Register      Login
Soil Research Soil Research Society
Soil, land care and environmental research
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Modelling shows that the high rates of deep drainage in parts of the Goondoola Basin in semi-arid Queensland can be reduced with changes to the farming systems

J. B. Robinson A E , D. M. Silburn A , D. Rattray B , D. M. Freebairn C , A. Biggs A , D. McClymont A and N. Christodoulou D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Environment and Resource Management, PO Box 318, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.

B CONICS Pty Ltd, PO Box 1185, Toowoomba BC, Qld 4350, Australia.

C CONICS Pty Ltd, PO Box 1156, Fortitude Valley, Qld 4006, Australia.

D Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, PO Box 102, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: brett.robinson@nrw.qld.gov.au

Australian Journal of Soil Research 48(1) 58-68 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR09067
Submitted: 21 April 2009  Accepted: 7 October 2009   Published: 26 February 2010

Abstract

Clearing native vegetation and introducing crops and pastures may increase deep drainage and result in dryland salinity. In south-west Queensland, native vegetation of the Goondoola Basin has been substantially cleared for cropping and pastoral activities, resulting in shallow groundwater and localised salinity.

Simulation modelling was used to estimate the water balance of a range of vegetation and soil types. Six soils were studied, with plant-available water capacity (PAWC) of 71 mm (a Kandosol) to 198 mm (a Vertosol) for 1200 mm depth. Vegetation types were annual wheat, opportunity cropping, and perennial pastures in poor and good condition, and high quality perennial pasture with deep roots growing on deep (2400 mm) variants of the 6 soil types. Opportunity cropping did not reduce deep drainage. Substantial differences were found in long-term average deep drainage (mm/year) between wheat crops and pastures for all soil types. The differences in deep drainage between wheat cropping and pasture in good condition were greatest for the 2 Kandosols, which had the lowest PAWC (34 and 21 mm/year less deep drainage, reductions of 53% and 62%, respectively), and a Vertosol with intermediate PAWC (23 mm/year less deep drainage). A Chromosol and a Dermosol with intermediate PAWC had smaller reductions in deep drainage (14 and 11 mm/year, respectively). In the case of a Vertosol with high PAWC (198 mm), deep drainage was negligible with all pastures. Due to increased infiltration and reduced soil evaporation, more deep drainage was simulated with pasture in good condition than pastures in poor condition, especially for 2 Kandosols. Pasture with deep roots (2400 mm) growing on deep variants (2400 mm) of the 6 soils had lower rates of deep drainage than the other pastures.

Simulated deep drainage and other components of the water balance were in good agreement with field measurements and expectations. These results indicate that large reductions in deep drainage can be achieved in the Goondoola Basin by replacing cropping with pastoral activities. Kandosol soils used for wheat cropping should be the primary target for land use change.


Acknowledgments

Thanks to Jo Owens for supplying runoff curve numbers for the soils (Table 1). Mike Bell supplied data used to validate HowLeaky? Tessa Chamberlain helped improve a draft of the manuscript. This work was supported financially by the Grains Research and Development Corporation via projects DNR15 and DNR00006, and AgSIP07 of the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.


References


Abbs K, Littleboy M (1998) Recharge estimation for the Liverpool Plains. Australian Journal of Soil Research 36, 335–357.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Beverley C , Ridley A , Hocking M , Pannell D (2008) Protecting high-value assets from salinity in the Avon Richardson catchment, Australia. In ‘Salinity, water and society – global issues, local action. Proceedings of the 2nd International Salinity Forum’. Adelaide, S. Aust. Available at: www.internationalsalinityforum.org/00_Home.html

Butler DW, Fairfax RJ (2003) Buffel grass and fire in a Gidgee and Brigalow woodland: A case study from central Queensland. Ecological Management & Restoration 4, 120–125.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Christodoulou N (2001) Learning to develop participative processes to improve farming systems in the Balonne Shire, Queensland. MSc Thesis, University of Western Sydney, Australia.

