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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 46(4)

Land-use effects on soil properties on the north-western slopes of New South Wales: Implications for soil condition assessment

B. R. Wilson A B E , Ivor Growns C and J. Lemon D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, PO Box U221, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

B School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

C NSW Department of Water and Energy, PO Box U245, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

D NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, Gunnedah Resource Centre, PO Box 462, NSW 2380, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: brian.wilson@environment.nsw.gov.au

Australian Journal of Soil Research 46(4) 359-367 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR07231
Submitted: 14 December 2007  Accepted: 5 May 2008   Published: 23 June 2008

Abstract

In Australia, as elsewhere, there is a growing need for information relating to soil condition, its current status, and the nature and direction of change in response to management pressures. This information is required by land managers, and regional, State and, national agencies to inform modified land-use practices and investment to maintain and improve the soil resource. Here, we present data relating to soils under 3 land-use types at 6 properties the north-western slopes of New South Wales. We aimed to quantify the range of soil condition states that exist across the region and to test a range of potential soil condition indicators and their suitability to detect differences in soil condition between these land-use types. A range of soil properties showed no significant difference between land-uses and could be rejected as indicators. However, significant differences existed between the land-uses and soil depths for a range of the other soil parameters determined (bulk density, C, N, P, EC, and Na). Soil C, N, P, and Na concentration and total soil C were typically higher in woodland soils compared with other land-uses, while bulk density, pH, and EC were lower in the woodland soils. The depth at which these differences existed varied between soil parameters. Correlation and principal components analysis suggested that a minimum dataset of soil parameters including soil bulk density, pH, C, P, and Na would discern much of the difference in soil condition between the land-uses studied. It is proposed that these parameters be used as a minimum dataset of indicators for soil condition assessment on soils of the type across this region. Work continues under the New South Wales Land and Soil Condition Monitoring Program to further refine the selection of appropriate soil indicators in this and other regions of New South Wales.

Additional keywords: soil condition, soil monitoring, soil indicators, NW Slopes, NSW.


Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the NSW Department of Natural Resources (now the Department of Environment and Climate Change), as an early component of its Statewide Land and Soil Condition Monitoring Program. The authors would like to thank the landholders at the properties studied around Bingara for their assistance and for access to study sites. Thanks also to Melinda McHenry and to the anonymous referee for constructive comments on earlier drafts of this article.


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