Land management within capability: a new scheme to guide sustainable land management in New South Wales, Australia
Jonathan M. Gray A B , Greg A. Chapman A and Brian W. Murphy A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, PO Box 3720, Parramatta, NSW 2124, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: jonathan.gray@environment.nsw.gov.au
Soil Research 53(6) 683-694 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR14196
Submitted: 30 July 2014 Accepted: 4 February 2015 Published: 30 June 2015
Abstract
A new evaluation scheme, land management within capability (LMwC), used to guide sustainable land management in New South Wales (NSW), is presented. The scheme semi-quantitatively categorises the potential impacts of specific land-management actions and compares these with the inherent physical capability of the land in relation to a range of land-degradation hazards. This leads to the derivation of LMwC indices, which signify the sustainability of land-management practices at the scale of individual sites up to broader regions.
The LMwC scheme can be used to identify lands at greatest risk from various land-degradation hazards. It can help to guide natural resource agencies at local, regional and state levels to target priorities and promote sustainable land management across their lands. Few other schemes that assess the sustainability of a given land-management regime in a semi-quantitative yet pragmatic manner are found in the literature. The scheme has particular application for regional soil-monitoring programs and it was applied in such a program over NSW in 2008–09. The results suggested that the hazards most poorly managed across the state are wind erosion, soil acidification and soil organic carbon decline. The LMwC scheme, or at least its underlying concepts, could be readily applied to other jurisdictions.
Additional keywords: land capability, monitoring, resilience, sustainability indices, soil hazards.
References
ABS (2014) Land management and farming in Australia, 2012–2013. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra. Available at: www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4627.0 (accessed 30 July 2014).Arnold JG, Harmel RD, Johnson MV, Bingner R, Strickland TC, Walbridge M, Santhi C, DiLuzio M, Wang X (2014) Impact of the Agricultural Research Service Watershed Assessment Studies on the conservation effects Assessment Project Cropland National Assessment. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 69, 137A–144A.
| Impact of the Agricultural Research Service Watershed Assessment Studies on the conservation effects Assessment Project Cropland National Assessment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bai ZG, Dent DL, Olsson L, Schaepman ME (2008) Global assessment of land degradation and improvement. 1. Identification by remote sensing. Report 2008/01. ISRIC—World Soil Information, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Chapin FS, Carpenter R, Kofinas GP, Folke C, Abel N, Clark WC, Olsson P, Stafford Smith DM, Walker BH, Young OR, Berkes F, Biggs R, Grove JM, Naylor RL, Pinkerton E, Steffen W, Swanson FJ (2010) Ecosystem stewardship: sustainability strategies for a rapidly changing planet. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 25, 241–249.
| Ecosystem stewardship: sustainability strategies for a rapidly changing planet.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chapman GA, Gray JM, Murphy BW, Atkinson G, Leys JF, Muller R, Peasely B, Wilson BR, Bowman G, McInnes-Clarke SK, Tulau MJ, Morand DT, Yang X (2011) Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting of Soil Condition in New South Wales: 2008 Program. Technical Report. NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, Sydney.
Cowie AL, Penman TD, Gorissen L, Winslow MD, Lehmann J, Tyrrell TD, Twomlow S, Wilkes A, Lal R, Jones JW, Paulsch A, Kellner K, Akhtar-Schuster M (2011) Towards sustainable land management in the drylands: Scientific connections in monitoring and assessing dryland degradation, climate change and biodiversity. Land Degradation & Development 22, 248–260.
| Towards sustainable land management in the drylands: Scientific connections in monitoring and assessing dryland degradation, climate change and biodiversity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dale T, Carter VG (1955) ‘Topsoil and civilisation.’ (University of Oklahoma Press: Norman, OK, USA)
Darnhofer I, Fairweather J, Moller H (2010) Assessing a farm’s sustainability: insights from resilience thinking. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 8, 186–198.
| Assessing a farm’s sustainability: insights from resilience thinking.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
DECCW (2009) Protocols for soil condition and land capability monitoring. Technical Report. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW, Sydney.
DECCW (2010) State of the Catchments 2010: Land management within capability, Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW, Sydney.
