The potential for sown tropical perennial grass pastures to improve soil organic carbon in the North-West Slopes and Plains of New South Wales

Soil Research ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 51 (8) ◽  
pp. 726 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. D. Schwenke ◽  
M. K. McLeod ◽  
S. R. Murphy ◽  
S. Harden ◽  
A. L. Cowie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Total Organic Carbon ◽  
New South ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Tropical Pastures ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
North West ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Native Pastures

Sown tropical perennial grass pastures may be a means to restore soil organic carbon (C) lost by cropping with conventional tillage to the levels originally present in native grass pastures. To assess this, total organic carbon and related soil properties were measured under sown tropical pastures, conventionally cultivated cropping, and native pastures on 75 Chromosols and 70 Vertosols to 0.3 m depth in the New South Wales North-West Slopes and Plains region of Australia. The impact of several perennial pasture species on soil organic carbon was also assessed in a 6-year-old, sown pasture experiment on a previously cropped Chromosol. Soil cores in 0.1-m segments to 0.3 m were analysed for total organic carbon, total nitrogen (N), pH, and phosphorus (Colwell-P). Mid-infrared scans were used to predict the particulate, humus, and resistant fractions of the total organic carbon. Bulk density was used to calculate stocks of C, N, and C fractions. In Chromosols, total organic carbon in the surface 0–0.1 m was greater under sown tropical pastures (23.1 Mg ha–1) than conventional tillage cropping (17.7 Mg ha–1), but still less than under native pastures (26.3 Mg ha–1). Similar land-use differences were seen for particulate and resistant organic C, and total N. The proportional differences between land uses were much greater for particulate organic C than other measures, and were also significant at 0.1–0.2 and 0.2–0.3 m. Subsurface bulk density (0.1–0.2 m) was lower under sown tropical pastures (1.42 Mg m–3) than conventionally tilled cropping (1.52 Mg m–3). For Vertosols, total organic carbon in the surface 0–0.1 m was greater under sown tropical pastures (19.0 Mg ha–1) and native pastures (20.5 Mg ha–1) than conventional tillage cropping (14.0 Mg ha–1). Similar land-use effects were seen for the particulate and humus organic C fractions, and total N. In the sown pasture species experiment, there was no significant difference in total N, total organic carbon, or any C fraction between soils under a native-grass species mixture, two improved tropical grass species, or a perennial pasture legume. Regular monitoring is required to better discern whether gradual changes are being masked by spatial and temporal variation. The survey results support previous research on Vertosols within the New South Wales North-West Slopes and Plains that show sown tropical grass pastures can improve total organic carbon. Improvements in total organic carbon on Chromosols have not previously been documented, so further targeted soil monitoring and experimentation is warranted for the region.

Soil carbon is only higher in the surface soil under minimum tillage in Vertosols and Chromosols of New South Wales North-West Slopes and Plains, Australia

Soil Research ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 51 (8) ◽  
pp. 680 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. McLeod ◽  
G. D. Schwenke ◽  
A. L. Cowie ◽  
S. Harden
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Total Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Carbon Stock ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
New South ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Minimum Tillage ◽  
North West ◽  
South Wales

Reduced carbon stock levels in Australian soil due to cropping provide a significant opportunity for carbon sequestration, and the recent initiative to consider soil carbon in domestic emissions trading requires a scientific assessment of soil carbon levels under a range of cropping soil management practices. Some of the previous research in southern and western New South Wales (NSW) showed that the rate of carbon decline in cropping soils is slowed under minimum tillage when the stubble is also retained. However, such comparison is rare in the NSW North-West Slopes and Plains region, particularly on the red soils (Chromosols) which are one of the major soil types in the region. We surveyed 50 dryland Chromosols, 72 dryland Vertosols, and 25 irrigated Vertosols on commercial farms across this region to examine the effects of conventional tillage, minimum tillage, and irrigation on total soil organic carbon. Samples of 0.1 m segments to 0.3 m depth were analysed for total organic carbon and other soil properties. Mid-infrared scans were used to predict the particulate, humus, and resistant soil organic carbon fractions. Bulk density was used to calculate total organic carbon stock for each segment, and equivalent soil mass (ESM) for 0–0.3 m. In Vertosols, for 0–0.3 m ESM, total organic carbon and particulate organic carbon were not different between management practices, whereas humic organic carbon and resistant organic carbon were consistently lower under conventional tillage. However, in 0–0.1 m, total organic carbon was greater under minimum tillage (15.2 Mg ha–1) than conventional tillage (11.9 Mg ha–1) or irrigation (12.0 Mg ha–1), reflecting less soil surface disturbance under minimum tillage. In Chromosols, only total organic carbon was higher under minimum tillage than conventional tillage in the 0–0.3 m ESM (39.8 v. 33.5 Mg ha–1) and in 0–0.1 m (19.7 v. 16.9 Mg ha–1). The strong influences of rainfall, temperature, bulk density, texture, and management history on soil carbon stocks suggested that these environmental and management factors require further consideration when gauging soil carbon sequestration potential under current and novel tillage practices in key regional locations.

