH 9 . 2 . Diffuse to -

9 0 - 1 2 0 Brown ( 7 . 5YR 4/6 moist ) , heavy clay ; very hard ( dry ) ; small amounts of ironstone gravel and calcium carbonate nodules ; few reddish brown mottles . pH 9 . 3 . Weathered mudstone .

I I I - 7

SITE 2 3

Soi l : Mitchell Downs

Great Soil Group: Red clay

Principal Profile Form: Ug 5 . 38

Date of Description : 26 October , 1 9 8 1

Location : Roma district , Queensland 1 : 2 5 0 0 0 0 Map sheet SG 5 5 / 1 1 Lat . 26° 3 1 ' S Long . 1 47 ° 5 5 ' E

Topography: Lower slope ( 1 % ) on flat plain

Parent Material':: Cretaceous shales


Vegetation : A��ebla spp . ( Mitchell grasses ) and D�eha�h{um ��eeum ( Queensland blue grass ) open tussock grassland�

Land Use : Dryland grain cropping and grazing


0 - 2 0

2 0 - 1 0 0

1 0 0+

Dark reddish brown ( 5YR 3/6 moist ) , selfmulching, cracking , medium clay ; moderate fine granular grading to moderate fine blocky ; sl ightly hard ( dry ) ; pH 7 . 5 . Diffuse to -

Reddish brown ( 5YR 4/6 moist ) , heavy clay ; strong , fine blocky; hard to very hard ( dry ) ; trace of soft calcium carbonate at 50-60cm and gypsum increasing to moderate amounts below 75cm . pH 8 . 5 - 9 . 0 . Diffuse to -

Continuing to weathered shales below 1 50cm.

SITE 2 5

Soi l : Limewood



III-8


Location : Roma district , Queensland 1 : 2 5 0 0 0 0 Map sheet SG 5 5 / 1 2 Lat . 2 6 ° 1 2 ' 5 Long . 1 48 ° 4 3 ' E

Topography : Convex crest ( 1 % ) on plains of moderate relief

Parent Material : Labile sandstone ( Jurassic )

Profile Drainage : Imperfect to moderately well drained

Vegetation : Acac{a h�pophylia ( brigalow) open forest with occasional Euc.al.yp;tU!.J popu£nea ( poplar box ) , CMwVuna 12f1A.J,;ta;ta ( belah ) and softwood species understorey.



0 - 1 0 Brownish black ( 1 0YR 3 / 1 moist ) , self-mulching , cracking , medium clay; weak , fine granula r ; slightly hard ( dry ) ; occasional ironstone gravel . pH 7 . 2 . Gradual to -

1 0 - 60 Dull yellowish brown ( 1 OYR 5/3 moi s t ) ; heavy clay; moderate , fine grading to medium blocky ; small amounts of soft and nodular calcium carbonate ; very hard ( dry ) . pH 9 . 5 . Diffuse to -

6 0 - 7 0 Pockets of dull yellowish brown ( 1 OYR 5 / 3 moi s t ) heavy clay intermixed with weathered sandstone . pH 9 . 5 .

70+ Weathered sandstone .

SITE 5 1

Soi l : Wondolin

I I I - 9

Great Soil Group: Brown clay


D a t -e of Description : 2 9 June , 1 982

Location : Roma district , Queensland 1 : 2 5 0 0 0 0 Map sheet Sg 5 5 / 1 2 Lat . 2 6 ° 46 ' S Long . 1 49 ° O S ' E

Topography : Mid s lope ( 2 % ) on plains of moderate relief

Parent Material : Cretaceous mudstone


Vegetation : Aea�a �pophyLta ( brigalow ) , Caou�na ��ata ( belah ) open forest with occasional Lyh�phyLturn e�o� ( bauhinia ) and softwood species .



0 - 1 0 Brownish black ( 7 . 5YR 3/2 moist ) cracking , heavy clay ; moderate , fine blocky ; loose to weakly crusting surface ( less than 1 cm ) ; hard ( dry ) ; pH 9 . 0 . Clear to -

1 0 - 40 Brown ( 7 . 5YR 4/3 moist ) , heavy clay ; moderate , fine grading to strong , medium blocky ; hard to very hard ( dry ) ; trace of soft and nodular calcium carbonate . pH 9 . 0 . Gradual to -

4 0 - 7 0 Dull brown ( 7 . 5YR 5/4 moi st ) t o brown ( 7 . 5YR 4/6 moist ) , heavy clay; medium blocky ; very hard ( dry ) ; small amounts of soft and nodular calcium carbonate above 65cm. pH 9 . 0 -8 . 0 . Diffuse to -

7 0 - 1 2 0 Brown ( 7 . 5YR 4/6 moist ) to bright brown

1 2 0+

( 7 . 5YR 5/6 moist ) , heavy clay; very hard ( dry ) . pH 6 . 8 - 5 . 0 becoming more acid with depth . Diffuse to -

Weathered mudstone .

SITE 9

Soi l : Eurnarnurrin



I I I- 1 0

Date o f Description : 26 October , 1 9 8 1

Location : Roma district , Queensland 1 : 2 5 0 0 0 0 Map sheet SG 5 5 / 1 2 Lat . 26° 0 6 ' S Long . 1 48 ° 46 ' E

Topography : Plains of moderate relief ( 3-5% )

Parent Material : Mudstone and labile sandstone ( Jurassic )


Vegetation : Acacta haApaphyUa ( brigalow) and CMu.a!Una CJU./.,;ta;ta ( belah ) open forest to woodland with softwood scrub understorey including G�j�a �a£ictfia� ( scrub wilga ) and occasional B�achyc�an �u.pco�e ( bottle tree ) emergents .

Land Use : Native vegetation adjacent to cultivation .


0 - 20 Brownish black ( 1 0YR 3/1 moist ) , medium clay ; weak , fine granular ; soft to slightly hard ( dry ) ; trace of ironstone gravel . pH 8 . 0 . Gradual to -

2 0 - 40 Brownish black ( 1 0 YR 3/ 1 moist ) , heavy clay ; moderate , fine blocky; hard to very hard ( dry ) ; trace of ironstone gravel . pH B. 7. Gradual to -

40 - 60 Brownish grey ( 1 0YR 6/ 1 moist ) , heavy clay ; fine blocky; very hard ( dry ) ; trace to moderate amounts of soft calcium carbonate . pH 9 . 0 . Diffuse to -

6 0 - 1 0 0 Dull yellowish brown clay; fine blocky; carbonate . pH 9 . 0 . sediments .

( 1 0 YR 5/4 moist ) , heavy hard ( dry ) ; trace of soft Grading to weathered

I I I- 1 1

SITE 1 0

Soil : Glenarden ( FS-MH ( TC ) )

Great Soil Group : Solodic

f'rincipal Profile Form : Dy 4 . 1 3

Date of Description : 2 6 October, 1 9 8 1

Location : Roma district , Queensland 1 : 2 50 0 0 0 Map sheet SG 5 5 / 1 2 Lat . 2 6 ° 1 2 ' S Long . 1 49 ° 0 1 ' E

Topography : Undulating plains ( 4% ) with low hills

Parent Material : Mudstone and labile sandstone { Jurassic )

Profile Drainage : Poorly to moderately well drained

Vegetation :

Land use :

Depth ( em )

0 - 2 0

2 0 - 30

30 - 90

90+

Aeae{a h�pophyl!a ( brigalow) open forest with softwood scrub understorey and occasional B�aehyehZton �up�t4e ( bottle tree ) emergents .

Land cleared for grazing adjacent to cultivation

Description

Brownish black ( 1 0YR 3/1 moist ) , clay loam, structureless massive surface ; crusting may occur ; hardsetting following cultivation ; sl ightly hard ( dry ) . pH 8 . 0 . Clear to -

Brownish black ( 1 0YR 3 / 1 moist ) , heavy clay ; moderate , medium blocky ; very hard ( dry ) . pH 8 . 5 . Gradual to -

Greyish yellow brown ( 1 0 YR 4/2 moist ) , heavy clay ; moderate , medium blocky ; very hard ( dry ) ; small amounts of soft calcium carbonat e . pH 9 . 0 . Diffuse to -

Greyish yellow brown ( 1 0YR 4/2 moist ) continuing to weathered sediments .

I I I - 1 2

SITE 5

Soil : Studley




Location : Roma district , Queensland 1 : 2 5 0 0 0 0 Map sheet , SG 5 5 / 1 1 Lat . 2 6 ° 4 4 ' S Long . 1 48 ° 29 ' E

Topography : Mid to lower slope ( 1 % ) on plains of moderate relief

Parent Material : Mixed basaltic colluvium overlying weathered sandstone and mudstones .

Profile Drainage : Imperfect to moderately well drained.

Vegetation : EueaLyp� a�gadap�a ( mountain coolibah ) and D�chanthZum � �ceum ( Queensland blue grass ) grassy open woodland.



0 - 1 0 Brownish black ( 1 0YR 3/2 moist ) , cracking , heavy clay ; weak , medium granular ; weak crust ; slightly hard ( dry ) . pH 7 . 5 . Clear to -

1 0 - 30 Greyish yellow brown ( 1 0YR 4/2 moist ) , heavy clay ; moderat e , fine blocky ; very hard ( dry ) ; trace of calcium carbonate nodules . pH 7 . 5 . Diffuse to -

3 0 - 9 0 Dull yellowish brown ( 1 0YR 4/3 moist ) , heavy clay ; fine to medium blocky ; small amounts of calcium carbonate nodules ; very hard ( dry ) .

