Acid buffering capacity and potential acidification of cotton soils in northern New South Wales

Soil Research ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balwant Singh ◽  
I.O.A. Odeh ◽  
A. B. McBratney

Soil acidity has been of major concern in Australia since European settlement. Acidification processes have been accelerated due to agricultural activities such as N fertiliser application and leguminous N-fixation in farm rotations. In this paper, we measured the acid buffering capacity (pHBC) of Vertosols, soils used predominantly for growing cotton in northern New South Wales. The pHBC values were used to calculate decrease in soil pH assuming net acid input due to agricultural practices. We combined the acidification results with geostatistics to spatially simulate the decline in soil pH of surface soils over time. The results indicate that it would take 10–417 years for soil pH to decrease by 1 unit on an assumed acid input of 5�kmol�H+/ha.year. Soil pH will drop by 1 unit within 100 years for 90% of the soils and within 15 years for 10% of the soils. This reflects the variability of the pHBC for the studied soils. In 50 years from present, most of the eastern and north-western parts of the study region may become highly acidic with soil pH declining to 5.5. There may be a potential threat to sustainable agriculture from acidification in the region, although more work needs to be done to corroborate the counter-effects of water fluxes and carbonate dissolution. Sensitivity analysis indicates that even at low levels of acid input, some areas in the study region may experience significant decline in soil pH in the surface layer.

1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 221 ◽  
Author(s):  
GJ Crocker ◽  
ICR Holford

The effects of pasture improvement on soil pH, total nitrogen, organic carbon and extractable phosphorus (P) were determined by analysing adjacent soils from improved and unimproved pastures at 67 sites on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. Pasture improved sites contained at least 1 clover species, predominantly white clover, and had received at least 125 kg P/ha over periods of 15-45 years. The majority of pasture improved sites contained more soil nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus and were of lower soil pH than adjacent unimproved sites. However, the decreases in pH were not statistically significant and not usually related to the magnitude of the increases in other soil fertility parameters nor to the amounts of superphosphate applied or duration of fertiliser history. The largest decline in soil pH and largest increase in organic carbon were on granitic soils which had received more than 250 kg P/ha. The relatively small decreases in soil pH and lack of relationship with fertiliser history, compared with soils from southern New South Wales, were attributed to: (i) re-cycling of legume-fixed nitrogen by summer-growing grasses; (ii) the naturally lower pH, higher nitrogen content and higher buffering capacity of many northern soils. Soil acidification therefore seems to be much slower and less frequent in the perennial pasture systems of the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales.


1996 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 619-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Dowling ◽  
D. L. Garden ◽  
D. A. Eddy ◽  
D. I. Pickering

Radiocarbon ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 431-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quan Hua ◽  
Mike Barbetti ◽  
Ugo Zoppi ◽  
David M Chapman ◽  
Bruce Thomson

We have analyzed by radiocarbon 27 consecutive single rings, starting from AD 1952, of a preliminarily cross-dated section (DFR 021) of Pinus radiata, which grew in Armidale, northern New South Wales, Australia. The bomb 14C results suggested the possibility of 2 false rings, and, consequently, 2 misidentified rings in the preliminary count for this section. This possibility was supported by a better ring-width correlation between the revised DFR 021 count and other Pinus radiata chronologies in the study region. This indicated that bomb 14C is a useful tool to complement the standard techniques of dendrochronology in tree species where annual rings are not always clearly defined.


2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 435 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Cooper

Two forms of biosolids, with and without lime, were applied to acid soils at 2 sites in central New South Wales. Wheat and triticale were then grown on these sites to determine the effect of biosolids on crop growth and yield. The forms of biosolids used were dewatered sewage sludge cake, and N-Viro Soil which is a lime amended sewage sludge. Dewatered sewage sludge cake was applied at rates of 0, 6, 12 and 24 dry Mg/ha, and N-Viro soil at 0, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 dry Mg/ha. Biosolids produced grain yield increases of over 50% at both sites, with the largest yield increases at the highest rate of dewatered sewage sludge. Continued cropping at 1 of the sites showed that significant yield increases were still obtained 3 years after the initial application. The addition of lime and N-Viro Soil raised soil pH, and produced small but long lasting yield increases. However, the main benefit of biosolids seems to have come from the nutrients they supplied rather than changes in soil pH.


2000 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 256 ◽  
Author(s):  
SV Briggs ◽  
JA Seddon ◽  
SA Thornton

Intermittently and occasionally flooded lakes are common in arid and semi-arid Australia. The wetldry nature of these lakes means that they provide habitat for terrestrial fauna when dry and aquatic fauna when flooded. The fauna of dry lakes in western New South Wales is largely unknown. This study reports on species of small mammals and reptiles trapped in a dry lake in south-western New South Wales, and contrasts them with species trapped in surrounding woodland and shrubland habitats. Information on bird species in these habitats was also drawn on. Small mammals, reptiles and birds showed considerable partitioning between the habitats in the study area. The dry lake provided the main habitat for the two small mammals Smznthopsis crassicaudata and Planlgale gdesi. Reptiles were most speciose and most abundant in the blue bush (Maireana spp.) shrubland, but some reptile species were mainly or entirely confined to the dry lake habitats, or to black box (Eucalyptus largzjlorens) woodland. Birds in the study region were most abundant and most speciose in the black box woodland, with some species confined to blue bush shrubland. The study showed that conservation of all the habitats investigated is necessary to retain the suite of vertebrate species that occupy these landscapes. Key words: small mammals, reptiles, birds, arid zone, dry lake, shrubland, woodland, biodiversity: Australia


