The influence of aeolian dust deposits on alpine soils in south-eastern Australia

Soil Research ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart William Johnston

Aeolian sediment collected from 2 locations across the ‘Main Range’ of Kosciuszko National Park, along with a series of soil profiles that were analysed for particle size, were used as a baseline from which to estimate the effects of aeolian sedimentation in this region. Laboratory analysis of the soil profiles indicated that the properties of the surface horizons of the alpine humus soils were heavily influenced by aeolian dust accumulation; however, the sub-surface horizons were mainly derived from the natural bedrock. The surface and subsurface horizons differed in texture bulk density, pH, electrical conductivity, exchangeable cations, and clay mineralogy. This study confirmed that the snow patch meadow soils exhibited particle size and mineralogy consistent with dust enrichment, with distinct bands being found in some profiles.


Soil Research ◽  
1971 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
PH Walker ◽  
AB Costin

Reddish dust, transported by strong winds from the dry central regions of Australia, is periodically deposited in the humid eastern part of the continent. Dust sampled in snow on the Australian alps during 1968 is comparable in amount with accession reported earlier in the 1900's in New Zealand and Melbourne. The dust reported here has a median diameter of 4 pm, relatively high organic content, and mineralogy in the less than 2 pm fraction dominated by illite and kaolin. The rate of dust accession during the past was probably sufficient to have modified alpine soils. In particular, snow patch soils have a particle size and mineralogy consistent with dust enrichment. A much lower rate of dust accession seems to occur at present in Canberra on the Southern Tablelands.



2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-158
Author(s):  
Surianto

Spodosol soil of Typic Placorthod sub-group of East Barito District is one of the problem soils with the presence of hardpan layer, low fertility, low water holding capacity, acid reaction and it is not suitable for oil palm cultivation without any properly specific management of land preparation and implemented best agronomic practices. A study was carried out to evaluate the soil characteristic of a big hole (A profile) and no big hole (B profile) system and comparative oil palm productivity among two planting systems. This study was conducted in Spodosol soil at oil palm plantation (coordinate X = 0281843 and Y = 9764116), East Barito District, Central Kalimantan Province on February 2014, by surveying of placic and ortstein depth and observing soil texture and chemical properties of 2 (two) oil palm's soil profiles that have been planted in five years. Big hole system of commercial oil palm field planting on the Spodosol soil area was designed for the specific purpose of minimizing the potential of a negative effect of shallow effective planting depth for oil palms growing due to the hardpan layer (placic and ortstein) presence as deep as 0.25 - 0.50 m. The big hole system is a planting hole type which was vertical-sided with 2.00 m x 1.50 m on top and bottom side and 3.00 m depth meanwhile the 2:1 drain was vertical-sided also with 1.50 m depth and 300 m length. Oil palm production was recorded from the year 2012 up to 2014. Results indicated that the fractions both big hole profile (A profile) and no big hole profile (B profile) were dominated by sands ranged from 60% to 92% and the highest sands content of non-big hole soil profile were found in A and E horizons (92%). Better distribution of sand and clay fractions content in between layers of big hole soil profiles of A profile sample is more uniform compared to the B profile sample. The mechanical holing and material mixing of soil materials of A soil profile among the upper and lower horizons i.e. A, E, B and C horizons before planting that resulted a better distribution of both soil texture (sands and clay) and chemical properties such as acidity value (pH), C-organic, N, C/N ratio, CEC, P-available and Exchangeable Bases. Investigation showed that exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K), were very low in soil layers (A profile) and horizons (B profile) investigated. The low exchangeable cations due to highly leached of bases to the lower layers and horizons. Besides, the palm which was planted on the big hole system showed good adaptation and response positively by growing well of tertiary and quaternary roots that the roots were penetrable into deeper rooting zone as much as >1.00 m depth. The roots can grow well and penetrate much deeper in A profile compared to the undisturbed hardpan layer (B profile). The FFB (fresh fruit bunches) production of the non-big hole block was higher than the big hole block for the first three years of production. This might be due to the high variation of monthly rainfall in-between years of observation from 2009 to 2014. Therefore, the hardness of placic and ortstein as unpenetrable agents by roots and water to prevent water loss and retain the water in the rhizosphere especially in the drier weather. In the high rainfall condition, the 2:1 drain to prevent water saturation in the oil palm rhizosphere by moving some water into the drain. Meanwhile, the disturbed soil horizon (big hole area) was drier than un disturbance immediately due to water removal to deeper layers. We concluded that both big hole and 2:1 drain are a suitable technology for Spodosol soil land especially in preparing palms planting to minimize the negative effect of the hardpan layer for oil palm growth.