9 0 - 1 2 0

1 2 0+

pH 8 . 5 - 8 . 7 . Diffuse to -

Brown ( 1 0YR 4/4 moist ) , heavy clay ; blocky ; small amounts of calcium carbonate nodules and trace of ironstone gravel ; very hard ( dry ) . pH 8 . 8 . Diffuse to -

Brown ( 1 0 YR 4/4 moist ) heavy clay grading to weathered mudstone .

S I TE 1

Soil : Pembroke

I I I - 1 3

Great Soil Group: Red earth ( intergrade to red-brown earth )

Principal Profile Form: Gn 2 . 1 3

Date of Description : 20 Octobe r , 1 9 8 1

Location : Roma district , Queensland 1 : 25 0 0 0 0 Map sheet Sg 5 5 / 1 6 Lat . 2 7 ° 1 4 ' S Long . 1 48 ° 42 ' E

Topography : Crest ( 1 % ) on plains of low relief

Parent Material : Cretaceous sandstone

Profile Drainage : Well drained

Vegetation : Euea£yp�U6 popuineQ ( poplar box ) grassy open woodland with scattered Euea£yp�U6 mttQnophi_o_,i_ Q ( si lver-leaved ironbark l , Ca£Li;ttU..6 eotume..U.aJl.-0.\ ( cypress pine l and Enemoph_,i_.e_a m�eh� ( false sandalwood ) understorey .



0 - 8

8 - 20

2 0 - 6 0

Dark reddish brown ( 5YR 3/6 moist ) , fine sandy clay loam; structureles s , massive hardsetting surface ; small amounts of fine ironstone gravel . pH 6 . 0 . Abrupt to -

Dark reddish brown ( 5YR 3/6 moist ) , sandy clay loam ; massive to weak , fine blocky ; hard ( dry ) ; small amounts of ironstone gravel . pH 6 . 0 . Diffuse to -

Dark reddish brown ( 5YR 3/4 moist ) , sandy clay ; weak, fine blocky structure ; moderate amounts of ironstone gravel and some rounded quartz grave l s ; hard ( dry ) . pH 6 . 0 grading to pH 8 . 5 in lower part .

60+ Continuing to greater than 1 2 0cm to weathered sandstone .

NOTE : - Texture increase and pH increase in lower profile indicate intergrade to red-brown earth �

SITE 1 3

Soil : Riverview

Great Soil Group: Red earth


I I I - 1 4

Date o f Description : 2 0 October , 1 98 1

Location : Roma district , Queensland 1 : 2 5 0 0 0 0 Map sheet SG 5 5/ 1 6 Lat . 2 7 ° 28 ' S Long . 1 48 ° 49 ' E

Topography : Crest ( 2% ) on plains of low relief

Parent Material : Ferruginised Cretaceous sandstone

Profile Drainage : Well drained

Vegetation : Eu�alyp�� papulnea ( poplar box ) and E�emaph;ia m��h� ( false sandalwood ) grassy open woodland with occasional Eu�alyp�� meianaphla�a ( s i lver-leaved ironbark ) , c� �a£umett� ( cypress pine ) and softwood species understorey .



0 - 1 0 Very dark reddish brown ( 5YR 2/4 moist ) , clay loam ; massive , weakly hardsetting ; small amounts of ironstone gravels . pH 8 . 0 . Clear to -

1 0 - 3 0 Dark reddish brown ( 5YR 3/6 grading t o 2 . 5YR 3/6 moist ) , clay loam; massive to weak, fine blocky ; small amounts of ironstone gravels . pH 7 . 7 - 7 . 5 . Diffuse to -

3 0 - 1 0 0 Dark reddish ( 2 . 5YR 3/6 moist ) , light clay ; weak fine blocky; friable ( moist ) , slightly hard to loose ( dry ) ; trace of ironstone gravels . pH 6 . 5 - 6 . 0 . Diffuse to -

1 0 0+ Continuing .

SITE 2 0

Soi l : Belah

Great Soil Group: Red-brown earth

Principal Profile Form : Dr 4 . 3 3

I I I- 1 5

Date o f Description : 2 0 October , 1 9 8 1

Location : Roma district , Queensland 1 : 2 5 0 0 0 0 Map sheet SG 5 5 / 1 6 Lat . 2 7 ° 2 1 ' S Long . 1 49 ° 1 0 ' E

Topography : Mid slope ( 2% ) on undulating plains

Parent Material : Cretaceous sandstones and shales

Profile Drainage : Imperfect to moderately well drained

Vegetation : CMuaJUvta CJUJ.,;ta;ta ( belah ) and Ac.aua hMpophyUa ( brigalow) woodland to open forest with softwood species understorey .



0 - 1 0 Dark reddish brown ( 5YR 3/4 moist ) , clay loam; structureless to weak granular ; loose to soft ( dry ) ; weakly crusting surface . pH 7 . 0 . Clear to -

1 0 - 20

2 0 - 30

3 0 - 60

6 0 - 90

Dark reddish brown ( 5YR 3/4 moist ) , clay loam ; structureless to weak granular ; pH 7 . 5 . Abrupt to -

Dark reddish brown ( 5YR 3/6 moist ) , medium clay ; ( dry ) ;

pH 7 . 8 .

moderat e , medium blocky; very hard small amounts of ironstone gravel .

Gradual to -

Dark reddish brown ( 5YR 3/6 moist ) , medium clay ; moderate medium to coarse blocky; very hard ( dry ) ; small amounts of ironstone gravels and

moderate amounts of soft calcium carbonate . pH 9 . 5 . Gradual to -

Dark reddish brown ( 5YR 3/6 very hard ( dry ) and friable gypsum below 85cm; pH 9 . 5 . weathered mudstone .

moist ) , medium clay ; ( moist ) ; traces of

Grading into

SITE 1 5

Soi l : Karee

III-16

Great Soil Group: Red-brown earth ( intergrade to red solodi c )

Principal Profile Form: Dr 2 . 4 3


Location : Roma district , Queensland 1 : 25 0 0 0 0 Map sheet SG 5 5 / 1 6 Lat . 2 7 ° 2 5 ' S Long . 1 48 ° 3 2 ' E

Topography : Broad convex slope ( 1 % ) on plains of low relief

Parent Material : Quaternary alluvium


Vegetation : Euc.alyp.tU-6 papuL nea ( poplar box ) , EJr.emaph.Ua m.{;tc_h� ( false sandalwood ) open woodland . Occasional Euc.alyp.tU-6 meLanaphLo�a ( s ilver-leaved ironbark ) .

Land use : Native woodland partially cleared for grazing .

Depth ( ern ) Description

0 - 2 0 Dark reddish brown ( SYR 3/4 moi st ) sandy clay loam ; hardsetting , massive surfac e ; sl ightly hard to hard ( dry ) ; sl ight crusting may occur in disturbed soil . pH 6 . 0 - 6 . 5 . Clear to -

2 0 - 2 5

2 5 - 6 0

60 - 9 0

90+

Bleached A2

horizon . Abrupt to -

Dark reddish brown ( 2 . 5YR 3/4 moist ) , medium clay ; moderat e , medium blocky ; hard ( dry ) ; trace of soft carbonate below 50cm. Diffuse to -

Reddish brown ( 5YR 4/8 moist ) , heavy clay ; moderate , coarse blocky; soft and nodular calcium hard ( dry ) . pH 9 . 5 .

small amount of carbonate ; sl ightly

Continuing to weathered material below 1 5 0cm .

I I I - 1 7

SITE 1 4

Soi l : Woodburn

Great Soil Group : Grey clay ( depression profile )

Principal Profile Form: Ug 5 . 1 6


Location � Roma district , Queensland 1 : 2 5 0 0 0 0 Map sheet SG 5 5/ 1 6 Lat . 2 7 ° 28 ' S Long . 1 48 ° 3 1 ' E

Topography : Plains of low relief ( less than 1 % ) . Gilgai microrelief .

Parent Material : Clay alluvia ( Quaternary )

Profile Drainage : Imperfect to poorly drained . ( Pending occurs i n depressions .

Vegetation : Acacia �paphytta ( brigalow) and Caou�na �tata ( belah ) open forest .



0 - 2 0 Brownish grey ( 1 0YR 4/ 1 moist ) , cracking , heavy clay; weak , fine granular surface grading to fine blocky ; hard ( dry ) ; very slow infiltration after surface seal has forme d . pH 6 . 5 - 6 . 8 . Gradual to -

2 0 - 60

6 0 - 1 2 0

1 2 0+

Brownish grey ( 1 0YR 5 / 1 moist ) , heavy clay ; strong , coarse blocky ; very hard ( dry ) ; trace to small amounts of soft and nodular calcium carbonate below 45cm. pH 7 . 5 - 7 . 8 . Diffuse to -

Greyish yellow brown ( 1 0YR 6/2 moist ) , heavy clay ; coarse blocky ; very hard ( dry ) ; small amounts of soft and nodular calcium carbonate . pH 9 . 2 .

Continuing .

I I I - 1 8

SITE 5 0

Soi l : Quibet

Great Soil Group: Solonized brown clay

Principal Profile Form : Uf 6 . 3 1 ( virgin ) . Cracks when cultivated .

Date of Description : 2 3 June , 1 98 2

Location : Roma district , Queensland 1 : 2 5 0 0 0 0 Map sheet SG 5 5 / 1 6 Lat . 2 7 ° 2 0 ' S Long . 1 48 ° 34 ' E

Topography : Plains of low relief ( less than 1 % )

Parent material : Clay alluvia ( Quaternary )

Profile Drainage : Imperfect to poorly drained

Vegetation : Ca6uanina �tQta ( belah ) open forest

Land Use : Partially cleared for grazing adjacent to cultivation .