1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 211 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Brockwell ◽  
A Pilka ◽  
RA Holliday

Measurements were made of soil pH, frequency of occurrence of annual species of Medicago (medics) and populations of Rhizobium meliloti at 84 sites on 7 dominant soil groups of the Macquarie region of central-western New South Wales. Over all sites, soil pH (0-10 cm; 1:5 soil: water) ranged from 5.26 to 8.07, medic frequency from 0 to 100% and most probable numbers of R. meliloti from undetectable to 675 000/g soil. There was a highly significant (P<0.001) relationship between soil pH and number of R. meliloti. Above pH 7.0, the mean soil population of R. meliloti was 89000/g; below pH 6.0, it was 37/g. Medics occurred most frequently on the more alkaline soils and with least frequency on the more acid soils, but the relationship between soil pH and medic frequency was weaker than between pH and R. meliloti number. Medics were more tolerant of low soil pH than their rhizobia were; at 2 sites, of pH 5.49 and 5.35, medics occurred at 100% frequency but R. meliloti was undetected. There was an indication of some acidification in these soils over a period of 35 years but this remains to be confirmed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charmaine D’Souza ◽  
Nikitha Kramadhari ◽  
Elizabeth Skalkos ◽  
Tegan Dutton ◽  
Jannine Bailey

Abstract Background Rates of skin cancer in Australia are amongst the highest in the world, with Western New South Wales (NSW) exhibiting very high prevalence. There is a large proportion of outdoor workers, including farmers, in Western NSW who have high levels of sun exposure and hence are at greater risk of developing skin cancer. Aims To characterise the current sun safety practices of farmers in Western NSW and explore their knowledge, attitudes and perceived barriers towards sun safety and its implementation. Methods A cross-sectional survey study was conducted using a self-directed questionnaire. Participants were recruited at field days held in Western NSW and through surveys distributed at general practices, local stores and online. Eligibility criteria were aged 18 years and over and currently working on a farm in the study region. Results Of the 144 participants, 89 (61.8%) were male with a mean age of 49 years. Knowledge of sun safety was relatively high with most questions answered correctly by greater than 80% of participants. Risk of developing skin cancer was underestimated in 58 (40.3%) participants. Of all participants, 89 (62.2%) identified one or more barriers to practicing sun safety. The most common barrier was forgetfulness in 62 (43.4%) participants. The identification of barriers was significantly associated with reduced engagement of sun safety practices (p = 0.009). Conclusions Knowledge of sun safety among farmers was high. There was, however, underestimation of risk of developing skin cancer. Addressing perceived barriers to implementing sun safety could improve sun safety practices in this cohort.


1982 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 221 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Short ◽  
GC Grigg

The densities of red and grey kangaroos in western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia were assessed by aerial survey. Much of the 133000-km2 area surveyed was farmed intensively for wheat and sheep but a significant proportion was largely unaltered mallee woodland or mallee heath. Of the total area, 85% had a density of less than one kangaroo per square kilometre, and 32% had a density of less than 0.01 km-2, values considerably lower than those reported for pastoral areas in New South Wales and South Australia. Low densities in settled areas are attributed to intensive agricultural practices, small landholdings and lack of tree cover. Low densities in mallee may be due to the lack of palatable grasses and the absence of permanent watering points.


1950 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 374 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Spencer

The mechanism of the action of lime in stimulating nodulation of subterranean clover on some soils of the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales was studied in pot experiments. Increased soil pH or increased calcium supply alone did not markedly improve nodulation. With a combination of both these factors, excellent nodulation resulted. Nodulation was shown to be increased by increasing the amount of the inoculum of Rhizobium added with the seed. It was also increased if the moisture content of the soil was maintained continually at field capacity.


Check List ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 168
Author(s):  
David B. Lindenmayer ◽  
Ross B. Cunningham ◽  
Chris MacGregor ◽  
Rebecca Montague-Drake ◽  
Mason Crane ◽  
...  

A large-scale, long-term study of the impacts on vertebrates of landscape change and habitat fragmentation is taking place at Tumut in southern New South Wales, south-eastern Australia. Field surveys focus on counting birds within three broad kinds of sites in the study region. These are: (1) A randomized and replicated set of 85 sites in remnants or fragments of native Eucalyptus forest located within the boundaries of the Radiata Pine plantation. (2) Sites dominated by Radiata Pine plantation trees (N = 40 sites). (3) Sites in the large areas of continuous Eucalyptus forest adjacent to the plantation that act as “controls” (N = 40 sites). We list of birds recorded during 1996 and 1997. A total of 92 species from 34 families was recorded. The list will be useful for workers examining bird responses to fragmented landscapes as well as those interested in the biodiversity values of plantation landscapes.


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