Connolly RD, Freebairn DM, Bridge BJ (1997) Change in infiltration characteristics associated with cultivation history of soils in south-eastern Queensland. Australian Journal of Soil Research 35, 1341–1358.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Fillery IRP (2001) The fate of biologically fixed nitrogen in legume-based dryland farming systems: a review. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41, 361–381.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Fitzpatrick A , Clarke JDA , Lawrie K (2004) Multidisciplinary approach to salinity management in the lower Balonne, southern Queensland. Regolith 93–96. Available at: http://leme.anu.edu.au/Pubs/Monographs/regolith2004/Fitzpatrick_et_al.pdf

Freebairn DM, Boughton WC (1981) Surface runoff experiments on the eastern Darling Downs. Australian Journal of Soil Research 19, 133–146.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Freebairn DM, Wockner GH (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, 135–158.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Freebairn DM, Wockner GH, Hamilton AN, Rowland P (2009) Impact of soil conditions on hydrology and water quality for a brown clay in the north eastern cereal zone of Australia. Australian Journal of Soil Research 47, 389–402.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

French RJ, Schultz JE (1984a) Water use efficiency of wheat in a Mediterranean-type environment. I. The relation between yield, water use and climate. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 35, 743–764.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

French RJ, Schultz JE (1984b) Water use efficiency of wheat in a Mediterranean-type environment. I. Some limitations to efficiency. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 35, 765–775.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Greiner R (1998) Catchment management for dryland salinity control: Model analysis for the Liverpool Plains in New South Wales. Agricultural Systems 56, 225–251.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Isbell RF (1996) ‘The Australian Soil Classification.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Vic.)

Jamieson PD (2000) Crop responses to water shortages. Journal of Crop Production 2, 71–83.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Ji E , Littleboy M , Summerell G (2009) Water balance modelling – impact of land use, soil properties and rainfall seasonality. In ‘MODSIM09, Proceedings of the 18th World IMACS/MODSIM Congress’. Cairns, Qld, July 2009 (Eds RS Anderssen, RD Braddock, LTH Newham) (Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc.) Available at: www.mssanz.org.au/modsim09/

Knisel WG (1980) CREAMS: A field-scale model for chemicals, runoff and erosion from agricultural management systems. United States Department of Agriculture, Conservation Research Report 26, 640 pp.

Littleboy M, Silburn DM, Freebairn DM, Woodruff DR, Hammer GL, Leslie JK (1992) The impact of soil erosion on sustainability of production in cropping systems. I. Development and validation of a simulation model. Australian Journal of Soil Research 30, 757–774.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Littleboy M , Freebairn DM , Silburn DM , Woodruff DR , Hammer GL (1999) PERFECT Version 3.0. A computer simulation model of productivity erosion runoff functions to evaluate conservation techniques. Available at: www.apsru.gov.au/apsru/Products/Perfect/PERFECT.HTM

McCown RL, Hammer GL, Hargreaves JNG, Holzworth DP, Freebairn DM (1996) APSIM: A novel software system for model development, model testing and simulation in agricultural systems research. Agricultural Systems 50, 255–271.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

McGufficke BR (2003) Native grassland management: a botanical study of two native grassland management options on a commercial cattle property. The Rangeland Journal 25, 37–46.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

McIvor JG (2001) Pasture management in semi-arid tropical woodlands: regeneration of degraded pastures protected from grazing. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41, 487–496.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

McKeon GM, Rickert KG, Ash AJ, Cooksley DG, Scattini WJ (1982) Pasture production model. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 14, 201–204. open url image1

Miles RL (1993) Soil degradation processes in a semi arid woodland. PhD Thesis, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.

Motha JA , Dilshad M , Peel LJ (1995) Predicting vegetative cover, runoff and soil moisture for assessing land degradation in Australia’s Northern Territory. In ‘MODSIM 95. Proceedings of the International Congress on Modelling and Simulation’. University of Newcastle, NSW. (Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia Inc.)