0 - 1 0 Brownish black ( 7 . 5YR 3/2 moist ) , medium clay ; loose structureless surface which hardsets after wetting ; hard ( dry ) ; small amounts of quartz and ironstone cobbles . pH 6 . 5 . Clear to -

1 0 - 2 0 Dark brown ( 7 . 5YR 3/3 moist ) , medium heavy clay ; structureless to weak blocky ; trace of ironstone cobbles and gravel ; slightly hard ( dry ) ; pH 7 . 5 . Abrupt to -

2 0 - 4 0

40 - 6 0

6 0 - 1 0 0

1 0 0+

Brown ( 7 . 5YR 4/3 moist ) , heavy clay ; strong , coarse blocky; very hard ( dry ) ; trace of gypsum crystals and soft manganese segregations . pH 9 . 5 . Gradual to -

Dull brown ( 7 . 5YR 4/3 moist ) , heavy clay ; Strong , coarse blocky ; very hard ( dry ) ; trace of gypsum crystals and soft manganese segregations . pH 9 . 5 . Gradual to -

Dull orange ( 7 . 5YR 6/4 mo ist ) , heavy clay ; medium blocky ; hard to very hard ( dry ) ; moderate amounts of gypsum crystals and manganese segregations , decreasing below 80cm. pH 6 . 0 - 5 . 5 .

Continuing .

I I I- 1 9

SITE 8

Soi l : Nimitybelle




Location : Roma district , Queensland 1 : 2 5 0 0 0 0 Map sheet SG 5 5/ 1 2 Lat . 2 6 ° 1 4 ' 5 Long . 1 48 ° 44 ' E

Topography : Crest ( 2% ) on plains of moderate relief

Parent Material : Labile Jurassic Sandstone


Vegetation :

Land Use :

Depth ( em )

0 - 1 0

1 0 - 2 0

2 0 - 60

6 0 - 1 2 0

Euealypt� populnea ( poplar box ) and E�emop�a miteh� ( false sandalwood ) open woodland . Occasional Aea�a �pophyita ( brigalow) may occur .

Dryland grain cropping

Brownish grey heavy clay ; hard ( dry ) .

Description

( 1 0YR 4/ 1 moist ) , cracking , massive hardsetting surface ; pH 7 . 5 . Clear to -

Brownish grey ( 1 0YR weak, fine blocky ; Gradual to -

4/ 1 moist ) , heavy clay ; hard ( dry ) pH 7 . 8 .

Brownish grey ( 1 0YR 4/ 1 moist ) , heavy clay ; coarse blocky ; very hard ( dry ) ; trace to small amounts of soft and nodular calcium carbonate below 3 0cm . pH 8 . 5 - 9 . 0 . Diffuse to -

Greyish yellow brown ( 1 0YR 6/2 moist ) , heavy clay ; coarse blocky ; very hard to extremely hard ( dry ) ; moderate amounts of soft and nodular calcium carbonate . pH 9 . 0 . Grading into weathered sandstone .

SITE 5 5

Soi l : Pamaroo

I I I - 2 0

Great Soil Group : Solodic

Principal Profile Form : Db 1 . 3 3

Date of Description : 2 9 June , 1 982

Location : Rorna district 1 Queensland 1 : 2 5 0 0 0 0 Map sheet SG 5 5/ 1 2 Lat . 26° 0 3 ' S Long . 1 48 ° 5 1 ' E

Topography : Undulating to irregular plains and low hills ( less than 6% )

Parent Material : Mudstone and labile sandstone ( Jurassic )

Profile Drainage : Poor

Vegetation : EucalyptUh popuinea ( poplar box ) and E�emop�a m�ch� ( false sandalwood ) open woodland .

Land Use : Partially cleared for grazing adjacent to cultivation .


0 - 1 8 Brownish black ( 1 0YR 3/2 moist ) , fine sandy loam; structureles s , massive , hardsetting surface ; s l ightly bleached A

2. pH 6 . 5 . Abrupt to -

1 8 - 5 0

5 0 - 9 0

9 0 - 1 2 0

Brown ( 7 . 5YR 4/3 moist ) to dull brown ( 7 . 5YR 5/4 moist ) , medium heavy clay ; coarse blocky; very hard ( dry ) ; trace of calcium carbonate nodules . pH 6 . 5 - 7 . 5 . Gradual to -

Yellowish brown ( 1 0YR 6/4 , 7/4 , 7/6 moist ) , medium heavy clay ; trace of calcium carbonate nodules ; hard ( dry ) . pH 8 . 5 - 9 . 0 . Diffuse to -

Dull yel lowish brown ( 1 0YR 5/4 moist ) to dull yellow orange ( 1 0YR 6/4 moist ) medium clay becoming light medium clay with dept h ; trace of calcium carbonate nodules . pH 9 . 2 .

SITE 5 4

Soi l : Lucknow

Great Soil Group : Massive red earth


Date of Description : 2 9 June , 1 9 8 2

Location : Rorna district , Queensland

I I I - 2 1

1 : 2 5 0 0 0 0 Map sheet , SG 5 5/ 1 6 Lat . 2 7 ° 04 ' S Long . 1 48 ° 36 ' E

Topography : Mid-slope on gently undulating plains ( 2 % }

Parent Material : Ferruginised lithic sandstone

Profile Drainage : Very well drained ; poor illfiltration due to hardsetting

Vegetation : Ac.aua aneUJLa ( mulga } and Ac.auo. l'iLtenul.o.to. ( bendee } scrub .

Land Use : Virgin scrub

Depth ( em } Description

0 - 20 Dark reddish brown ( 2 . 5YR 3/4 moist } clay loam ; hardsetting , massive surface , loose where disturbed. pH 5 . 0 . Gradual to -

2 0 - 30

3 0 - 50

50+

Dull reddish brown ( 2 . 5YR 4/4 moi s t } gravelly clay loam; massive ; moderate amounts of ironstone gravel . pH 5 . 0 . Diffuse to -

Reddish brown ( 2 . 5YR 4/6 moist } , gravelly light clay ; moderate amounts of ironstone . pH 5 . 5 - 5 . 8 .

overlying indurated ironstone layer .

IV-1

APPENDIX IV ANALYTICAL DATA FOR SOILS OF THE ROMA DISTRICT

The following tables report detailed chemical data for only one profile representative of each soil in the district . It is expected that there wil l be considerable variability within soil s due to the level of soil classification . This information should therefore be used as a general guide in support of the data in Table 4 . 3 .

Part A. .

IV-2

SOIL ELECTRICAL f.VISTURE PERCENTAGE ORGANIC TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL 1 : 250 000 DEPTH pH OJN)OCT!V !TY CHLORIDE CARBON NITROCEN PHOSPHORUS POTASSIW SULPHUR TC>P<X;RAPHIC SHEET (em) 1 : 5 1 : 5 H20 (%) AIR 1/3 15 (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) � GRID H20 (mS . cm- 1 ) DRY BAR BAR REFERENCE

OPEN DO<INS LRA

Romo Downs 0-10 7 0 9 0 . 09 0 . 003 5. 9 20 o . e2 0 . 1 0 0 . 035 1 . 29 0 . 02e SG 5512 10-20 e. 2 0 . 1 6 0 . 0 1 6 5 . 7 0 . 72 o . oe Lat. 26° �e · s 20-30 e . 5 0 . 14 0 . 005 5 . 9 22 0 . 0 3 1 . 20 0 . 026 Long. 14e 5 2 ' E 50-60 e . 5 0 . 6 1 0 . 0 1 9 5 . 9 23 0 . 034 1 . 30 0 . 1 5

eo-90 7 0 9 1 . 1 0 . 049 e . e 24 0 . 051 1 . 35 2 . eo

Crochdontigh 0-10 7 . e 0 . 09 0 . 003 6 . 6 22 0 . 72 0 .09 0 . 025 1 . 05 0 . 034 SG 551 1 10-20 7 . 4 o . oe 0 . 002 6 . 9 0 . 72 0 . 09 Lat . 26° F ' S 20-30 7 0 1 0 . 1 2 0 . 002 6 . 6 24 0 . 022 1 . 32 0 . 074 Long. 14e 27 ' E 50-60 7 0 3 1 . 1 0 . 002 7 . 5 25 0 . 021 1 . 2e 1 . 04

e0-90 7 0 6 1 . 5 0 . 005 7 . e 25 0 . 024 1 . 2e 1 . 94

Knockolong 0-10 7 . 7 0 . 1 0 0 . 004 1 0 . 0 24 0 . 74 o . oe 0 . 032 1 . 30 0 . 02e SG 55 1 1 10-20 7 . 7 0 . 1 1 0 . 004 6 . e 0 . 70 0 . 07

t�� . 2

t:e�0 �� • E

20-30 e . 2 0 . 1 1 0 . 004 7 . 1 26 0 . 03 1 1 . 25 0 . 022 50-60 e . 7 0 . 20 0 . 01 2 7 . 0 27 0 . 033 1 . 25 0 . 026

Waver ley Downs 0-10 7 . 0 0 . 33 0 . 00 1 6 . 7 2 2 o . e6 o . oe 0 . 026 1 . 34 0 . 142 SG 5512 10-20 7 . 0 0 . 90 0 . 00 1 7 . 3 0 . 6e 0 . 07

t�� . 2

t:e�0 � � • s

20-30 7 0 2 1 . 0 0 . 00 1 7 . e 24 0 . 024 1 . 27 0 . 966 50-60 7 0 3 1 . 2 0 . 003 e . o 23 0 . 025 1 . 42 1 . 1 2 e0-90 7 0 7 1 .4 o . ooe e . 4 24 0 . 029 0 . 57 1 . 60

