Information

Performance of grass and rainforest riparian buffers in the wet tropics, Far North Queensland. 2. Water Quality – Gallagher’s property (McKergow et al., 2004)

Level 1 General description

Purpose

This study monitored hydrology, soil erosion and water quality on 2 two properties in order to identify the potential of riparian lands to buffer streams from hillslope sediment and nutrient transport

Methods (brief)

Runoff, bedload, and suspended sediment loads were measured leaving the crop and leaving the riparian buffers at two properties.

Key findings

Riparian buffers on planar slopes with low relief are much more effective at trapping bedload sediment and nutrients than those on convergent slopes with high relief.

Location

Gallagher’s property Johnstone River Catchment (Innisfail).

Dunne’s Property Johnstone River Catchment (Innisfail).

Related studies

Faithful J.W, Brodie J, Hooper A, Leachy P, Henry G, Finlayson W, Green D. 2007. Plot-scale runoff of nutrients and sediment under varying management regimes on a banana and cane farm in the wet tropics. Catchment to Reef – Wet Tropics Sutainable Agriculture Runoff Water Quality Project – ACTFR report No. 07/10

Armour j.D, rasiah V, Whiteing T, Brodie J, Cogle A.L. 2006. Nitrogen loss in sub-surface drainage from bananas in tropical north Queensland.

Prove B, Moody P, Reghenzani J. 1995. Nutrient balance and transport from agricultural and rainforest lands; a case study in the Johnstone River Catchment. Nb report, Project No. DAQ3S.

 

Level 2, level 3, level 4 and level 5