Soil surface features as indicators of rangeland site productivity [Red Earths; classification criteria]

Tongway, D.J. . Div. of Wildlife and Ecology; Smith, E.L. . College of Agriculture

Soil surface features as indicators of rangeland site productivity [Red Earths; classification criteria]

1989

Tongway, D.J. (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Deniliquin (Australia). Div. of Wildlife and Ecology) | Smith, E.L. (Arizona Univ., Tucson (USA). College of Agriculture)

Criteria for the classification of Red Earth soils into groups reflecting differences in their productive potential were investigated on 3 sites near Cobar, New South Wales. Five features (litter cover, cryptogam cover, quartz lag, bare soil and loose surface) were shown to be useful. A field-based classification using 6 very similar criteria was also tested and shown to agree with the cluster method. Laboratory tests for stability and fertility of the surface soil layer from each class indicated a significant difference between classes, and a narrow range of values for an individual class. Herbage production on quadrats over the range of soil surface condition also consistently reflected the classification.

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