Merino Downs 0- 1 0 7 . 7 0 . 1 2 0 . 003 6 . e 1 9 o . e6 o . oe 0 . 022 0 . 70 0 . 035 SG 5516 10-20 e . 1 0 . 09 0 . 003 6 0 2 0 . 62 0 . 07 Lot. 2]0 1 5 ' S 20-30 e . 3 0 . 1 1 0 . 002 6 . 5 2 2 0 . 021 0 . 43 0 . 095 Long. 14e0 5e ' E 50-60 e . 4 0 . 1 7 0 . 0 1 1 7 . 4 24 0 . 0 1 7 0 . 64 0 . 03 1

e0-90 e . 1 1 . 1 0 . 043 7 . 5 25 0 . 022 0.74 o . e 1 6 1 10-120 e . 4 0.52 0 . 045 6 . 7 0 . 024 o . e 1 0 . 067

Mitchell Downs 0-10 7 . 5 0 . 05 0 . 001 6 . 4 20 o . e2 0 . 09 0 . 023 1 . 06 0 . 022 SG 551 1 10-20 7 . 6 0 . 05 0 . 003 6 . 0 0 . 5 1 0 . 07 Lot. 26° �1 ' S 20-30 7 . 7 0 . 07 0 . 002 6 . 6 20 0 . 021 1 . 01 0 . 020 Long . 147 55 ' E 50-60 e . 4 0 . 14 0 . 004 6 . 4 22 0 . 020 1 . 05 0 . 023

eo-90 e . o 1 . 5 0 .031 7 . 3 2 1 0 . 0 2 1 1 . 06 1 . 19

BRIGALO\' UP�S LRA

Limewood 0-10 7 . 5 0 . 06 0 . 002 1 . 0 26 1 1 1 . 3 o . oe 0 . 022 o . eo 0 . 023 SG 5512 10-20 7 . 7 0 . 07 0 . 002 1 . 4 1 . 0 o . oe

t�� . 2

t:e& 2 �� • E

20-30 e. 2 0 . 09 0 . 004 1 .4 35 19 0 . 0 1 7 0 . 6e 0 . 020 50-60 e . 6 0.43 0 . 039 1 . 1 37 17 0 . 043 0 . 60 0 . 035 e0-90 e. 9 0 . 60 0 . 070 1 . 1 31 15 0 . 051 0 . 84 0 . 0 1 9

Wondolin 0-10 7 0 9 0 . 30 0 . 01 0 1 . 6 36 17 1 . 6 0 . 15 0. 034 0 . 67 0 . 034 SG 5512 10-20 e . 3 0 . 33 0 . 030 1 . 7 1 .4 0 . 1 2 Lot. 26° 46 ' S 20-30 e . 2 0 . 62 0 . 060 1 .7 40 20 0 . 03 1 0.57 0 . 034 Long . 149° Oe ' E 50-60 e . 4 1 . 1 0 0 . 1 00 1 . 6 42 20 0 . 02 1 0.55 0 . 045

e0-90 5 . 7 1 . 00 0 . 200 l . e 43 2 1 0 . 0 1 4 0 . 63 0 . 034 1 10-120 4.7 o . eo 0 . 200 1 . 6 0 . 0 1 6 0 . 72 0 . 032 140-150 4.5 o . eo 0 . 200 1 . 4 0 . 0 1 9 1 . 05 0 . 027

Eumamurrin 0-10 e . 2 0 . 1 9 0 . 002 4 . 3 14 1 . 2 o. 1 3 0 . 023 0.52 0 . 02e SG 5512 10-20 e . 1 0 . 15 0 . 004 4 . 1 1 . 2 0 . 1 3 Lat. 26° 96 ' S 20-30 e . 7 0 . 1 7 0 .004 5 . 1 19 0 . 0 1 e 0 .47 0 . 027 Long . 148 46 ' E 50-60 9 . 5 0 . 29 0 . 0 1 1 6 . 9 20 0 . 0 1 0 0 . 5 2 0 . 032

Glenorden 0-10 e.5 0 . 1 1 0 . 002 2 . e 1 0 1 . 7 0 . 1 6 0 . 030 o . e9 0 . 026 SG 5512 10-20 e . 9 0 . 9 1 0 . 1 20 5 . 2 0 . 60 0 . 05 Lat. 26° 1 2 ' S 20-30 e.7 0 . 1 e 0 . 0 1 0 4 . 5 17 0 . 0 1 6 o . e3 0 . 0 1 9 '

Long . 149° 01 ' E 50-60 9 . 2 0 .52 0 . 09 1 4 . 8 19 0 . 020 o . e9 0 . 034 e0-90 8 . 2 0 . 23 0 . 006 3 . 9 14 0 . 0 1 9 0 . 88 0 . 0 2 1

Part A (cont.).

IV-3

SOIL ELECTRICAL WIS TURE PERCENTAGE ORGANIC TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL 1 : 250 000 DEPTH pH CC:WU:TIVITY CHLORIDE CAR� NIT ReGEN POOSPHalUS POTASSIUM SULPHUR TCif'CGRAPHIC SHEET (em) 1 : 5 I :5 H2o (%) AIR 1 / 3 1 5 (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) !oN) GRIO H20 (niS. cm- 1 ) ORY 8AR 8AR

REFEREI<E

� )tudley 0- 1 0 7 . I 0 . 05 0 . 001 6 . 3 22 1 . 0 0. 1 2 0 . 033 1 . 32 0 . 074 SG 55 1 1 10-20 7 . 3 0 . 07 0 . 004 6 . 4 0 . 82 0 . 1 1 Lat. 26° 44 ' S 20-30 7. 9 0 . 08 0 . 004 6 . 5 23 0. 030 1 . 25 0 . 1 04 Long. 148° 29 ' E 50-60 8 . 3 0 . 08 0 . 001 6 . 7 23 0 . 025 1 . 22 0 . 027

80-90 8 . 5 0 . 1 3 0 . 003 6 . 0 23 0 . 025 1 . 24 0 . 037 1 1 0- 1 20 8 . 8 o . 26 0 . 0 1 5 5 . 9 0 . 034 1 . 30 0 . 034

� LRA

Pembroke 0-10 6 . 0 0 . 02 0 . 001 1 . 6 0 . 84 0 . 06 0 . 034 0 . 39 0 . 023 SG 55 1 6 10-20 4 . 8 0 . 05 0 . 002 1 . 8 0 . 58 0 . 0 1 La t . 27° 1 4 ' S 20-30 5. 9 o. 1 2 0 . 006 1 . 8 6 0 . 024 0 . 35 0 . 0 1 6 Long. 148° 42'E 50-60 7 . 9 0 . 1 8 0 . 0 1 3 3 . 2 1 3 0 . 020 0 . 37 0 . 022

Ri'lerv iew 0-10 7 . 9 0 . 09 o . oos 1 . 7 1 . 4 0 . 10 0 . 040 0 . 60 0 .043 SG 55 1 6 10-20 7 . 5 0 . 06 0 . 009 I . 6 0 . 60 0 . 06 Lat. 2� 28 ' S 20-30 6 . 9 0 . 08 0 . 002 1 . 7 0 . 028 0. 62 0 . 020 Long. 148° 49 ' E 50-60 6. 2 o . o8 0 . 008 1 . 7 0 . 022 0.53 0 . 0 1 7

Koree 0-10 6 . 4 0 . 07 0 . 003 1 . 8 0 . 70 0 . 06 0 . 023 0 . 45 0 . 0 1 5 SG 55 1 6 I0-20· 6 . 5 0 . 05 0 . 003 1 . 6 0 . 44 0 . 06 Let . 27° 25 ' S 20-30 6 . 8 o . 1 1 0 . 008 2 . 6 I I 0 . 020 0 . 44 0 . 0 1 3 Long. 148° 32 ' E 50-60 9 . 0 0 . 44 0 . 056 3 . 0 1 4 0 . 0 1 5 0 . 4 1 0 . 025

80-90 9 . 0 0 . 68 0 . 083 3. 6 1 6 0 . 0 1 3 0.40 0 . 034

Selah 0-10 7.5 0.04 0 . 002 2. 2 0 . 84 0 . 1 0 0 . 052 0 . 58 0 . 023 SG 55 1 6 10-20 7. 3 0 . 07 0 . 002 1 . 9 1 . 1 0 . 07 La t . 27° 2 1 ' S 20-30 8 . 3 o . 1 2 0 . 007 3 . 7 1 6 0 . 035 o . 53 0 . 0 1 9 Long. 149° I O ' E 40-50 9 .4 0 . 41 0 . 034 3 . 5 1 6 0 . 038 0 . 47 0 . 029

T ARTULLA LRA

Woodburn 0- 1 0 6 . 3 0 . 1 2 0 . 003 3. 6 15 1 . 0 0 . 1 2 0 . 027 0. 97 0 . 024 SG 55 1 6 10-20 6 . 4 0 . 07 0 . 001 4 . 7 1 . '2 0 . 1 1 Lat. 27° 68 ' S 20-30 6 . 4 0 . 07 0 . 001 3 . 7 1 6 0 .025 1 . 00 0 . 027 Long. 148 31 ' E 50-60 7 . 5 0.06 0 . 00 1 3 . 4 1 4 0 . 0 1 8 0 . 9 1 0 . 0 1 4