Soil Research ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z Paydar ◽  
HP Cresswell

Different approaches were investigated for estimating the parameters in the Campbell soil water characteristic (SWC) equation from soil attributes such as particle size distribution (PSD), bulk density, and organic matter content. Predicted soil water characteristics were compared with measured values for soils of the wheatbelt of south-eastern Australia. A method of prediction is proposed incorporating an empirical relationship for estimating the slope of the SWC from the slope of the cumulative PSD. A power-law form is assumed for both the SWC and PSD functions. One measured SWC point is then used to locate and thus define the SWC curve. When SWC points predicted with this 'one-point' method were compared with measured values, the mean absolute value of the difference between each measured and predicted SWC point was 0.016 m3/m3 for the Geeves data and 0.027 m3/m3 for the Forrest data. Eight sets of predictive equations, previously developed using multiple regression analysis, were also evaluated. Whilst the equations predicted the slope of the SWC curves reasonably well, predictions of the air entry potential were poor. Although less accurate, the equations developed by multiple regression are less demanding in data requirement compared with alternative SWC prediction methods. The one-point method gave better predictions than the multiple regression approach but was less accurate than the 'two-point' method proposed in the first paper in this series. The one-point method should be considered where PSD data and 1 measured SWC point are available. In most other circumstances it will be more accurate and cost-effective to measure 2 SWC points to define the soil water characteristic function (the two-point method).* Part I, Aust. J. Soil Res., 1996, 34, 195–212.





Clay Minerals ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. V. Jeans ◽  
N. J . Tosca ◽  
X. F. Hu ◽  
S. Boreham

AbstractThe idea is tested that the evolution of the Chalk’s clay mineral assemblage during diagenesis can be deduced by examining the relationships between its clay mineralogy, particle size distribution pattern, and the timing and trace element chemistry of the calcite cement. The preliminary results from five different examples of cementation developed at different stages of diagenesis in chalks with smectite-dominated clay assemblages suggest that this is a promising line of investigation. Soft chalks with minor amount of anoxic series calcite cement poor in Mg, Fe and Mn are associated with neoformed trioctahedral smectite and/or dioctahedral nontronite and talc. Hard ground chalk with extensive anoxic series calcite cement enriched in Mg and relatively high Fe, Mn and Sr are associated with neoformed glauconite sensu lato, berthierine and dioctahedral smectite, possibly enriched in Fe. The chalk associated with large ammonites shows extensive suboxic series calcite cement enriched in Mg, Mn and Fe that show no obvious correlation with its clay mineralogy. Nodular chalks with patchy suboxic series calcite cement enriched in Fe are associated with neoformed dioctahedral smectite, possibly enriched in Al, and berthierine. Regionally hardened chalk with extensive suboxic calcite cement and relatively high trace element contents contain pressure dissolution seams enriched in kaolin and berthierine. Laser-based particle-size distribution patterns suggest that each type of lithification has a typical complex clay mineral population, indicating that subtleties in mineralogy are not being identified and that there could be some control on the size and shape of the clay crystals by the different types of cementation.



2020 ◽  
Vol 197 ◽  
pp. 105780
Author(s):  
Francisco Ruiz ◽  
Manuel Pozo ◽  
María Isabel Carretero ◽  
Juan Manuel Muñoz ◽  
María Luz González-Regalado ◽  
...  


