Soil and Land Systems publications

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    Spatial survey and remote sensing of artesian springs of the Western Great Artesian Basin
    (National Water Commission, 2013) Lewis, M.; White, D.; Gotch, T.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Characterising spring groups
    (National Water Commission, 2013) White, D.; Gotch, T.; Alaak, Y.; Clark, M.; Ryan, J.; Lewis, M.; National Water Commission; Lewis, M.; White, D.; Gotch, T.; Environment Institute
  • ItemOpen Access
    Temporal dynamics of spring complexes
    (National Water Commission, 2013) White, D.; Petus, C.; Lewis, M.; National Water Commission; Lewis, M.; White, D.; Gotch, T.; Environment Institute
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    Associating wetland extent and spring flow rates
    (National Water Commission, 2013) White, D.; Lewis, M.; National Water Commission; Lewis, M.; White, D.; Gotch, T.; Environment Institute
  • ItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of remote sensing approaches
    (National Water Commission, 2013) Lewis, M.; White, D.; National Water Commission; Environment Institute
  • ItemOpen Access
    Introduction to Allocating water and maintaining springs in the Great Artesian Basin, Volume IV, Spatial Survey and Remote Sensing of Artesian Springs of the Western Great Artesian Basin
    (National Water Commission, 2013) Lewis, M.; Gotch, T.; White, D.; National Water Commission; Lewis, M.; White, D.; Gotch, T.; Environment Institute
    Most of our focus in producing success using in vitro fertilization technology has been on stimulation regimens and laboratory procedures to maximize outcomes. As these steps have been optimized, we have started to look in other areas for improvement. One of these points of focus is the environment for conception. It has to be recognized that the early embryo is vulnerable at the time of implantation and early fetal development, and this time period needs to be optimal to grow into as healthy a human being as possible. There are genetic effects which we can now sometimes screen for and eliminate, but there are also many environmental effects on gametes and the developing embryo that can affect the successful outcome of, or even the establishment of, a pregnancy. We have now come to understand some of the environmental factors under which the gametes grow and the embryo develops, and which have long-term implications for human development and may also be the basis of disease. This hypothesis is not new and was first proposed in 1990 by the British epidemiologist David Barker with respect to intrauterine growth retardation, low birth weight, premature birth and their potential relationship to the origins of several diseases in middle age of adult life. Those included are non-insulin-dependent diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart disease. The developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis derived from a study that showed significant association between the occurrence of hypertension and coronary heart disease in middle age with patients who were born with low birth weight. This was presented in Barker’s book, Fetal and Infant Origins of Adult Disease, in 1992. We now recognize that parenting begins before conception. Environmental toxins or endogenous metabolic disease, such as nicotine or obesity, can compromise the egg or sperm from either parent and deleteriously effect development even if the intrauterine environment is optimal. Many factors are known to adversely affect gametes, including obesity, poor nutrition, cigarette smoking and some environmental pollutants. Not only should we be concerned about potential toxicants, but also about the deficiency of various nutrients which can be aetiological determinants of obstetrical complications, and paediatric chronic diseases.
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    Behaviour of iron, aluminium and other selected metals following the rewetting of inland acid sulfate soils containing sulfuric material
    (GTK, 2012) Creeper, N.; Shand, P.; Fitzpatrick, R.; Hutson, J.; International Acid Sulfate Soil Conference (7th : 2012 : Vaasa, Finland)
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    A modern soil-landscape characterization approach to reconstructing and predicting pedogenic pathways of inland acid sulfate soils
    (GTK, 2012) Fitzpatrick, R.; Baker, A.; Shand, P.; Merry, R.; Grealish, G.; Mosley, L.; International Acid Sulfate Soil Conference (7th : 2012 : Vaasa, Finland)
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    A new 1D biogeochemical model framework for assessing and managing acid sulfate soil risks
    (GTK, 2012) Mosley, L.; Fitzpatrick, R.; Bonten, L.; Groenenberg, J.; International Acid Sulfate Soil Conference (7th : 2012 : Vaasa, Finland)
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    Mobilization of acidity and metals during refilling of a dried wetland: A comparison of laboratory and field data
    (GTK, 2012) Shand, P.; Grocke, S.; Fitzpatrick, R.; Merry, R.; Thomas, M.; Creeper, N.; International Acid Sulfate Soil Conference (7th : 2012 : Vaasa, Finland)
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    Sulfur reduction and oxidation processes, from wetland scale to micro scale, in an inland acid sulfate soil of the lower Murray-Darling River floodplains, Australia
    (GTK, 2012) Wallace, L.; Mcphail, D.; Fitzpatrick, R.; Welch, S.; Kirste, D.; Beavis, S.; Lamontagne, S.; International Acid Sulfate Soil Conference (7th : 2012 : Vaasa, Finland)
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    Remote Sensing - Validation, spatial and temporal patterns in sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a
    (SARDI, 2009) Bierman, P.; Lewis, M.; Tanner, J.; Ostendorf, B.