80-90 8 . 5 0 . 0 9 0 . 009 3 . 4 1 3 0 . 0 1 3 0 . 85 0 .0 1 2 1 10- 1 20 8 . 8 0 . 1 3 0 . 002 3. 2 0 . 0 1 5 0 . 89 0 . 024

Q,ibet 0- 10 7 . 1 0 . 15 0 . 0 1 7 0 . 9 27 1 2 0 . 8 0 . 07 0 . 024 0 . 40 0 . 0 1 2 SG 55 1 6 10-20 7 . 4 0 . 36 0 . 043 1 . 1 0 . 8 0 . 06 Lat. 2� 20"S 20-30 8 . 2 0 . 54 0 . 070 1 . 0 35 1 6 0 . 020 0. 39 0 . 026 Long . 148° 34' E 50-60 8. 2 o. 90 0 . 085 1 . 1 35 1 7 0 . 0 1 4 0 . 37 0 . 083

80-90 5 . 2 0 . 77 0 . 083 0 . 9 3 6 17 0 . 0 1 0 0 . 38 0 . 038

8YI.OJNT LRA

Nimitybelle 0-10 7 . 4 0 . 09 0 . 004 3 . 9 1 3 1 . 3 0 . 1 1 0 . 023 0 . 85 0 . 028 SG 55 1 2 10-20 8 . 7 0 . 1 6 0 . 0 1 0 4 . 2 1 . 2 0 . 1 1 Lat . 26° 1 4 ' S 20-30 8 . 4 0 . 17 0 . 008 . 4 . 9 1 7 0 . 020 0 . 78 0 . 042 Long. 148° 44 ' E 50-60 9 . 0 0 . 24 0 . 025 4 . 8 1 8 0 . 0 1 9 0 . 68 0 . 075

80-90 9 . 2 0 . 48 0 . 03 6 4 . 4 1 8 0 . 0 1 3 0 . 90 0 . 047 1 10- 1 20 a . 9 0.56 0 . 048 4 . 5 0 . 0 1 2 1 . 03 0 . 039

Panoroo 0-10 5 . 9 0 . 08 0 . 003 1 . 4 14 5 1 . 2 0 . 09 0 . 023 0 . 83 0 . 0 1 5 SG 5516 10-20 6 .5 0. 1 0 0 . 006 1 . 9 0 . 9 0 . 07 Lot . 2� g4 ' S 20-30 6 . 2 0 . 1 1 0 .010 2 . 9 27 1 5 0 . 0 1 6 0 . 89 0 . 08 Long. 148 36 ' E 50-60 8 . 3 0 . 33 0 . 030 2 . 3 25 1 2 0 . 024 0 . 86 0 . 03

80-90 8 . 6 0 . 3 1 0 . 030 2 . 2 24 1 0 0 . 023 0. 98 0 . 023 1 10-1 20 8 . 8 0 . 20 0 . 020 1 . 9 0 . 0 1 9 1 . 04 0 . 0 1 1

Part B

IV-4

SOILS 1 : 250 000 TCli'CGRAPHIC SHEET & GRID REFEREJU

OPEN COINS LRA

Rome Downs SG 5512 Lot. 26° �B ' S Long. 14B 5 2 ' E

Crochdontigh SG 55 1 1 Lot. 26° �7 ' S Long . 148 2 7 ' E

Knockolong SG 55 1 1 Lot . 26° 40 ' S Long . 148° 30 ' E

Wever ley Downs SG 5512

�� . 2t:B�0; � ' s

Merino Downs SG 5516 Lot. 27° 1 5 ' S Long . 148° 58 ' E

Mitchell Downs SG 55 1 1 Lot . 26° � � ' S Long . 147 55 'E

PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTI()l (%)

DEPTH (em)

COARSE FINE SILT CLAY SAt-0 SAt-0

0- 1 0 10-20 20-30 50-60 80-90

0-10 10-20 20-30 1 50-60 3 80-90 5

0-10 10-20 20-30 0 . 5 50-60 0 . 5

0-10 10-20 20-30 2 50-60 3 80-90 4

0-10 10-20 20-30 5 50-60 5 80-90 5

1 10-120 2

0-10 10-20 20-30 2 50-60 2 80-90 5

22

21 20

1

1 8

1 8 17 17

1 9

1 8 17

18

17 1 9 1 7

36

30 29 1 7 26

26

26 25 25

1 9

1 6 1 6 4

18

17 14 1 6

1 8

17 19

20

20 17 21

9 1 3

1 1 4

1 5

1 6 1 4 1 7

5 9

62 62 86

62

64 65 63

62

64

66

6 1

62 6 1 58

48

55 56 8 1 59

54

54 57 54

BRIGALCW UPLAt-OS LRA

Limewood SG 55 1 2 Lot. 26° 1 2 ' S Long . 148° 4 3 ' E

Wondolin SG 55 1 2 Lot. 26° 46 ' S Long . 149

° 08 ' E

Eumcrnurrin SG 5512 Lot. 26° g6 ' S Long. 148 4 6 ' E

Glenorden SG 5512 Lot. 26° 1 2 ' S Long. 149° 0 1 ' E

0-10 10-20 20-30 50-60 80-90

0-10 10-20 20-30 50-60 80-90

1 1 0- 1 20 140-150

0-10 10-20 20-30 50-60

0-10 10-20 20-30 50-60 80-90

39

3 1 23 35

4

1 3

1 1 1 5

1 0

8 1 3

7

26

15 1 6 1 8

3 6

3 1 32 28 26 24

45

35 30

40

35 28 34

7 17 20

1 1

1 1 1 0 1 4 1 6 1 8

1 1

7 8

24

1 7 1 2 1 8

23

4 1 37 23

33

52 50 53 54 53

35

45 45

27

45 50 4 1

EXowaABLE CAp� (m eq. lOOg- )

14 8 . 3

9 . 4 3 . 2 1 9 9 . 8 1 9 1 2

29

28 3 1 30

27

20 27

39

42 34 1 9

1 7

1 6 2 2 2 6 28

1 8

20 2 1 1 9

1 9

30 25 2 1

2 6

20 1 7 1 4 1 1 1 1

7 . 6

7 . 4 8 . 4 8 . 6

23

3 . 5 3 . 4

5 . 6

6 . 9 1 3 1 9

1 1

1 0 3 . 0 5 . 5 8 . 0

8 . 2

7 . 9 8 . 9

1 3

2 . 1

3. 2 3 . 8 3 . 3

7 . 5

1 2 1 4 1 2 1 1 1 2

0 . 33 3 . 8

27 3 . 9 26 6 . 8

1 8

1 8 1 5 14

8 . 7

8 . 4 7 . 0 3 . 3

1 . 2

2 . 6 6 . 1 8.4

1 . 3

0 . 84 0 . 83 0. 66

0 . 62 1 . 6

1 . 1 1 . 2 3 . 0 1 . 0 6 . 3 1 . 1

2 . 1 1 . 5

3 . 7 0 . 85 7 . 0 0 . 79

0 . 55 1 . 4

1 . 2 0 . 78 2. 1 0 . 82 5 . 1 1 . 80

0 . 72 1 . 4

2 . 1 0 . 54 4 . 8 0 . 60 5 . 3 0 . 73 5.7 0 . 62

0 . 33 1 . 2

0 . 83 0 . 78 2 . 8 0 . 72 5 . 0 0 . 84

0 . 37 0 . 9 1

2 . 6 0 . 38 5 . 1 0 . 23 6 . 1 0 . 1 8

1 . 3

3 . 7 6 . 7 6 . 9 6 . 9 7 . ]

1 . 8

0.73 0 . 44 0 . 39 0.44 0 . 50

0 . 69 0 . 59

2 . 7 0 . 24 7 . 4 0 . 1 3

0 . 42 1 . 0

3 . 8 0 . 32 8 . 6 0 . 24 2 . 1 0 .46

CATI()l EXOW«::E CAPACITY

(m eq. l OOg- 1 )

44

42 42 35

47

50 44 42

5 1

5 3 55

46

44 43 4 1

45

48 49 44 48

45

42 42 35

22

38 34 29

38

36 37 37 40 38

33

39 37

24

3 1 35 30

EXOW«::EABLE

sam.t.4

(%)

2. 7

6 . 2 1 5 24

1 . 3

2 . 2 6 . 8

1 5

4 . 1

7 . 0 1 3

1 . 2

2 . 7 4 . 9

1 2

1 . 6

4 . 4 9 . 8

1 2 1 2

0 . 73

2 . 0 6 . 7

1 4

1 . 68

6 . 8 1 5 2 1

3 . 4

1 0 . 3 18 . 1 1 8 . 6 1 7 . 3 1 8 . 7

2 . 1

6 . 9 20

1 .8

1 2 25

7

EXTRACT ABLE PHOSPHORUS (ppm)

ACID BICARB

40 34

1 3 1 2

94 86

28 27

1 9 1 3

1 3 1 0

1 4 6

37 1 9

37 23

47 56

12 6

10 7

1 3 6

1 0 8

7 4

7 4

25 1 1

2 1 1 6

29 5

REPLACE-ABLE

POTASSil.t.4

(m eq. 100- l )

1 . 1 0.77

1 . 3 1 . 2

1 . 3 1 . 0

1 . 1 0 . 72

1 . 1 0 . 56

1 . 1 0 . 68

0 . 79 0 . 47

1 . 6 0 . 88

0 . 54 0.45

1 . 0 0 . 30

Part B (cont.).

