Field studies of water and salt movement in an irrigated swelling clay soil. I. Infiltration during ponding

Soil Research ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 81 ◽  
Author(s):  
DS McIntyre ◽  
J Loveday ◽  
CL Watson
Keyword(s):  
Clay Soil ◽  
New South ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Deep Percolation ◽  
Soil Infiltration ◽  
Swelling Clay ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Plough Layer ◽  
Water And Salt Movement

Infiltration and deep percolation were measured during ponding of a saline sodic cracking clay soil, commonly used for rice production in the Riverina of New South Wales. Because gypsum may be used to ameliorate this soil for row cropping, the effect of incorporating gypsum into the plough layer was determined. Without gypsum, 292mm water infiltrated in 379 days of ponding, wetting the profile to approximately 2.1 m. In contrast when gypsum was incorporated in the plough layer, 605 mm of water infiltrated in 145 days, and water had penetrated beyond 4.5 m in 57 days. In the latter case, sufficient water percolated below 2.0m to raise the groundwater level by as much as 10m. The infiltration rate for the unameliorated soil was similar to values determined by others; for the ameliorated soil, infiltration behaviour was more like that of non-sodic self-mulching grey or brown clays, and raises questions regarding the amount of deep percolation when rice is grown on such soils.

Field studies of water and salt movement in an irrigated swelling clay soil. III. Salt movement during ponding

Soil Research ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
DS McIntyre ◽  
J Loveday ◽  
CL Watson
Keyword(s):  
Clay Soil ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Swelling Clay ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Plough Layer ◽  
Water And Salt Movement

The effect of gypsum, incorporated into the plough layer of a saline, sodic, clay profile, on the leaching of salt, was determined from both in situ measurements, and from chloride determinations using samples taken before and after ponding. Observed differences in leaching patterns are attributed to water in the treated profile moving through interpedal macropores as well as through micropores within the peds (or matrix), but only through micropores in the untreated profile. The efficiency of the two mechanisms is discussed.

Soil erodibility (Km) values for some Australian soils

Soil Research ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1045 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Loch ◽  
B. K. Slater ◽  
C. Devoil
Keyword(s):  
Soil Loss ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
New South ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Soil Erodibility ◽  
Laboratory Measurements ◽  
Soil Factors ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Soil Loss Equation

This paper reports calculated soil erodibility (Km) values for the universal soil loss equation (USLE) for a range of surface soils, and for some subsoils. The calculation of erodibility values was based on laboratory measurements of water-stable sizes at the soil surface following wetting by rain and on the wet density of coarse sediment. Also included are erodibility data derived from field studies of erosion for 5 soils from New South Wales and Queensland. The erodibility values obtained indicate reasonable consistency in erodibility values for Vertosols and Ferrosols, but considerable variation in the erodibility of soils lower in clay. Soil factors best correlated with the calculated Km factors were identified, and the potential to use such information to estimate Km factors was evaluated.

Field studies of water and salt movement in an irrigated swelling clay soil. II. Profile hydrology during ponding

Soil Research ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 91 ◽  
Author(s):  
DS McIntyre ◽  
J Loveday ◽  
CL Watson
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Wetting Front ◽  
Steady State Flow ◽  
Untreated Soil ◽  
Swelling Clay ◽  
Treated Soil ◽  
Treated Plot ◽  
Water And Salt Movement

Two plots on a saline sodic cracking clay soil, to one of which gypsum was applied at 10 t/ha, were instrumented to 4.5 m from a pit, in order to observe wetting patterns during extended inundation. On the gypsum-treated plot the wetting front was diffuse. Water content increased simultaneously within quite large depth intervals, and two distinct wetting phases were detected to a depth of 2.7 m. The change in water potential with time showed the same pattern. Once steady-state flow had been reached, tensiometer-pressure potentials were positive except between 0.55 and 1.50 m. In contrast, the untreated soil exhibited a better defined wetting front which moved slowly down the profile. Only in the upper 0.55 m were two distinct wetting phases discernible; tensiometer-pressure potentials were generally lower than for the gypsum-treated soil, and remained negative throughout the ponding period except at 0.25 m. This behaviour, and the estimated values of hydraulic conductivity, suggest that, in the ameliorated soil, water penetrated and moved through the profile mainly in macropores associated with structure, and that, in the unameliorated soil, such flow was largely prevented by a region of low hydraulic conductivity between 0.25 and 0.55 m.

A cone penetrometer for estimating available soil water

1977 ◽  
Vol 17 (88) ◽  
pp. 842 ◽  
Author(s):  
RG Fawcett
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Texture ◽  
New South ◽  
Clay Soils ◽  
Cone Penetrometer ◽  
Cone Penetration ◽  
Swelling Clay ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Water Contents ◽  
Soil Water Contents

The effect of cone diameter (9.5 to 24.4 mm; 9.5 mm shaft) on the entry of penetrometers into swelling clay soils, and the relations between penetration and soil water contents, have been studied in northern New South Wales. Cones with diameters of approx. 14 mm were chosen for calibration tests on farms. The depth of wet soil and the amount of available water within the wetted zone were both related to the depth of maximum cone penetration (r2 values of 0.78-0.98 at sites with relatively uniform profiles of soil texture). Available soil water contents and water potentials were also related to the force needed for cone penetration. The penetrometer will assist in estimating soil water contents in areas where grain yields are related to available fallow water at seeding.