The nutrient status and cultivation practices of the soils of the North-West wheat belt of NSW.

1954 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 422 ◽  
Author(s):  
EG Hallsworth ◽  
FR Gibbons ◽  
TH Lemerle
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
New South ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
North West ◽  
Nitrogen Levels ◽  
The North ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Cultivation Practices ◽  
North Western ◽  
Available Phosphate

A study has been made of the nitrogen, organic carbon, phosphate, and pH levels of the wheat soils of north-western New South Wales, and the cultivation practices adopted. They are found generally to be high in both total and available phosphate, and particularly high figures for available phosphate, over 1000 p.p.m., were found in limited areas. The nitrogen levels of the virgin chernozemic soils are distinctly higher than those of the red-brown earths and red solodic soils, but soils of all groups show a decline with cultivation, which is most rapid in the first 10 years. The introduction of periods under lucerne raises the nitrogen level, but the wheat/grazed fallow or wheat/grazing oats appear to cause the same nitrogen losses as are encountered under continuous wheat, in spite of the prevalence of stubble burning which inevitably accompanies this practice. The average yields of wheat on the chernozemic soils are distinctly higher than those obtained on the red-brown earths and red solodic soils, on some of which nitrogen appears to be limiting.

Establishment of Warm- and Cool-Season Native Perennial Grasses on the North-West Slopes of New South Wales. Ii. Establishment and Seedling Survival in the Field

1981 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 121 ◽  
Author(s):  
GM Lodge
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Native Pastures

Emergence and survival of the seedlings of warm-season native perennial grasses Aristida ramosa R.Br., Bothriochloa macra (Steud.) S . T. Blake, Dichanthium sericeum (R.Br.) Camus, Sporobolus elongatus R.Br., Eragvostis leptostachya Steud. and Chloris truncata R.Br. and the cool-season species Stipa variabilis Hughes and Danthonia linkii Kunth were studied in both native pastures and sown monospecific plots on the north- west slopes of New South Wales. The most favourable period for the successful emergence and establishment of warm-season grasses was from mid summer to early autumn. Cool-season native perennial grasses established best from seedlings that appeared from mid autumn to late winter. Few seedlings were observed to germinate in spring, probably as a result of large variations in temperature, low minimum temperatures or intra and interspecific competition. Seedlings growing in native pasture spent long periods in the vegetative phase compared to the early flowering of seedlings in the sown plots. In the pasture studied only two seedlings flowered over 700 days after emergence, and many others after persisting for up to 2 years died without producing seed. These findings indicate that the seedlings in these native pastures were under considerable stress and that the adult populations of the species examined were relatively stable and little recruitment occurred.

Beneficial soil profile differences associated with tropical grass pastures on sodic texture contrast soils in Northern New South Wales

Soil Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 207
Author(s):  
Robert Banks ◽  
Laura Wendling ◽  
Kaye Basford ◽  
Anthony Ringrose-Voase ◽  
Vera Banks
Keyword(s):  
Soil Profile ◽  
New South ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Tropical Pastures ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Native Pasture ◽  
Native Pastures ◽  
Texture Contrast ◽  
Root Abundance ◽  
Tropical Grass

Volunteer native pastures on widespread sodic texture contrast soils in northern New South Wales slopes and plains are known for their limited agricultural production. Fertilised tropical grass pastures on these soils are reported to have much increased pasture production, deeper, more abundant root mass and greater soil profile moisture storage. The subsoil physical differences between native and tropical grass pastures are not well understood. This observational study compared root abundance, soil structure and soil physical parameters (dispersion, bulk density, porosity and pore distribution) in sodic texture contrast soils under native and adjacent, well established and fertilised tropical pastures in a 14-year chronosequence. The physical differences observed may have contributed to improved soil water storage reported by other authors. Fourteen years after establishment, mean root abundance was significantly lower in soils under native pasture and greater in the tropical grass pasture system with 4600 and 8400 m of roots m–3 respectively. Dispersion values were high in native pastures but soils under tropical pastures had to be physically worked to cause dispersion. Bulk density under native pasture was significantly higher than in tropical grass pastures by 0.08 g cm–3 at 0–10 cm and by 0.2 g cm–3 in the upper B horizons. Total soil porosity of topsoils and upper B horizons was consequently lower in native than in tropical grass pasture. Tropical grass pasture upper B horizons had a three-fold greater macroporosity (pores > 30 µm), than under native pastures. This is equivalent to significantly greater potential water flow through stable macropores in dense sodic B horizons in tropical pastures. These findings indicate that pasture system selection and management positively affects deep soil structural properties which promote pasture productivity. The study contributes to a better understanding of mechanisms of published deeper water storage in tropical grass pasture systems on these normally low production soils.