IV-5

PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUT!()I EXQWaABLE CAP

()!$ CAT! ()I Exowa- EXTRN::T ABLE REPLACE, SOILS (%) (m eq. 1 00g- ) exowa ABLE �F'tDlUS ABLE 1 : 250 000 DEPTH CAPACITY samJ.4 (ppm) POT ASS IliA TOI'OOW'HIC SHEET (em)

ea++ �4g++ No+ K+ (m eq. 1 00g- 1 ) ACID BICARB (m eq. 100- 1 ) & GRID REFER Eta COARSE Fitt: SILT CLAY SIW SIW

#£Y LRA

Studley 0-10 30 14 53 33 8 . 7 0 . 32 1 . 1 45 0 . 7 1 59 22 1 . 5 SG 551 1 10-20 65 1 6 1 . 2 Lot. 26° 44 ' S 20-30 29 1 4 56 1 2 8 . 1 0 . 60 1 . 6 48 1 . 2 Long. 148° 29 'E 50-60 29 1 8 53 1 1 9 . 4 1 . 9 0 . 79 44 4 . 3

80-90 28 1 5 55 26 5 . 2 3 . 9 0 . 87 45 8 . 7 1 1 0-120 30 14 53 22 7 . 5 4 . 8 0 . 85 42 1 1

� LRA

Pe!rbroke 0- 10 23 45 9 2 1 32 8 . 5 0 . 05 1 . 2 1 1 0 . 45 30 29 1 . 2 SG 5516 10-20 9 1 2 0 . 58 Lot. 27° 1 4 ' S 20-30 24 45 1 1 1 9 34 9 . 8 0 . 40 0.40 9 4 . 4 Long. 148° 4 2 ' E 50-60 15 34 1 0 4 1 27 4 . 8 2 . 6 0.'20 1 9 1 4

Riverview 0-10 23 55 1 6 1 2 9 . 5 1 . 6 0 . 1 0 1 . 8 1 3 0 . 07 150 4 1 1 . 8 SG 55 1 6 10-20 47 20 1 . 8 Lot. 27° 2 8 ' S 20-30 1 6 49 1 2 26 6 . 3 1 . 6 0 . 1 0 1 . 3 10 0 . 09 Long. 148° 49 ' E 50-60 1 6 44 1 0 2 9 4 . 2 2 . 5 0 . 35 0 . 1 6 84 0 . 42

Koree 0-10 15 53 1 6 1 8 5 . 1 1 . 8 0 . 28 o . 96 1 1 2 . 5 9 0 . 88 SG 55 16 10-20 5 0 . 65 Lot. 27° 2 5 ' S 20-30 1 2 42 1 2 33 7. 9 4 . 0 1 . 4 0 . 79 1 6 8 . 8 Long 148° 3 2 ' E 50-60 1 3 4 1 1 0 3 6 7 . 8 6 . 5 4 . 5 0 . 38 1 7 2 6

80-90 9 38 1 1 40 7 . 9 7 . 7 6 . 0 0 . 39 22 27

Selah 0-10 24 49 1 7 1 8 1 0 2 . 1 0 . 72 0 . 85 14 5. 1 28 17 0 . 80 SG 55 1 6 10-20 17 15 0 . 69 Lot. 27° 2 1 ' S 20-30 1 4 37 8 39 9 . 0 9 . 7 3 . 7 0 . 34 25 1 5 Long 149° 1 0 ' E 40-50 1 9 34 7 37

TARTULLA LRA

Woodburn 0-10 1 8 28 1 2 40 1 5 3 . 0 0 . 1 3 1 . 8 26 0 . 50 45 34 1 . 6 SG 55 1 6 10-20 39 3 1 1 . 6 Lot. 27° 28 ' S 20-30 14 26 1 0 46 1 8 2 . 9 0 . 1 5 1 . 5 27 0 . 56 Long . 148° 31 ' E 50-60 1 9 30 1 0 40 1 7 3 . 3 0 . 20 1 . 0 23 0 . 87

80-90 24 30 1 0 36 14 4.0 0 . 50 0 . 78 1 8 2 . 8 1 10-120 24 29 10 36 1 2 5 . 9 1 . 9 0 . 76 20 9 . 5

Qui bet 0- 1 0 1 0 3 9 10 37 8 . 6 6 . 2 1 . 9 0 . 80 20 9 . 5 23 20 0 . 60 SG 55 1 6 10-20 1 1 10 0 .44 Lot. 27° 20 ' S 20-30 8 34 7 46 1 2 7 . 9 5 . 1 0 . 35 24 2 1 . 3 Long. 148° 34' E 50-60 8 34 10 46 1 0 8 . 0 7 . 4 0 . 25 24 3 0 . 8

80-90 6 33 1 0 46 9 6 . 0 6 . 5 0 . 23 2 3 28 . 3

BYf.()UNT LRA

Nimi tybelle 0- 1 0 1 9 35 1 1 34 20 1 . 9 0 . 32 1 . 1 2 9 1 . 1 22 18 1 . 1 SG 551 2 10-20 1 7 1 1 0 . 78 Lot. 26° 1 4 ' S 20-30 14 28 1 1 45 2 . 6 4 . 7 0 . 97 0 . 7 1 33 2 . 9 Long . 148° 44 ' E 50-60 14 23 16 45 0 . 4 1 4 . 2 3 . 6 0 .44 32 1 . 1

80-90 20 24 1 6 45 0 . 3 1 3 . 8 6 . 2 0 . 4 1 28 22 1 10-120 10 27 1 5 49 0 . 27 3 . 3 7 . 7 0 . 43 34 23

Pomoroo 0- 1 0 1 2 6 3 15 8 . 2 1 . 5 0 . 1 0 0 . 60 1 4 0 . 7 9 5 0.44 SG 551 6 10-20 4 2 0 . 50 Lot . 2� �·s 20-30 8 40 7 41 1 7 5 . 0 0 . 95 0.57 29 3 . 3 Long. 148 3 6 ' E 50-60 8 46 1 1 34 14 5 . 0 1 . 6 0 . 23 20 8 . 0

80-90 8 47 14 2 9 1 3 4 . 6 1 . 7 0 . 20 1 9 8 . 9 1 10 - 1 20 5 60 1 1 2 1 1 2 3 . 7 1 . 6 0. 1 9 1 6 1 0 . 0

V-1

APPENDIX V KEY TO THE SOILS OF THE ROMA DISTRICT

The key to the soils is based primarily on morphological and physical characteristics of the surface soils with additional characteristics of the subsoils in lower parts of the key .

The colours are based on moist colours . The· vegetation communities may be absent at the site and therefore these have been used as an additional qualifier at the end of the key . At the level of soil classification ( 1 : 5 0 0 0 0 0 scale ) some of these features may not be present at all sites .

The cracking and non-cracking classification applies to the natural , undisturbed condition . Cracking may not always be evident in a cultivated soi l . In addition , cracking has been observed to occur in the Quibet , Wondolin , Nimitybelle and Eumamurrin soils following cultivation .

Special problems exist for the Waverley Downs and Knockalong soils which were observed to have a hardpan at 0 . 2 0 - 0 . 25m and a sinkhole characteristic respectively . Recent observations indicate that when subsoil moisture levels are reasonable , these characteristics are not evident .

V-2

APPENDIX V KEY TO SOILS OF THE ROMA DISTRICT

ALL SOILS

Red, brown and grey clays

Red und

brown clay loams and

Cracking

Noncracking

_[ Less than 1 . Om to weathered parent material

- Brown, strong, fine granular surface gypsum at depth ; occurs mainly east of Muckadilla; tussock grassland

Reddish brown to brown . Greater than. 1 . 2m to

weathered parent material

- Reddish brown, moderate , fine granular to fine blocky surface ; gypsum at depth; occurs mainly west of

-------------------��ELL

Mitchel l ; tussock grassland

Grey to brownish black

Less than 1 . Om to weathered parent material ·

i Strong, coarse granular - Coarse blocky subsoi l , surface structure gypsum at depth; tussock CROCHDANTIGH

grassland

Weak to moderate, fine granular surface structure1Surface slakes readily on

wetting and shows sand separation; hard pan occurs at 0 . 1 0 - 0 . 25m; WAVERLEY greyish yel low subsoil ; tussock

-DOWNS

grassland

Less than 0. 75m to weathered sandstone ; yellowish brown , heavy clay subsoi l ; some soft and

Greater than 1 . Om tL·

Melonhole gilgai weathered parent material

W.eakly defined linear gilgai to no gilgai

Brown to 1 Fine , blocky, loose to weakly crusting surface ; reddish brown generally less than 1 . Sm to weathered parent

material ; brown subsoil with some carbonate nodu les ; acid in deep subsoi l ; brigalow/belah open forest

Massive, hardsetting surface which becomes loose and powdery when disturbed in dry conditions; frequent s i l iceous and ironstone cobbles; alkaline brown subsoil over acid deep subsoil with gypsum; belah open forest

Grey to 1Massive, hardsetting surface; slakes on wetting greyish black after cultivation; less than 1 . 5m deep to weathered

parent materi al ; soft and nodular calcium carbonate at depth; yellowish grey subsoi l ; poplar box open wood land with some silver-leaved ironbark and brigalow

Loose, fine granular to weakly crusting surface ; yellowish brown subsoi l ; calcium carbonate at depth; generally less than 1 . 2m to weathered parent materi a l ; brigalow softwood scrub

* NoLe - Merino Downs and --Stu�:Uey may be less than 1. Om deep in some upper slope situation s .