1974 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Dunsmore

An unconfined, almost completely tagged rabbit population on a site of about 100 ha was studied by observation and trapping for 5 years. The commencement of the study coincided approximately with the incorporation of the area into the Kosciusko National Park, the elimination of grazing by domestic livestock, and the cessation of the previously almost annual burning of the area. During the 5-yr study the fecundity of the rabbits declined to little more than half the initial level. This was not a result of the concurrently increasing age of the population, which was shown to be quite unrelated. It was also shown that the 1yr old rabbits were less fecund than the older rabbits, whose fecundity remained constant. Although it appeared subjectively to be so, the area was not uniformly suitable for the survival of rabbits. In one of its four subdivisions adult survival was much better than in the others; and in one of the others it was much the worst. During the study there was considerable immigration to the area, presumably balanced by migration. Females tended to remain where they were born and in no case changed from one breeding group to another. Males were considerably less sedentary than the females.



1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 725 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. H. Martin

Digger's Creek Bog, an Empodisma minus–Callistemon pityoides–Sphagnum cristatum shrubby subalpine peat bog, alt. c. 1690 m, not far below local altitudinal tree-line, began development > 10 000 years before present as an Astelia sp.–Carex alpine soak. Surrounding vegetation was a grassy alpine herbfield with many Asteraceae, Apiaceae and Gentianella diemensis, corresponding to the regional Club Lake Zone C, dated to the same period. Astelia died out c. 6500 years before present approximately at the Club Lake C/D 1 boundary, marked by spread of Pomaderris in subjacent montane forests. Thereafter, shrubs, mainly Myrtaceae and Epacridaceae, and Restionaceae (Empodisma and Restio australis) dominated the bog. Epacris cf. paludosa and C. pityoides seem to have been the earliest shrubs to invade, Baeckea, probably B. gunniana, and Richea continentis reaching maximum prominence 5000–3000 years before present. Sphagnum was uncommon until recently. Regional arboreal pollen enable comparisons with other sites in south-eastern Australia but immigration of the tree-line species Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. niphophila (snowgum) is not well expressed in the pollen spectra. Surface and near-surface counts of this species are higher than at any preceding time, and correspond most closely to surface counts in adjacent young snowgum woodland. The co-occurrence of weed pollens, probably associated with the late 19th and early 20th century practice of summer pasturing stock on the alpine–subalpine tract, suggests that pasturing and burning, responsible for widespread severe fires on this range, led both to the formation of dense even-aged snowgum woodland that had been open and patchy at this altitude, and a spread of Sphagnum on the bog surface.



1979 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 375 ◽  
Author(s):  
JD Murray ◽  
GM McKay ◽  
GB Sharman

The greater glider, currently but incorrectly known as Schoinobates vo/ans, is widely distributed in forested regions in eastern Australia. All animals studied from six different localities had 20 autosomes but there were four chromosomally distinct populations. At Royal National Park, N.S.W., all female greater gliders studied had 22 chromosomes including two large submetacentric X chromosomes with subterminal secondary constrictions in their longer arms. This form of X chromosome occurred also at Bondo State Forest, Myall Lakes and Coff's Harbour, N.S.W., and at Eidsvold, Qld. At Coomooboolaroo, Qld, the X chromosome was also a large submetacentric but a secondary constriction occurred in the shorter arm. Two chromosomally distinct types apparently occur in Royal National Park, one with XY m,ales as in all other populations, and one with XY1Y2 males. Y or Yb but not Y 2, chromosomes were eliminated from the bone marrow in all populations but were present in spermatogonia, primary sperrnatocytes and cultured fibroblasts. Animals from Bondo State Forest had three or more acrocentric or metacentric supernumerary chromosomes. [Other keywords: C-banding, eytotaxonomy, multiple sex chromosomes, XY bivalent.]



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