Dent D, Young A (1981) ‘Soil survey and land evaluation.’ (George Allen and Unwin: London)
Diamond J (2005) ‘Collapse: How societies choose to fail or succeed.’ (Penguin: New York)
Emery KA (1986) Rural Land Capability Mapping. Technical brochure. Soil Conservation Service of NSW, Sydney.
EPA (2012) NSW State of the Environment Report 2012. Environment Protection Authority NSW, Sydney.
FAO (1976) A Framework for Land Evaluation. Soils Bulletin 32. (Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations: Rome)
FAO (1993) FELSM: An international framework for evaluating sustainable land management. World Soil Resources Report 73. Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations, Rome.
Gassman PW, Williams JR, Wang X, Saleh A, Osei E, Hauck LM, Izaurralde RC, Flowers JD (2010) The Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender (APEX) Model: an emerging tool for landscape and watershed environmental analyses. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers 53, 711–740.
Gray JM, Chapman GA, Murphy BW (2011) Land management within capability, a NSW Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Project. Technical Report. NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney.
Isbell RF (2002) ‘The Australian Soil Classification.’ Revised edn (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
IUSS Working Group WRB (2014) ‘World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2014.’ World Soil Resources Report No. 106. (FAO: Rome)
Jones JW, Hoogenboom G, Porter CH, Boote KJ, Batchelor WD, Hunt LA, Wilkens PW, Singh U, Gijsman AJ, Ritchie JT (2003) The DSSAT cropping system model. European Journal of Agronomy 18, 235–265.
| The DSSAT cropping system model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Keating BA, Carberry PS, Hammer GL, Probert ME, Robertson MJ, Holzworth D, Huth NI, Hargreaves JNG, Meinke H, Hochman HZ, McLean G, Verburg K, Snow V, Dimes JP, Silburn M, Wang E, Brown S, Bristow KL, Asseng S, Chapman S, McCown RL, Freebairn DM, Smith CJ (2003) An overview of APSIM, a model designed for farming systems simulation. European Journal of Agronomy 18, 267–288.
| An overview of APSIM, a model designed for farming systems simulation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Klingebiel AA, Montgomery PH (1961) ‘Land Capability Classification.’ Agriculture Handbook No. 210. (Soil Conservation Service, US Department of Agriculture: Washington, DC)
Lal R (1993) Tillage effects on soil degradation, soil resilience, soil quality and sustainability. Soil & Tillage Research 27, 1–8.
| Tillage effects on soil degradation, soil resilience, soil quality and sustainability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lawrie JW, Murphy BW, Packer IJ, Harte AJ (2007) Soils and sustainable farming systems. In ‘Soils—their properties and management’. 3rd edn (Eds PEV Charman, BW Murphy) pp. 297–329. (Oxford University Press/Department of Natural Resources: Melbourne)
Littleboy M, Smith DM, Bryant MJ (1996) Simulation modelling to determine suitability of agricultural land. Ecological Modelling 86, 219–225.
| Simulation modelling to determine suitability of agricultural land.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Llewellyn RS, D’Emden FH, Kuehne G (2012) Extensive use of no-tillage in grain growing regions of Australia. Field Crops Research 132, 204–212.
| Extensive use of no-tillage in grain growing regions of Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lobry de Bruyn LA (2009) Reasons, means and consequences: monitoring soil condition for ‘the proper use of land’ in agricultural landscapes. Extending Schumacher’s Concept of Total Accounting and Accountability into the 21st Century. Advances in Public Interest Accounting 14, 261–294.
Lobry de Bruyn LA, Abbey JA (2003) Characterisation of farmers’ soil sense and the implications for on-farm monitoring of soil health. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 43, 285–305.
| Characterisation of farmers’ soil sense and the implications for on-farm monitoring of soil health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McKenzie NJ, Dixon J (Eds) (2006) Monitoring Soil Condition Across Australia—Recommendations from the Expert Panels. Report prepared on behalf of the National Committee on Soil and Terrain, National Land and Water Resources Audit, Canberra, ACT.
McKenzie NJ, Ringrose-Voase AJ, Grundy MJ (2008) Rationale. In ‘Guidelines for Surveying Soil and Land Resources’. 2nd edn. Australian Soil and Land Survey Handbook Series. (Eds NJ McKenzie, MJ Grundy, R Webster, AJ Ringrose-Voase) pp. 1–13. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
McNeil JM, MacEwan RJ (2007) The Land-Use Impact Model (LUIM). Technical Report. Department of Primary Industries, Victoria.