nodular calcium carbonate a t ---- LIMEWOOD depth; brigalow open forest

Very deep (greater than 1 . Sm) grey clay in depressions; may have texture contrast soils on -- WOODBURN puffs ( KAREE ) ; occurs on old,

--

alluvial floodplains; brigalow open forest

Weak to moderate , fine granular surface over strong coarse blocky subsoi l ; sinkholes develop in dry condition; some calcium carbonat e - KNOCKALONG at depth; tussock grassland in

-------

association with whitewood communities

Weakly crusting surface ; some ironstone present throughout and calcium carbonate at depth; mainly-MERINO DOWNS* occurs in south-eastern part of the district; tussock grassland

Mixed colluvial soil developed on basalt and sandstone parent material s ; basalt and quartz ---- STUDLEY• surface cobbles; yellowish brown

--

subsoi l ; grassland with mountain coolibah on ridges above

------------------------- WONOOLIN

------------------------- QUIB�

-------------------------- NIMITYBELLE

V-3

APPENDIX V

ALL SOILS

KEY TO SOILS OF THE ROMA DISTRICT (Cont ' d )

Red, brown and � grey clays �

Red and brown clay loams and coarser surface soils

Texture contrast soils

Friable loose to weakly --Permeable clay B horizon ; Reddish brown to dark reddish brown

crusting surface layer of ironstone and sil iceous gravel may occur at top of 8

horizon ; carbonate nodules present and gypsum at depth; generally less than 1 . Om deep; belah/ brigalow communities with some softwood understorey

Brown to brown

Massive, hardsetting surface

----- BELAH

1 A horizon 0 . 20 - 0 . 25m deep; conspicuously bleached A2 over red , blocky heavy clay; small amounts of carbonate in subsoi l ; poplar box open woodland with occasional silver-leaved ironbark ----- KAREE and false sandalwood understorey

A horizon 0 . 1 0 - 0 . 20m deep; massive subsoil with ironstone gravel and some small quartz grave l ; may b e fine, blocky in deeper subsoil; wind erodible; profile can become gradational with cultivation; poplar box false sandalwood open woodland; ( Note : - where significant numbers of silver-leaved ironbark ---- PEMBROKE occur soil is more like Riverview)

yellowish 1 Massive, hardsetting surface after cultivation , but crusting in virgin state; impermeable yellowish brown blocky subsoil ; some carbonate at depth; few small ironstone nodules; brigalow softwood scrub

Massive hardsetting A horizon of 0 . 1 0 - 0 . 30m deep; sporadic bleach; trace of calcium carbonate in yellowish brown medium clay subsoi l ; highly water erodible; poplar box open woodland

-------- GLENARDEN

------------- PAMAROO

Gradation a l - Reddish brown to 1 Fr1able red earth wh1ch may become weakly hardsett1ng w1th cult1vat1on ; small amounts of 1ronstone gravel soils very dark reddish

brown throughout ; becomes redder Wlth depth and may have weak, f1ne blocky structure 1n deep subso1l ; poplar box, sllver-leaved ironbark , cypress p1ne and softwood understorey

Mass1ve , hardsett1ng red and yellow earths ; moderate

-------- �

amounts of ironstone and sil iceous gravel; may overlie -------- LUCKNOW indurated ironstone layer; mulga communities

APPENDIX VI

ATTRIBUTE

Cl ( % )

Acid Extractable p ( ]J g g- 1 )

Bicarb . Extractable p (]J g g- 1 )

Replaceable ( or Extract-able ) K ( m equiv.

1 0 0 g- 1 )

Total N ( % )

VI-1

RATINGS USED FOR CHEMICAL ATTRIBUTES OF SOILS OF THE ROMA DISTRICT ( After Bruce and Rayment , 1 982 )

VERY LOW LOW MEDIUM HIGH VERY HIGH

Less than 0 . 0 1 - 0 . 0 3 - 0 . 06- Greater than 0 . 0 1 0 . 0 3 0 . 06 0 . 2 0 0 . 2 0

Less than 1 0- 2 0 2 0-40 40- 1 0 0 Greater than 1 0 1 0 0

Less than 1 0 -20 20-40 40- 1 0 0 Greater than 1 0 1 00

Less than 0 . 1 - 0 . 2- 0 . 5- Greater than 0 . 1 0 . 2 0 . 5 1 . 0 1 . 0

Less than 0 . 0 5- 0 . 1 5- 0 . 2 5- Greater than 0 . 0 5 0 . 1 5 0 . 2 5 0 . 5 0 0 . 5 0

APPENDIX VII

TYPE OF LIMITATION

FACTORS LIMITING CHOICE OF CROPS OR CROP PRODUCTIVITY

LAND CAPABILITY CLASSIFICATION FOR AGRICULTURE ( after Rosser ct a£. 1 974 )

LIMITING FACTOR

Climatic limitation other than rainfall "c u

Moisture availability for crop growth "m" •

Effective soil depth "d" .

Soil physical factors affecting crop growth "p" .

DEGREE OF LIMITATION

Sl ight restrictions to choice of crops or slightly restricted production potentia l . Moderate restriction to choice of crops or moderately restricted production potential . Severely restricted choice of crops and severely reduced production potential . Climatic limitation too severe to allow cropping .

Occasional l imitation to crop production : 7-8 crops possible in 1 0 years . Regular limitation to crop production : 5-7 crops possible in 1 0 years . Occasional cropping possible . Less than 5 crops possible in 1 0 years . Water availability too unreliable to allow cropping .

Effective soil depth 6 0 - 1 0 0cm Effective soil depth 45- 60cm Effective soil depth 2 5 - 45cm Effective soil depth less than 25cm

Degree of limitation imposed on crop production from soil physical factors affecting the growth of crop plants eg . : surface crusting, hard pans J cementation etc .

Slight restriction Moderate restriction

Severe restriction

SUB-CLASS

c 2

a 3

c 4

c 6

m 2 < H H

m 3 I

>"

m 4

m 6

d 2 d 3 d 4 d 6

p2 p 3

p 4

APPENDIX VI I Continued

TYPE OF LIMITATION

FACTORS LIMITING CHOICE OF CROPS OR CROP PRODUCTIVITY ( cont ' d )

FACTORS LIMITING THE USE OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY

LIMITING FACTOR

Soil nutrient fertility " n u .

Soil salinity or sodicity " s " .

Topography " t " .

DEGREE OF L IMITATION

Moderate deficiencies which may be economically corrected with careful management . Severe deficiencies , difficult to correct and which require special management practices . Very low fertility : continuous cultivation precluded by structural decl ine .

Soil water availability sl ightly restricted or slight structure decay affecting crop production . Soil water availability moderately restricted or moderate structural decay with some toxic effect on crops . Soil water availability severely restricted or severe structural decay with moderate to severe toxicity . Salinity or alkalinity too severe for crops . Tolerant improved species available . Salinity· or alkalinity too severe for pasture improvemen t ; tolerant herbage available . Bare salt pan ; not practical to vegetate .

Severe relief or maj or gullies preclude contour cultivation . Occasional cropping possible . Slopes 1 5- 2 0 % or severe relief or gullying preventing cultivation . Slopes 2 0-45% or extreme gullying but accessible to grazing animal s . Slopes on topography too severe for grazing animal s .

SUB-CLASS

n 2

n3

n4

s2

s3

<: H H

s4 I "'

s6

s7

s8

t4

t6

t7

t8

APPENDIX VII

TYPE OF LIMITATION

FACTORS LIMITING THE USE OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY Cont ' d

Continued

LIMITING FACTOR

Soil workability " k " .

Rockiness or stoniness " r " .

Surface microrelief gilgai and gullying " g " .

Wetness 11W11 •

DEGREE OF LIMITATION SUB-CLASS

Soil properties affecting machinery and thus reducing average production potential eg . : stiff clay , columnar structure , compaction , narrow moisture range for working .

Slight restriction k2

Moderate restriction k3

Severe restriction

Tillage restricted with some types of machinery. Tillage restricted with most types of machinery . Tillage difficult with all machinery ; occasional use pos sible . Use of all machinery for cropping impractical .

Tillage restricted with some types of machinery . Tillage restricted with most types of machinery .•

Tillage difficult wi l l all machinery ; occasional use possible . Use of all machinery for cropping impractical .

Use of implements delayed occasionally and s l ightly reduced production potent ial . Use of implements delayed regularly and moderately reduced production potential . Use of implements very difficult and occasional crops only possible . Permanently wet i use for cultivation impractical .

k4

r 2 r 3 r4

r 5

g2 g3 g4

g5

w2

w3

w4

2 5

< H H I

w

APPENDIX VII

TYPE OF LIMITATION

FACTORS CONTROLLING LAND DETERIORATION

Continued

LIMITING FACTOR

Susceptibil ity to water erosion " e " .

Susceptibility to flooding " £ " .

Susceptibi lity to wind erosion " a " .

DEGREE OF LIMITATION

Simple practices required to reduce water erosion under cultivation to the acceptable level . Intensive practices required to reduce water erosion under cultivation to the acceptable leve l . Requires inclusion of a pasture phase to reduce average water erosion losses to the acceptable level . Continuous pasture required to reduce water erosion losses to the acceptable level . Special practices or grazing restriction required to reduce water erosion losses to the acceptable level . Under grazing water erosion losses are in excess of the acceptable leve l .

Subject to occasional overflow flooding . Subj ect to regular overflow flooding . Subject to severe overflow flooding ; permanent cultivation not possible . Flood frequency and/or severity precludes any cropping .

