An investigation of runoff from raised beds and other tillage methods in the high rainfall zone of south-western Victoria, Australia
J. E. Holland A D E , T. H. Johnston B , R. E. White A and B. A. Orchard CA Melbourne School of Land and Environment, University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.
B Department of Primary Industries, Geelong, Vic. 3220, Australia.
C Department of Primary Industries NSW, Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, Pine Gully Road, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
D Current address: 14 Dalton St, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: 2hollandj@gmail.com
Soil Research 50(5) 371-379 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR11200
Submitted: 16 August 2011 Accepted: 4 July 2012 Published: 15 August 2012
Abstract
For many years, the poor physical and hydraulic properties of the soils in south-western Victoria have restricted crop production due to waterlogging. In this region of predominantly winter rainfall, raised beds have become popular with farmers to overcome these difficulties; however, little has been reported on the hydrology of raised beds compared with other tillage systems for cropping in the rain-fed environment of south-western Victoria. This study measured rainfall characteristics, runoff volumes, and soil properties such as the soil water content, bulk density, and hydraulic conductivity for three tillage treatments (raised beds, conventional cultivation, and deep cultivation) over 6 years on a Sodosol at a field site near Geelong, Victoria. Runoff was regressed against rainfall variables such as the amount per event, hours of rainfall, rainfall intensity, and maximum rainfall intensity to determine the significance of any differences between the treatments. The relationship between runoff and rainfall amount was best described with an exponential model. Raised beds significantly increased the amount of runoff relative to the other treatments when above-average rainfall was received, but there was little difference in runoff in years of below-average rainfall. No consistent effect of runoff on crop biomass was detected nor could any differences in runoff be attributed to differences in soil water content, hydraulic conductivity, and bulk density between treatments. The most important factor appeared to be the furrows between the raised beds, which acted as conduits for the flow of surface water during the larger storm events. During such events, runoff is an important hydrological process in cropping land in south-western Victoria.
Additional keywords: rainfall intensity, soil water balance, tillage treatments.
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