    This chapter provides the results of an investigation into the seasonal variability of sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a within and adjacent to Spencer Gulf using satellite-based remote sensing imagery. Firstly, MODIS estimated chlorophyll-a and sea surface temperature are compared to field-based measurements made in the tuna farming zone (TFZ) to ensure that MODIS methods are valid in the region, and the results from MODIS are representative of the true conditions as measured using traditional techniques. This validation exercise showed that MODIS can accurately determine sea surface temperature measurements within Spencer Gulf, with MODIS estimates explaining 94% of the variation in field temperature measurements. The results for chlorophyll-a are less conclusive, with MODIS measurements explaining just 46% of the variation in the field data. Water depth may be a contributing factor to the accuracy of MODIS estimated chlorophyll-a, with measurements taken from water depths of more than 20 m displaying a better relationship than those taken from depths of less than or equal to 20 m (77% of variation explained vs. 47%). For depths > 20 m, the root mean square (rms) error of 27% falls well within the target error of 35% for MODIS chlorophyll estimations. Validation in areas of Spencer Gulf outside the TDZ is yet to be done. In the second part of this study, MODIS monthly composite imagery was used to investigate spatial and seasonal variation in both chlorophyll-a and sea surface temperature over a period of five years. Both the magnitude of chlorophyll-a concentration, and the timing of the seasonal patterns of chlorophyll-a, change with distance along a transect running down Spencer Gulf, with highest concentration in the shallower waters of the north and decreasing concentrations towards the open ocean. These was also an increase in chlorophyll-a concentration in close proximity to the TFZ compared to nearby waters of southern Spencer Gulf (by up to 100% in February-July). While bottom reflectance may be causing some interference in shallow northern areas, and thus quantitative measures of chlorophyll-a may be incorrect in these areas, the broader spatial and temporal patterns are likely to be correct. Further validation in other areas of the gulf will be undertaken to confirm this. Sea surface temperature measurements showed a clear contrast between gulf and non-gulf waters. Waters within Spencer Gulf showed both the highest summer temperatures and also the lowest winter temperatures, thus undergoing a greater seasonal transition than the waters outside the gulf.
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    Sorption of dissolved organic matter in salt-affected soils: Effect of salinity, sodicity and texture
    (Elsevier Science BV, 2012) Mavi, M.; Sanderman, J.; Chittleborough, D.; Cox, J.; Marschner, P.
    Loss of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from soils can have negative effects on soil fertility and water quality. It is known that sodicity increases DOM solubility, but the interactive effect of sodicity and salinity on DOM sorption and how this is affected by soil texture is not clear. We investigated the effect of salinity and sodicity on DOM sorption in soils with different clay contents. Four salt solutions with different EC and SAR were prepared using combinations of 1M NaCl and 1M CaCl(2) stock solutions. The soils differing in texture (4, 13, 24 and 40% clay, termed S-4, S-13, S-24 and S-40) were repeatedly leached with these solutions until the desired combination of EC and SAR (EC(1:5) 1 and 5dSm(-1) in combination with SAR <3 or >20) was reached. The sorption of DOC (derived from mature wheat straw) was more strongly affected by SAR than by EC. High SAR (>20) at EC1 significantly decreased sorption in all soils. However, at EC5, high SAR did not significantly reduce DOC sorption most likely because of the high electrolyte concentration of the soil solution. DOC sorption was greatest in S-24 (which had the highest CEC) at all concentrations of DOC added whereas DOC sorption did not differ greatly between S-40 and S-4 or S-13 (which had higher concentrations of Fe/Al than S-40). DOC sorption in salt-affected soil is more strongly controlled by CEC and Fe/Al concentration than by clay concentration per se except in sodic soils where DOC sorption is low due to the high sodium saturation of the exchange complex.
