Historical changes in land condition in the South Australian arid pastoral zone

Abstract

Historical changes in land condition of two north-eastern pastoral districts of South Australia were examined. Changes in rangeland condition from 1880 to 1994 were assessed from historical data including pastoral records, state archives and personal observation. Information was also collected on four main factors affecting rangeland condition: stock, rabbits, kangaroos and rainfall. A methodology was developed for the classification of all reliable historical data on a five-point scale based on plant cover and soil stability. The classified data was then analysed graphically and statistically. This approach was found to be a useful indicator of land condition for the North East Pastoral Soil Conservation District, and found that land condition deteriorated rapidly from the 1880s to the turn of the century, remained low until the 1930s, and has since improved considerably. The method was unsuccessful in the Maree Soil Conservation District due to the vastly varying land systems intermingled through the area and the sheer size of the area.