Information
Runoff and the ameliorating effect of plant cover in the Mulga communities of South Western Queensland.
Level 1 General description
Purpose:
To determine how the frequency of runoff in mulga country varies with the quantity of rain, vegetation and topography.
Methods (brief)
Surface runoff was monitored in relation to a range of surface management practices, including:
- Varying % vegetation cover; and
- Varying vegetation species.
Key findings (brief)
- Runoff was positively correlated with soil bulk density, fine sand % and slope %. Runoff was negatively correlated with dry matter, litter other than wood, dry matter + other litter, dry matter + wood, basal area %, and the course sand fraction of the soil.
- Plant tussock greatly decreased the number of runoff events;
- Runoff greater in hard mulga and residue land zones than in the soft mulga zone; and
- Perennial grass basal area > 2% is considered essential to reduce the loss of surface soil and nutrients.
- Threshold values of runoff varied widely. Runoff was first noticed following 9.9 ± 1.1 mm of rain, but varied between 4.4 mm and 22.8 mm.
Location
Mulga rangeland, Southwest QLD
Related studies
N/A