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    Aluminium speciation and phytotoxicity in alkaline soils
    (Kluwer Academic Publ, 2012) Brautigan, D.; Rengasamy, P.; Chittleborough, D.
    AIM Highly alkaline soils (pH > 9.0) may adversely affect agricultural crop productivity. Problems encountered include poor structure and nutrient deficiency. Research based on solution cultures suggests that aluminium (Al) phytotoxicity may occur in soils with pH > 9.0, but little research has been undertaken on actual soils under controlled conditions. The nature of the Al species responsible and the pH regime of the soils when this occurs are unknown. METHODS The charge and species of Al responsible for this toxicity was investigated using Zeta Potential measurement, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Al precipitation characteristics and electrical conductivity as a function of pH. An anion exchange resin was used to evaluate Al availability to plants at alkaline pH. To verify Al phytotoxicity, a pot experiment was performed with plants grown at near neutral and high pH, with and without Al. RESULTS The anionic aluminate species of aluminium was ubiquitous at highly alkaline pH, and was the dominant charged species at pH 9.2. Aluminium was phytotoxic at high pH, significantly reducing the stem and root development of field pea test plants over and above that caused by alkalinity alone. The effects of both alkalinity in general and aluminium in particular became noticeable at pH 9.0 and debilitating at pH > 9.2. CONCLUSION As this corresponds to the pH where aluminate becomes dominant, it is probably responsible for the phytotoxicity.
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    A simplified incubation method using chip-trays as incubation vessels to identify sulphidic materials in acid sulphate soils
    (C A B International, 2012) Creeper, N.; Fitzpatrick, R.; Shand, P.
    Acid sulphate soils (ASS) can pose a significant hazard to natural ecosystems and developed areas situated within ASS landscapes. Management techniques used to minimize these hazards rely on methods that can classify ASS materials. These methods have traditionally required complex and time-consuming techniques. A new simplified incubation method, modified from existing ones, was therefore developed to classify ASS materials in a timely manner. The simplified incubation method was found to be a viable alternative where samples cannot be incubated to a stable pH because of logistical or time constraints, but where there is still a need to classify slowly acidifying sulphidic materials. The use of chip-trays as incubation vessels was also examined. Chip-trays offer many advantages in terms of transport, storage and analysis of soil samples compared with soil-slabs. This study establishes an acceptable level of precision (x ± 0.1 pH units with 95% confidence) for pH measurements in the incubation method and confirms that an acceptable level of precision is obtainable when using chiptrays in the pH incubation method.
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    Severity of salinity accurately detected and classified on a paddock scale with high resolution multispectral satellite imgery
    (John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2013) Setia, R.; Lewis, M.; Marschner, P.; Raja Segaran, R.; Summers, D.; Chittleborough, D.
    ABSTRACTWe hypothesised that digital mapping of various forms of salt‐affected soils using high resolution satellite imagery, supported by field studies, would be an efficient method to classify and map salinity, sodicity or both at paddock level, particularly in areas where salt‐affected patches are small and the effort to map these by field‐based soil survey methods alone would be inordinately time consuming. To test this hypothesis, QuickBird satellite data (pan‐sharpened four band multispectral imagery) was used to map various forms of surface‐expressed salinity in an agricultural area of South Australia. Ground‐truthing was performed by collecting 160 soil samples over the study area of 159 km2. Unsupervised classification of the imagery covering the study area allowed differentiation of severity levels of salt‐affected soils, but these levels did not match those based on measured electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) of the soil samples, primarily because the expression of salinity was strongly influenced by paddock‐level variations in crop type, growth and prior land management. Segmentation of the whole image into 450 paddocks and unsupervised classification using a paddock‐by‐paddock approach resulted in a more accurate discrimination of salinity and sodicity levels that was correlated with EC and SAR. Image‐based classes discriminating severity levels of salt‐affected soils were significantly related with EC but not with SAR. Of the spectral bands, bands 2 (green, 520–600 nm) and 4 (near‐infrared, 760–900 nm) explained the majority of the variation (99 per cent) in the spectral values. Thus, paddock‐by‐paddock classification of QuickBird imagery has the potential to accurately delineate salinity at farm level, which will allow more informed decisions about sustainable agricultural management of soils. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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    Microbial activity and biomass and N and P availability in a saline sandy loam amended with inorganic N and lupin residues
    (Gauthier-Villars/Editions Elsevier, 2011) Elgharably, A.; Marschner, P.