McRae SG, Burnham CP (1981) ‘Land evaluation’. (Clarendon Press: London)
Millar J, Roots J (2012) Changes in Australian agriculture and land use: implications for food security. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 10, 25–39.
| Changes in Australian agriculture and land use: implications for food security.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mol G, Vriend SP, van Ganns PEM (2001) Environmental monitoring in the Netherlands: past developments and future challenges. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 68, 313–335.
| Environmental monitoring in the Netherlands: past developments and future challenges.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXktlyisbs%3D&md5=5782be24392fb476b0245fd78b616cb1CAS | 11393430PubMed |
Murphy B, Cauchi J, Lawrie J, Taylor S, Welch A (2008) Land and Soil Capability—How we safely manage our soil. Land classifications of the Central West—2008. (Central West Catchment Management Authority: Wellington, NSW)
NSW Natural Resources Commission (2005) ‘Recommendations: State-wide standards and targets.’ (NSW Natural Resources Commission: Sydney)
OEH (2012) The Land and Soil Capability Scheme—a general rural land evaluation scheme for NSW. Technical Report. Office of Environment and Heritage NSW, Sydney. Available at: www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/soils/20120394lsc2s.pdf (accessed 19 January 2015)
OEH (2014) Soil condition and land management in NSW: final results from the 2008–09 monitoring evaluation and reporting program. Technical Report. NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney. Available at: www.environment.nsw.gov.au/soils/140389MERsoil.htm (accessed 19 January 2015)
Parnell DJ, Marshall GR, Barr N, Curtis A, Vanclay F, Wilkinson R (2013) Understanding and promoting adoption of conservation practices by rural landholders. In ‘Changing land management, adoption of new practices by rural landholders’. (Eds D Parnell, F Vanclay) pp. 11–13. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Ringrose-Voase AJ (2008) Quantitative land evaluation. In ‘Guidelines for surveying soil and land resources’. 2nd edn. Australian Soil and Land Survey Handbook Series. (Eds NJ McKenzie, MJ Grundy, R Webster, AJ Ringrose-Voase) pp. 451–467 (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Rossiter DG (1990) ALES: A framework for land evaluation using a microcomputer. Soil Use and Management 6, 7–20.
| ALES: A framework for land evaluation using a microcomputer.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schwilich G, Bestelmeyer S, Bunning W, Critchley W (2011) Experiences in monitoring and assessment of sustainable land management. Land Degradation & Development 22, 214–225.
| Experiences in monitoring and assessment of sustainable land management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Smith CS, McDonald GT, Thwaites RN (2000) Assessing the sustainability of agricultural land management. Journal of Environmental Management 60, 267–288.
| Assessing the sustainability of agricultural land management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
State of the Environment Committee (2011) Australia state of the environment 2011. Independent report to the Australian Government Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. DSEWPaC, Canberra, ACT.
Thomas EC, Gardner EA, Littleboy M, Shields P (1995) The cropping systems model PERFECT as a quantitative tool in land evaluation: an example for wheat cropping in the Maranoa area of Queensland. Australian Journal of Soil Research 33, 535–554.
| The cropping systems model PERFECT as a quantitative tool in land evaluation: an example for wheat cropping in the Maranoa area of Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van Gool D, Maschmedt DJ, McKenzie NJ (2008) Conventional land evaluation. In ‘Guidelines for surveying soil and land resources’. 2nd edn. Australian Soil and Land Survey Handbook Series. (Eds NJ McKenzie, MJ Grundy, R Webster, AJ Ringrose-Voase) pp. 429–449 (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Walker B, Salt D (2006) ‘Resilience thinking: Sustaining ecosystems and people in a changing world.’ (Island Press: Washington, DC)
Wilson P, Baldock J, Grundy M, Jacquier D, Griffin T, Moody P, Chapman G, Hall J, Maschmedt D, Crawford D, Hill J, Kidd D (2009) Identification of land with a risk of acidification. CSIRO Sustainable Agriculture Flagship, Brisbane, Qld.