The distribution of net nitrogen mineralisation within surface soil. 1. Field studies under a wheat crop

Soil Research ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erry Purnomo ◽  
A. S. Black ◽  
C. J. Smith ◽  
M. K. Conyers
Keyword(s):  
Soil Depth ◽  
New South ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
N Mineralisation ◽  
Total N ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Soil Temperature And Moisture

To test the hypothesis that net nitrogen (N) mineralisation is concentrated in the surface few centimetres following minimal soil disturbance for crop establishment, mineralisation was measured during the growth of wheat. The soil was a Red Kandosol located in southern New South Wales. Mineralisation was estimated usingin situ incubations inside capped PVC tubes, which were sampled every 3 weeks. Soil from the tubes was sampled at depth intervals of 2 cm to a depth of 10 cm and at 5-cm intervals from 10 to 20 cm. The results showed that net N mineralisation decreased with depth to 20 cm. Over the season, an average of 32% of the N mineralised in the top 20 cm of soil originated from the 0–2 cm layer, 72% was from the 0–6 cm layer, and only 13% was from soil below 10 cm. The decrease in N mineralisation with soil depth was highly correlated with decreases in the organic carbon (r2 = 0.84, P < 0.05) and total N (r2 = 0.83, P < 0.05) concentration. The soil's N-supplying ability is concentrated near the surface where it is susceptible to erosional loss. The N supply may also be inhibited by temperature and moisture extremes, which are common in the surface few centimetres of soil where mineralisation was concentrated. The PVC enclosures created artefacts in soil temperature and moisture, although it is argued that the effects on net N mineralisation were small in most sampling periods.

Paratylenchinae: redescription of Paratylenchus arculatus Luc & de Guiran, 1962, a new senior synonym of P. nainianus Edward & Misra, 1963 (Nematoda: Tylenchulidae)

Nematology ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 375-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Brzeski ◽  
Ladislav Hanel ◽  
Andres Nico ◽  
Pablo Castillo
Keyword(s):  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Southern Spain ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Senior Synonym ◽  
Subjective Synonym

AbstractSeveral populations of Paratylenchus arculatus from sandy soil and root samples from olive nurseries in southern Spain and from uncultivated clay soil in New South Wales, Australia are described. P. nainianus Edward & Misra, 1963 is considered as a junior subjective synonym of P. arculatus. Paratylenchinae: redescription de Paratylenchus arculatus Luc & de Guiran, 1962, un nouveau synonym majeur de P. nainianus Edward & Misra, 1963 (Nematoda: Tylenchulidae) - Sont decrites plusieurs populations de Paratylenchus arculatus provenant d'echantillons de sol sableux et de racines collectes dans des pepinieres d'olivier du sud de l'Espagne et d'un sol argileux en jachere des Nouvelles Galles du Sud, Australie. P. nainianus Edward & Misra, 1963 est considere comme un synonyme mineur subjectif de P. arculatus.

Observations supporting parental care by a viviparous reptile: aggressive behaviour against predators demonstrated by Cunningham’s skinks

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 180
Author(s):  
Gregory S. Watson ◽  
David W. Green ◽  
Jolanta A. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Thermal Imaging ◽  
Aggressive Behaviour ◽  
New South ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Alpine Region ◽  
Squamate Reptiles ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Australian Magpie

Most reptiles exhibit no parental care and aggressive behaviour towards heterospecific predators has rarely been recorded in the natural environment. Several species of the subfamily Egerniinae are amongst the most highly social of all squamate reptiles, exhibiting stable social aggregations and high levels of long-term social and genetic monogamy. We have examined Cunningham’s skinks, Egernia cunninghami, over a three-year period during late January and early February (total 32 days) in the alpine region of New South Wales using video and thermal imaging. Four birthing sessions were witnessed during our field studies of social aggregations of skinks. Our observations monitored skink encounters, in the presence of offspring, with an eastern brown snake, Pseudonaja textilis (two separate encounters, one recorded by video/imaging) and 12 encounters with the Australian magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen. All events were associated with aggressive chasing and/or attack by adult skinks. The first snake encounter involved the active targeting of a recently born juvenile with the mother of the juvenile attacking the snake (running towards the snake, biting and remaining attached for several seconds). The second encounter (the following year) comprised two adult skinks attacking and biting a snake, Pseudonaja textilis. All magpie encounters resulted in chases by adult skinks.