Owens JS, Silburn DM, McKeon GM, Carroll C, Willcocks J, de Voil R (2003) Cover-runoff equations to improve simulation of runoff in pasture growth models. Australian Journal of Soil Research 41, 1467–1488.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Owens JS , Tolmie PE , Silburn DM (2004) Validating modelled deep drainage estimates for the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin. In ‘Conserving Soil and Water for Society – Shared Solutions. Proceedings of the 13th International Soil Conservation Organisation Conference’. Brisbane, Qld, July 2004. (ISCO)

Paydar ZA, Huth NB, Ringrose-Voase AA, Young RC, Bernardi AC, Keating BB, Cresswell HA (2005) Deep drainage and land use systems. Model verification and systems comparison. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 56, 995–1007.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Peck AJ, Williamson DR (1987) Effects of forest clearing on groundwater. Journal of Hydrology 94, 47–65.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Rattray DJ , Freebairn DM , McClymont D , Silburn DM , Owens J , Robinson JB (2004) HOWLEAKY? The journey to demystifying simple technology. In ‘Conserving Soil and Water for Society: Sharing Solutions ISCO 2004. The 13th International Soil Conservation Organisation Conference’. Brisbane, Qld, July 2004. (ISCO)

Ridley AM, Pannell DJ (2005) The role of plants and plant-based research and development in managing dryland salinity in Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, 1341–1355.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Ritchie JT (1972) Model for predicting evaporation from a row crop with incomplete cover. Water Resources Research 8, 1204–1213.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Rose CW, Dayananda DA, Nielsen DR, Biggar JM (1979) Long-term solute dynamics and hydrology in irrigated slowly permeable soils. Irrigation Science 1, 77–87.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Sadras V, Roger D, O’Leary G (2002) On-farm assessment of environmental and management constraints to wheat yield and efficiency in the use of rainfall in the Mallee. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 53, 587–598.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Schomberg HH, Steiner JL, Unger PW (1994) Decomposition and nitrogen dynamics of crop residues: Residue quality and water effects. Soil Science Society of America Journal 58, 372–381. open url image1

Silburn DM, Robinson JB, Freebairn DM (2007) Why restore marginal cropland to permanent pasture? Land resource and environmental issues. Tropical Grasslands 41, 139–153. open url image1

Silburn DM, Cowie BA, Thornton CM (2009) The Brigalow Catchment Study revisited: effects of land development on deep drainage determined from non-steady chloride profiles. Journal of Hydrology 373, 487–498.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Stace HCT , Hubble GD , Brewer R , Northcote KH , Sleeman JR , Mulcahy MJ , Hallsworth EG (1972) ‘A handbook of Australian soils.’ 2nd edn (Rellim: Glenside, S. Aust.)

Steiner JL, Smith RCG, Meyer WS, Adeney JA (1985) Water use, foliage temperature and yield of irrigated wheat in south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 36, 1–11.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Steiner JL, Schomberg HH, Unger PW, Cresap J (1999) Crop residue decomposition in no-tillage small-grain fields. Soil Science Society of America Journal 63, 1817–1824.
CAS |
open url image1

Thomas GA, Orange DN, King AJ (2008) Effects of crop and pasture rotations and surface cover on rainfall infiltration on a Kandosol in south-west Queensland. Australian Journal of Soil Research 46, 203–209.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Thornton CM, Cowie BA, Freebairn DM, Playford CL (2007) The Brigalow Catchment Study: II. Clearing brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) for cropping or pasture increases runoff. Australian Journal of Soil Research 45, 496–511.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Tolmie PE , Silburn DM , Biggs AJW (2003) Estimating deep drainage in the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin using soil chloride. Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Coorparoo, Queensland. QNRM03020.

Williams JR, LaSeur WV (1976) Water yield model using SCS curve numbers. American Society of Civil Engineering Journal, Hydraulics Division 102, 1241–1253. open url image1

Wockner G, Freebairn D (1991) Water balance and erosion study on the Eastern Darling Downs – an update. Australian Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 4, 41–47. open url image1

Yee Yet JS , Silburn DM (2003) Deep drainage estimates under a range of land uses in the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin using water balance modelling. Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Coorparoo, Queensland. QNRM03021.

Zhang L, Dawes WR, Walker GR (2001) The response of mean annual evapotranspiration to vegetation changes at catchment scale. Water Resources Research 37, 701–708.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1