Slightly susceptible to wind erosion . Moderately susceptible to wind erosion . severely susceptible to wind erosion . Potential for wind erosion too severe to allow cropping .

SUB-CLASS

e 2

e3

e4

e6

e7

e8 <: H H I

""

f 2 f 3 f 4

f 5

a2 a3 a4 a6-8

VI I I - 1

APPENDIX VIII GLOSSARY OF COMMON VEGETATION OF THE ROMA DISTRICT

BOTANICAL NAME

Acaua aneWLa

Acacia catenu£ata

Acacia hanpophylla

Acacia pendu.ia

Angophona 6�o�bunda

Awtida �ati6o.Ua

Awtida �ep�opoda

Awtida spp .

A�.>ueb�a spp .

A�aya hem�glauca

BaM� b�ch«

Bo��o chtoa blad��

Bo��o chloa deci�en�.>

Bo��o chtoa �n�.>cu.ip�a

Bo��o chtoa p�UI.>a

Bnachyc��on popu.ineum

Bnachyc�on nupe�.>ue

Ca� columell�

C��.>a ovata

Ca�.>�na c!rM�ata

C M u�na fue.hmanrUJ.

CenchnU!.> U.U�

Chlow gayana

Cynodon ntem6uen�.>�

VauCUI.> c�oa

V�cha�hi_um .I.)VUcemn

V�g�� spp .

Egnagno�.>� spp .

Enemopilla m�ch�

Eno�um cygnonum

Eucatyp�U!.> cnebna

Eucatyp�UI.> dealbata

Eucatyp� iang�6lonen�.>

COMMON NAME

Mulga

Bendee

Brigalow

My all

Rough barked apple

Feathertop wiregrass

White spear grass

Wire grass

Mitchell grass

Whitewood

Galvanised burr

Forest blue grass

Pitted blue grass

Creeping blue grass

Indian blue grass

Kurrajong

Narrow leaf bottle tree

Cypress pine

Prickly currant bush

Belah

Bull oak

Buffel grass

Rhodes grass

African star grass

Wild carrot

Queensland blue grass

Umbrella grass

Love grass

False sandalwood

Crows foot

Narrow-leaved iron bark

Tumbledown gum

Black box

APPENDIX VI I I Continued

VI I I -2

BOTANICAL NAME COMMON NAME

EueafyptU6 maeu£ata

EueafyptU6 me£anoph£o�a

EueafyptU6 phaeot�eha

EuealyptU6 popu£nea

EuealyptU6 te�>M.laM.!.>

Euca£yptU6 thoz�ana

G�j�a p�v�fiio�a

Imponea eotob�a

I!.> Ulema spp.

Ly�.>�phyttum �o�

MecU.eago �.>�va

MecU.eago spp.

Pa�eum eoto�atum ( va r . rnakarikari )

Pa�eum max�num ( va r . tricholglurne l

Ptan.:tago v�a

Set�a po�phy�an.:tha

SponoboiU6 C!Ltb�

Themeda aU6�aLW

UAo eh£oa pa�eo�dv.,

Spotted gum

Silver-leaved ironbark

Stringybark

Poplar box

Moreton Bay ash

Yapunyah

Wilga

Weir Vine

Flinders grass

Bauhinia

Lucerne

Medics

Makarikari

Green panic

Lambs tongue

Purple pigeon grass

Western rats-tail grass

Kangaroo grass

Liverseed grass or Urochloa

IX-1

APPERDIX IX SITUAriDRS �UIRIRG IRVESTIGATIDR Ill mE ROKA DISTRICl

Standard soil conservation designs and practices are not always sufficient to control or restore stability to degraded areas. Several problems exist in the Roma district for which information on methods of control are r eq u i r e d i n the sh o r t t e rm. I nv e s ti ga t i o n and defini tion of specifications are required for the following problems.

1 . Evaluation of' soil conservation design specifications

A monitoring programme should be establ ished to evaluate designs currently used in the district and assess their performance during and after run-off events. Sites currently being evaluated are discussed in Appendix X.

A l ong t erm a s s e s sm ent of structure performance may l ead t o modification of design specifications where required.

2. Developaent of' suitable conservation cropping syst-s for the district

Some work has been undertaken in the past (L. Ward, pers. comm. ) but more i nvestiga tiona are required t o take account of recent technological advances.

3. Investigation of' soil properties and their relationship to land use

A greater understanding of soil properties in the Roma district and their implications for crop and pasture management techniques are needed.

4. Suitable vaterva;y and pasture grasses

Investiga tiona should be undertaken to obtain and assess the potential for new species suitable to the Roma district. Methods of establishment and maintenance should also be determined. The lack of species suitable for waterways and for the rehabilitation of degraded areas severely restrict s the effectiveness of soil erosion control measures. There is a particular nee d for pasture species that can be readily establ i shed in ol d cultivation. This is especially so for the cracking clay soils of the Open Downs LRA.

5. Gully control structures and rehabilitation methods for degraded areas

These are required particularly on texture contrast soils.

IX-2

6. lbe eff'ects or tree cl.earing on native pasture productivity and erosion

Sl ope l imits and cl earing densities should be assessed for the Roma district.

7. Loog-tem. stocking rates and drought Jllanllgement strategies.

These are needed to be evaluated in terms of their effects on pasture productivity and degradation.

X-1

APPENDIX X DESCRIPTION OF S ITES OF SPEC IAL INTEREST IN THE ROMA

DISTRICT

This section discusses projects of special interest undertaken in the

Roma district which should be monitored over time to assess their

effectivenes s . S i tes include runoff and erosion monitoring, land

c l earing and grass establi shment tria l s .

As new trials are commenced, these should be added t o this section.

Recordings of the trials are either made on a regular basis or at

infrequent intervals . A l i s t of the trials established at this time is

given in Table 1 .

Table 1 . Description of monitoring sites in the Roma district

DESCRIPTION

Evaluation of pasture species for wata:cways

( � ) Use of African star grass to stabilise actively eroding watercourse in Brigalow Uplands LRA. Batters wete dozed to 2 : 1 slopes before grassing . Sown together Wlth Rhodes grass.

(ii) Establishment of blue grass, African star grass, Rhodes grass and buffel grasses in waterway on Crochdantigh/Knocl<along soils. (see grass establishment project

bool< ) .

(�n) Establishment of purple pigeon grass on Crochdant�gh soils for pasture production. Planted into a whe";t crop.

2. Design and construction

( i) Large broad based banl<s emptying into perched waterway on Knockalong SOll. Banks have a narrow, d""P channel. There is a s"-eep ove:cfall into the bank channel from cultivation area .

(ii) Construction of unde:c-design narrow base banks by landholder on Pamaroo soil. Su;:veyed at 1 . Om and 1. 2m vertical �nterval .

3 . Tillage practices

( i) Comparison of eftect of disc plough, blade plDugh, scarifier

and zero till on soil eros�on , run-off and fallow e!flClency on B:ngalow Uplands LRA.

(ii) Trial comparing reduced tillage and stubble mulch techniqu" for continuous wheat.

4. Stabilisation of disturbed areas

( i ) Construction of "whoil-boys" and general reclamation of seismic line on p.,ndee ridgeG in Struan LRA.

LOCATION

K. NH'.mo

Portion 485v

Parish of Wallumbilla

J. Douglas, "Wyoming"

Portion 26

Par�sh of Spowers

B. Scott ; "Crochdantigh"

Portion 4

Pa�ish of Muckadilla

H. Jol1nson; "Arbroal'h"

Portion 8

Parish of Spowers

C. Tomlinson ; "Belbri"

Portion 251/260

Parish of Beaufront

v. Taylor; "Fair lands"

Portion 441v

Parish of- Wallumbilla

M. Frecklington; "Dalmally"

Portion 1 1

Parish o f Rockyballk

G. Schwenesen; "Telgazlle"

Portion 1 0 / 1 1 , 25

Parish of Kyeen, Cammaroo

OAT£; COMMENCED

1981

February 1984

May 1983

1981

Pre 1975 and 1982/3/4

Decemt>er 1982

Noveml:>er 1983

October 1982

ACTION REQUIRED OBSERVATION

Inegular obs.,nratlon of Rhodes grass has disappeared grass per's>stence and cove;:. African star grass has

persist<>d and area i5 currently well stabilH<>d.

Regular observat�ons dur�ng establishment phase; less reg\llar thereafter.

Regular observanon and monitoring of pasture pedormance .

Irregular observations, part�cularly during and after rainfall events.

Irregular observations of

bank performance and stability

Regular observations for determination of need for and type of cultural practice . S.,t"vicing of run-off and r�infall record�ng equipment .

Regular observations and consultation� with landholder on tillage practices (Joint OPI/l1onsanto trlal ) .

E:<tremely poor establishment due to lac!< of summer ;:ain. May be replanted.

Pasture growth increasi>d dramatically after har<�est. Establishment was good.

Considerabli> rill "rosion into the bank channel at the overfall. Some erosion observed in bani< channel aft�r prolonged tnokle flows .

Farme� b.,rns stubble and uses disc plough. Soil is l1lghly erodible and at this vertical lnt.,rval, eros�on appears to be controlled.

Reduced .,rosion with blade ploughs and zero Ullage.

Increased �un-off but highest falloW "fficiency with zero till.

Achieved good weed control over the summer fa\low. Costs wer� substantially higher using chem�cal techniques.

Infreqtlent obGervations of In�tial asseasment only so structure and rehabilitat1on far. techniques.

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