Microbial biomass and microbial biodiversity in some soils from New South Wales, Australia

Soil Research ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nargis A. Banu ◽  
Balwant Singh ◽  
Les Copeland
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Free Iron ◽  
South Wales

Eight surface soils (0–15 cm) including 1 Ferrosol, 2 Tenosols, 2 Kurosols, 1 Sodosol, 1 Chromosol, and 1 Kandosol were collected from mainly pasture sites in New South Wales. The soils had different physico-chemical properties and there were some differences between the sites in climatic conditions. Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) was estimated by the chloroform-fumigation extraction method, and substrate utilisation patterns determined by the Biolog method were used to assess the amount, functional diversity, substrate richness and evenness, and community structure of the microorganisms in these soils. The amount of MBC (585 µg C/g) and the microbial diversity (H´ = 3.24) were high in soils that had high clay (33%), organic C (5.96%), total N (0.45%), free iron (7.06%), moisture content (50%), and cation exchange capacitiy (133.5 mmolc/kg). These soil properties, e.g. soil moisture (r2 = 0.72), organic C (r2 = 0.58), total N (r2 = 0.63), free iron (r2 = 0.44), and EC (r2 = 0.53), were positively correlated with MBC and microbial diversity index, whereas pH and sand and silt content showed negative correlations. The climatic factors (temperature and rainfall) had no significant influence on either MBC or diversity.

Effects of climate scenarios on simulated intake of sheep grazing native pastures in northern New South Wales, Australia

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Lodge ◽  
I. R. Johnson ◽  
B. R. Cullen
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Biophysical Model ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Climate Scenarios ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Native Pastures ◽  
A1b Scenario

Interpolated climate data were used as inputs for simulations in a biophysical model to predict the proportion of the total intake provided by native pasture for wethers and ewes for three climate scenarios on the North-West Slopes of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. These climate scenarios compared the 1961–90 historical baseline climate with two climate projections for 2030 based on (i) the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change A1B scenario in 2030 for a site near Barraba, and (ii) a report to the NSW Government indicating that the climate of Tamworth (~85 km south-east of Barraba) could become similar to that of Warialda (~95 km north-west of Barraba). A third scenario compared historical data for the Barraba location for 30-year ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ periods, in the first and second halves of the 1900s, respectively. Model simulations indicated that the largest differences in the predicted proportion of wether and ewe intake provided by the pasture occurred for the historical ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ periods. For the reference climate normal (1961–90) v. 2030 A1B scenario and the Tamworth–Warialda comparison, there were few substantial differences in the predicted proportion of pasture intake. Additionally, there was only a small effect of a variation (up to 20%) in rainfall distribution and inter-annual variability on pasture intake by sheep. Since the largest predicted differences in sheep intake of pasture occurred for historical ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ periods, it was apparent that climate variability would continue to have a major influence on grazed native pastures on the North-West Slopes of NSW.

Responses of four soybean varieties to foliar zinc fertilizer

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (109) ◽  
pp. 236 ◽  
Author(s):  
IA Rose ◽  
WL Felton ◽  
LW Banks
Keyword(s):  
Oil Content ◽  
Phosphorus Content ◽  
Zinc Concentration ◽  
New South ◽  
North West ◽  
Yield Increase ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Zinc Fertilization ◽  
Zinc Fertilizer ◽  
Fertilization Experiments

The soybean varieties Lee, Forrest, Bragg and Dodds were studied in zinc fertilization experiments at three sites in central and north-west New South Wales. At each site foliar sprays of ZnSO47H2O were applied before flowering. At Narrabri one spray of 4 kg ha-1 gave a yield increase of 13%. At Trangie and Breeza, two sprays each of 4 kg ha-1 increased yield by 57% and 208%, respectively. Lee was the least responsive variety at each site and Dodds or Forrest the most responsive to applied zinc. Zinc fertilizer increased plant height, foliar zinc concentration, oil content (at two sites) but decreased leaf phosphorus content. Leaf concentrations of phosphorus in untreated plots were indicative of varietal sensitivity to zinc deficiency both within and between sites. The yield increases at Narrabri were obtained even though no visual symptoms were observed. Improvement of soybean yields with zinc fertilizer in seemingly healthy crops is worthy of further investigation.