    Plant residue can be a cost effective source of N and P fertilisers, which may enhance plant growth in saline soils. Salinity and limited availability of N may limit microbial activity and thus residue decomposition N and P availability. A laboratory experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of NH4-N or NO3-N on microbial activity and biomass and N and P availability in a saline sandy loam. Three levels of salinity (EC1:5 0.21, 0.51 and 0.85 dS m-1) were imposed in the sandy loam using solutions of Na+ and Ca2+. Soil was amended with or without 2% (w/w) lupin residues (C/N ratio 15.4) or 50 μg N g-1 soil as KNO3 or (NH4)2.SO4. With no residue or inorganic N added, the concentration of available N and P remained unchanged over 45 days. Soil respiration and microbial biomass C, N and P decreased with increasing salinity, but significantly increased with residue addition. Addition of inorganic N had no significant effect, but addition of NO3-N with residue significantly increased soil respiration and microbial biomass C, N and P. Salinity had no effect on N availability and decreased P availability. Nitrogen availability was lower with addition of NH4-N, N than with NO3-N. Available N and P increased with residue addition and increased further with addition of NO3-N than with NH4-N. The greater C availability in the lupin residue amended saline sandy loam stimulated microbial activity and biomass with greater N demand, thus promoted immobilization of NO3. Hence, N and P availability increased in the saline sandy loam. © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS.
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    Climate-driven mobilisation of acid and metals from acid sulfate soils
    (C S I R O Publishing, 2010) Simpson, S.; Fitzpatrick, R.; Shand, P.; Angel, B.; Spadaro, D.; Mosley, L.
    The recent drought in south-eastern Australia has exposed to air, large areas of acid sulfate soils within the River Murray system. Oxidation of these soils has the potential to release acidity, nutrients and metals. The present study investigated the mobilisation of these substances following the rewetting of dried soils with River Murray water. Trace metal concentrations were at background levels in most soils. During 24-h mobilisation tests, the water pH was effectively buffered to the pH of the soil. The release of nutrients was low. Metal release was rapid and the dissolved concentrations of many metals exceeded the Australian water quality guidelines (WQGs) in most tests. The concentrations of dissolved Al, Cu and Zn were often greater than 100× the WQGs and strong relationships existed between dissolved metal release and soil pH. Attenuation of dissolved metal concentrations through co-precipitation and adsorption to Al and Fe precipitates was an important process during mixing of acidic, metal-rich waters with River Murray water. The study demonstrated that the rewetting of dried acid sulfate soils may release significant quantities of metals and a high level of land and water management is required to counter the effects of such climate change events.
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    Chemical behavior of fluid and granular Mn and Zn fertilisers in alkaline soils
    (C S I R O Publishing, 2010) Hettiarachchi, G.; Lombi, E.; McLaughlin, M.; Chittleborough, D.; Johnston, C.
    The grain yield benefits of applying micronutrient fluid fertilisers over conventional granular products in calcareous sandy loam soils have been agronomically demonstrated. An understanding of the fundamental mechanisms and reactions occurring following application of these products to soils is critical to improve fertiliser management. We therefore examined the diffusion, solubility, and potential availability of manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) from both granular and fluid forms of Mn and Zn fertiliser in an alkaline calcareous and alkaline non-calcareous soil using laboratory incubation experiments in conjunction with an isotopic dilution technique with ⁵⁴Mn and ⁶⁵Zn. Enhanced mobility, solubility, and/or potential availability of Mn and Zn from fluid fertilisers were observed in comparison to Mn or Zn from granular fertilisers in both soils after 5 weeks of incubation. Differential behaviour of fluid and granular fertilisers for Mn and Zn appeared to be independent of their effects on soil pH. Most (~90%) of the Mn in granular fertiliser dissolved and diffused out of the granule but was retained within 4 mm of the point of granular placement, whereas most (~85%) of the Zn in the granular Zn fertiliser source remained in the granule. Our data suggest that the superior agronomic effectiveness of fluid Mn and Zn fertilisers observed in calcareous soils under field conditions may have resulted from the enhanced diffusion (Mn) and/or solubility/availability (Mn, Zn) of these micronutrients in soil when applied in fluid form.