Erosion New South Wales, December 2021

Calcareous Soil is described as the poor calcareous loam that grows very poorly in dry years and is very prone to wind erosion. Summer monitoring ground cover of 16% and dry aggregate of 43% with a medium risk of erosion

Low Graze is a sandy loam rise at the north end of the paddock that would have attracted the least amount of grazing since harvest. During the drought years kangaroos came through from the north baring out this area and contributing to the erosion. It is intended to compare this with site 4. High Graze which is on a similar soil type, but in an area of higher sheep activity. Summer monitoring showed ground cover of 74% and dry aggregate of 30% with a low risk of erosion

Eroded Mid Slope is an exposed mid slope that has lost top soil down to a clay base, resulting in very patchy crop growth in 2020. This means that it has a high dry aggregation, but not for the right reasons. The farmer is looking to drag some sand back over this site to be able to re-establish crop growth. Summer monitoring showed ground cover of 9% and dry aggregate of 60% with a low risk of erosion

High Graze is within the same paddock but at the south eastern corner near a trough, thus attracting far more grazing activity since crop harvest on this sandy loam area. Summer monitoring showed ground cover of 76% and dry aggregate of 26% with a low risk of erosion