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A study of soil erosion on vertisols of the eastern Darling Downs, Queensland .I Effects of surface conditions on soil movement within Contour Bay catchments

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Freebairn, D.M. and Wockner, G.H. (1986) A study of soil erosion on vertisols of the eastern Darling Downs, Queensland .I Effects of surface conditions on soil movement within Contour Bay catchments. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 24 (2). pp. 135-158. ISSN 0004-9573

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Article Link: https://doi.org/10.1071/SR9860135

Abstract

Effects of soil surface conditions on runoff and soil loss were studied on two major cracking clay soils of the Darling Downs, Queensland. Techniques used to measure soil loss between field contour bays under natural rainfall are described, and the results from 10 contour bay catchments (66 plot years) are presented. Soil movement was separated into rill, interrill, suspended sediment and channel deposition. Two slope lengths were considered (60 and 35 m), and interrill erosion appeared to be the major source of soil loss. Runoff and sediment concentration were both inversely related to surface cover and total soil movement was greatly reduced by surface cover. In an annual winter-wheat, summer-fallow system, removal of stubble resulted in soil movement of 29-62 t ha-1 year-1. Retention of stubble (stubble mulching) reduced soil movement to less than 5 t ha-1 year-1. Greater than 75% of the variance in soil movement from single events was explained by surface cover and peak runoff rate. Surface cover is a measure of the surface area protected from soil detachment and entrainment. Peak runoff rate describes the amount of energy or stream power available for detachment and entrainment.

Item Type:Article
Subjects:Agriculture > Agriculture (General) > Soils. Soil science
Agriculture > Agriculture (General) > Soil conservation and protection
Live Archive:14 Feb 2024 22:42
Last Modified:14 Feb 2024 22:42

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