Information
Rainfall Simulator Extension Tour: ‘Marylands’ Retro
Level 1 General description
Purpose:
A rainfall simulator was used to examine the influence of different management options on infiltration of rainfall and runoff.
Methods (brief)
The soil at 'Marylands' is described as an open downs black cracking clay. The demonstration was carried out on the border of a scarified and uncultivated wheat strip. The soil surface was dry and surface cracks were apparent in the non-cultivated area where the rainfall simulator was located, (slope 2%).
The rainfall simulator was applied to the following four plots:
A) 'Cultivated' with a scarifier - referred to as Scarified/stubble (cover 15%).
B) Was not disturbed since wheat harvest, with soil cracks present. The plot is described as Zero-till/stubble (cover 50%).
C) Was 'cultivated' then 6 pits (4 per square meter) were created on the soil surface with a shovel to duplicate the effect of a pitting implement. This treatment is referred to as cultivated, Dimpled (cover 10%).
D) Was 'chisel cultivated' with a shovel to create conditions similar to those left behind a chisel - referred to as contour cultivated/ Chisel (cover 10%).
Key findings (brief)
- A fine tilth and low stubble cover resulted in 50% of the rain being lost as runoff.
- Retention of stubble cover, contour cultivation and rough tilth reduced runoff to less than 20%.
Location
‘Marylands’ Retro
Related studies
‘Orion Downs’ Orion; ‘Enderley’ - Gindie; ‘Kurrajong’ Capella; ‘Innesfree’, Wolfgang; ‘Tarvellon’, Kilcummin; ‘Bundella’ Wallumbilla; ‘Twin-Butts’ Wandoan; ‘The Limes’ Chinchilla; ‘Moruya’ Goondiwindi; ‘Forest Park’ Warwick
Key references and sources of this data synthesis
These data summaries have been extracted from:
- Freebairn D, Wockner G, Huff S, Agnew J, Carroll C, Halpin M, Douglas N, Wade J. 1992. Rainfall simulator extension tour: central Queensland 27-29th October 1992.