Predicted available water capacity for Burdekin soils [Queensland]
1988
Ahern, C.R. | Baker, D.E. (Queensland Dept. of Primary Industries, Brisbane (Australia). Agricultural Chemistry Branch)
The imminent expansion of the Burdekin River Irrigation Area, Queensland, has led to the compilation of a regional soil database. Soil chemical, physical and morphological properties, stored in the database of over 300 sites, were used in 3 previously tested models to predict available water capacity (AWC). Effective rooting depth (a parameter in AWC calculations) was estimated from profile trends in electrical conductivity, chloride, pH, carbonate or mottle. Results for AWC and effective rooting depths were documented at 3 levels of soil groupings: 7 broad landscape units, 51 agronomic groups and finally, 132 soil profile classes. The geometric mean AWC value for all Burdekin soils was 108 mm with values ranging from 50 mm on a sodic duplex soil to 155 mm on a cracking clay of basaltic origin. Factors shown to affect AWC values were clay content on the better drained soils and shallow rooting depths on sodic duplex soils.
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