Improved subsoil macroporosity following perennial pastures

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. McCallum ◽  
J. A. Kirkegaard ◽  
T. W. Green ◽  
H. P. Cresswell ◽  
S. L. Davies ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Biological Action ◽  
The Other ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Annual Crops ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Yield Responses

Biopores left in the soil by perennial and annual pastures and their effects on macroporosity, water infiltration and the water use and productivity of subsequent wheat and canola crops were investigated in a field experiment on a Sodosol in southern New South Wales. Phases of both lucerne (4 years) and phalaris (10 years) improved the macroporosity and water infiltration into the dense B horizon compared with continuous annual crops and pastures. After removal of lucerne and phalaris, the subsoil (> 12 cm depth) contained similar numbers of pores > 2 mm diameter (228 and 190/m2, respectively) compared with a mean of 68/m2 after annual crops. However water infiltration rate after lucerne was greater than after phalaris, apparently because of more numerous pores > 4 mm, rather than a change in total porosity. The subsoil after phalaris on the other hand contained more pores 0.3 mm in diameter and a higher total porosity, possibly because of more roots around this diameter, and a longer period without traffic or cultivation. The number of lucerne biopores in the subsoil remained unchanged (170–180/m2) for at least 2 crops after the lucerne was removed although the average size decreased. The volume of water extracted from the subsoil by crops following lucerne was similar to that following annual crop/pasture for 10 of the 12 crop comparisons made. For 2 of the crops, more subsoil water (22 and 24 mm) was used after lucerne than after annuals, and in 1 season this was associated with higher yield of canola. During the 3-year study there was no winter waterlogging or post-anthesis water stress, so there was little opportunity for yield responses to improved subsoil structure. The results confirm speculation that the unfavourable structure of dense subsoils can be improved by the biological action of perennial pasture roots, although reduced wheel traffic and cultivation during the pasture phases may also play a role. Further studies will be necessary to demonstrate associated yield improvements.

Field studies of the effects of pre-sowing weed control and time of sowing on tropical perennial grass establishment, North-West Slopes, New South Wales

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 182 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Lodge ◽  
M. A. Brennan ◽  
S. Harden
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
New South ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
North West ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Plant Frequency

Two separate experiments on the North-West Slopes of New South Wales investigated: (1) the effects of differing lengths of pre-sowing weed control (2 years, 1 year, and 3–4 months in the spring immediately before sowing) on the soil seed density of liverseed grass (Urochloa panicoides) from November 2005 to November 2007 and its seedling density at establishment (December 2007), as well as on subsequent herbage mass and plant frequency of this species and Panicum coloratum var. makarikariense cv. Bambatsi (Expt 1); and (2) the effects of cultivar, time of sowing (November 2006, January 2007, and March 2007), and defoliation in the autumn after sowing, on the over-wintering ability of 5 tropical perennial grasses (Expt 2). The cultivars sown in Expt 2 were Bambatsi, Dichanthium aristatum cv. Floren, Chloris gayana cv. Katambora, Digitaria eriantha var. eriantha cv. Premier, and Bothriochloa bladhii var. glabra cv. Swann. At sowing (November 2007), liverseed grass seed and seedling densities in Expt 1 were lowest (P < 0.05) in the 2-year pre-sowing weed control treatment (15 and 13/m2, respectively), and the subsequent herbage mass of Bambatsi (January and October 2008) was highest (P < 0.05) in this treatment. In Expt 2, 59 frosts occurred in 2007, and Floren, Bambatsi, and Swann sown in March of that year over-wintered poorly and had lower (P < 0.05) herbage mass and plant frequency in the following spring compared with the other sowing times. These differences were also evident in autumn and spring 2008, up to 23 months after sowing.

The effect of time and sowing and row spacing on the maturity and yield of three groundnut cultivars under irrigation

1985 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 615 ◽  
Author(s):  
DK Muldoon
Keyword(s):  
Arachis Hypogaea ◽  
Harvest Index ◽  
Shoot Growth ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Kernel Weight ◽  
Row Spacing ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Arachis Hypogaea L

White Spanish, Red Spanish and Virginia Bunch cultivars of Arachis hypogaea L. were sown at two row spacings (30 and 60 cm) and two times (29 October and 3 December) on an alkaline clay soil in western New South Wales. The crops were furrow irrigated between raised beds 1 m wide. Maximum oven dry pod yields were 3.0, 2.3 and 3.3 t ha-1 for white Spanish, Red Spanish and Virginia Bunch respectively. Corresponding shelling percentages were 65, 68 and 57%. White Spanish and Virginia Bunch matured 180-190 days after early sowing and Red Spanish after 210 days when frost stopped growth. The late sown crop failed to mature before the frosts, and yielded 15-25% less than the early sowing. The late crop had a shorter period for the production of pods and also a slightly lower rate of pod production because of reduced shoot growth; kernel weight per pod was similar at both sowings. Differences between cultivars were accounted for by differences in the rate of pod filling and hence ultimate kernel weight per pod, and furthermore, the harvest index differed among cultivars. White Spanish or Virginia Bunch sown in 30 cm rows before December can be recommended for irrigated groundnut production in western New South Wales.

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