2. On a New Species of Manna, from New South Wales.

1851 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 239-240
Author(s):  
Thomas Anderson
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Chemical Constitution ◽  
A New Species

About thirty years ago a species of manna, obtained from the Eucalyptus Mannifera, was brought from New South Wales, and was examined by Dr Thomas Thomson, and afterwards by Professor Johnston, both of whom ascertained it to contain a new species of sugar, different from the mannite which exists in ordinary manna. The author had, through the kindness of Mr Sheriff Cay, an opportunity of examining a very different species of manna, remarkable both from its chemical constitution, and from its possessing a definitely organised structure. This substance was discovered by Mr Robert Cay in 1844, in the interior of Australia Felix, to the north and north-west of Melbourne, where it occurs at certain seasons on the leaves of the Mallee plant, Eucalyptus Dumosa, and is known to the natives by the name of Lerp.

scholarly journals EMISSÃO DE CO2, ATRIBUTOS FÍSICOS E CARBONO ORGÂNICO TOTAL EM DIFERENTES SISTEMAS DE PREPARO DO SOLO

Nativa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 494
Author(s):  
Carla Da Penha Simon ◽  
Edney Leandro da Vitória ◽  
Elcio Das Graça Lacerda ◽  
Yago Soares Avancini ◽  
Tatiana Fiorotti Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Total Organic Carbon ◽  
Co2 Emission ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Minimum Tillage ◽  
Soil Preparation ◽  
Physical Attributes ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Box Plot

Objetivou-se quantificar o CO2,atributos químicos e físicos do solo são influenciados por diferentes manejos de preparo do solo. O Delineamento experimental adotado foi inteiramente casualizado, sendo os tratamentos: Sistema de Plantio Direto (SPD), Cultivo Mínimo e Preparo Convencional (PC), e como referência: área de vegetação nativa (Mata), contando com seis repetições cada variável de estudo. Além da comparação por teste médias, foi realizada uma análise exploratória das leituras nos sistemas de preparo do solo, onde o CO2 foi traduzido graficamente num diagrama o box-plot. As variáveis avaliadas foram: CO2 obtido por meio de um analisador de gás infravermelho; os atributos físicos do solo: Densidade do solo (Ds), Volume Total de Poros (VTP), Macroporosidade (Ma), Microporosidade (Mi), Resistência a Penetração do solo (RPS) e o atributo químico: carbono orgânico total (COT). O fluxo CO2 do solo apresentou diferença significativa entre o SPD e o PC; valores médios encontrados para SPD, CM, Mata e PC foram 2,30; 2,25; 2,18; e 1,39 μmolCO2m−2 s−1, respectivamente; o COT apresentou seu maior valor na área de Mata (32,95 gkg-1) diferindo estatisticamente das demais áreas. Observou-se uma menor emissão de CO2 do solo no PC, pois o sistema apresenta baixo aporte de carbono orgânico.Palavras-chave: sistema de preparo convencional; cultivo mínimo; preparo convencional; carbono orgânico total. CO2 EMISSION, PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES AND TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON IN DIFFERENT SOIL PREPARATION SYSTEMS ABSTRACT: The objective was to quantify the CO2, chemical and physical attributes of the soil are influenced by different management of soil preparation. The experimental design was completely randomized, with the treatments: no-tillage (NT), minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT), and as reference:  native forest (NF), with six replicates each study variable. In addition to the mean test comparison, an exploratory analysis of the readings was performed in the soil preparation systems, where CO2 was graphically translated into a box-plot diagram. The variables evaluated were: CO2 obtained by means of a infrared gas analyzer; density (Bd), total pore volume (TPV), macroporosity (Ma), microporosity (Mi), resistance to soil penetration (RSP) and chemical attribute: total organic carbon (TOC). The CO2 soil flux presented a significant difference between NT and CT; where respectively the mean values found for SPD, CM, Mata and PC were 2.30; 2.25; 2.18; and 1.39 μmolCO2m-2s-1; the COT had its highest value in the Mata area (32.95 gkg-1), differing statistically from the other areas. It was observed a lower CO2 emission of the soil in the PC, because the system has low input of organic carbon.Keywords: no-tillage; conventional tillage; minimum tillage; total organic carbon.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document