Information

Management practices for control of runoff, sediment, pesticides and nutrient losses from cotton furrows under storm rainfall on a black Vertosol in Emerald, Queensland

*This report reviews three studies that were conducted at Emerald in Queensland.

Level 1 General description

Purpose:

The 3 studies evaluated cotton farming management practices and their effects on runoff and sediment erosion, transportation of pesticides and cover and wheel traffic effects on nitrogen and phosphorus.

Methods (brief)

Silburn and Glanville (2002) designed a study to test the efficacy of 2 management practices, retention of surface cover and controlled traffic, in controlling runoff and soil erosion from cotton furrows under simulated storm rainfall.

Silburn et al. (2002) measured pesticide transport in runoff using a rainfall simulator on cotton hill–furrow systems with a range of on-ground cover (0–60%), each with and without prior wheel traffic.

Silburn and Hunter (2009) measured transport of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) using a rainfall simulator on a cotton hill–furrow system with a range of on-ground cover (0–60%), each with and without prior wheel traffic in the furrow.

Key findings (brief)

Silburn and Glanville (2002) found that runoff, soil loss, and sediment concentration decreased with increasing cover. No traffic gave less runoff and soil loss than trafficked plots, but was less effective than cover. Cover and no traffic combined gave least runoff and soil loss. Erosion processes were strongly affected by hill-furrow geometry.

Silburn et al. (2002) observed concentrations α, β and total endosulfan in runoff decreased significantly with increasing cover, irrespective of cover type (wheat stubble or cotton trash) or placement (in furrow or overall).

Silburn and Hunter (2009) discovered that retaining surface cover and avoiding wheel traffic were both effective in reducing runoff losses of total N and P, especially when used together. Retaining cover gave considerably lower concentrations of total P, and of N and P associated with sediment, with no significant differences (P > 0.05) between wheel and non-wheel tracks.

Location

Irrigated cotton farm in the Emerald Irrigation Area Lat 23°31.6’S, Long 148°9.3’E.

Related studies

Carroll C, Halpin M, Burger P, Bell K, Sallaway MM, and Yule DF. (1997). The effect of crop type, crop rotation, and tillage practice on runoff and soil loss on a Vertisol in central Queensland. Australian Journal of Soil Research. 35: 925-39.

Waters D. February 2001. Best management practices to minimise pollutant transport from cotton production systems. CRDC.

Rohde K. (1998). Compaction control and repair techniques for cropping lands in the sub-tropics (Emerald Research Station) Hydstra Brief.

 

Level 2, level 3, level 4 and level 5