Vegetation Cover Classes and Soil Nutrient Status of the Mulga Lands of South-West Queensland.

Abstract

The soils of the semi-arid mulga lands of south-west Queensland are subject to degradation from both erosion and woody weeds. Limited quantification of the nutrient changes in the red earths under these forms of degradation indicates that eroded land has a lower phosphorus level in the surface soil, a lower pH at depth and an inverse electrical conductivity profile, compared with land vegetated by mulga or grassland. Land invaded by turkey bush did not differ in nutrient characteristics from mulga or grassland. It is concluded that phosphorus will play a critical role in any regeneration programme for eroded land.