Development of soil-landscape and vegetation indicators for managing waterlogged and saline catchments

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to develop a systematic approach to identify important soil morphological and vegetation field indicators to better target land management in degraded landscapes in a specific region. The authors were able to link the soil-landscape features to the main soil and water processes operating within the landscape. This information was used to develop a set of field indicators (e.g. soil colour) within a user-friendly soil classification key that is linked to land use options to form the basis of a manual. It was shown that information written in this format helped farmers and regional advisers to identify options for remediation of waterlogged and saline areas and to improve planning at property and catchment scales. The authors identified a series of steps to be taken in producing the manual. Steps 1–5 describe the soil layers and construct them in toposequences, which are then used to map soil types in key surrounding areas. Steps 6–9 involve the local community in developing the manual.

The paper provides an account of how manuals have been produced for 2 badly degraded areas in southern Australia (Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia; and western Victoria) and promotes the methodologies for other regions. Descriptive soil information is pictorially integrated along toposequences and applied to identify key soil features. Complex scientific processes and terminology are more simply communicated to local groups using coloured cross-sectional diagrams and photographs of soil and vegetation to overcome some of the perceived barriers to adoption of best management practices. We consider the approach should have generic application.