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Salting on Dryland Farms in North-western Victoria

This report on: Salting on Dryland Farms in North-Western Victoria was prepared in 1971 by Jim Rowan of the former Soil Conservation Authority. The study utilised then recently available small-scale aerial photographs covering most of north-western Victoria to assess the distribution, extent and spread of saline surfaces in various topographic situations. This was done in 1966. In addition, field work was undertaken on several farms at sites affected to varying degrees by salting. The distribution of salts and moisture in landscapes was examined in relation to the nature of the soils and vegetation as a basis for consideration of the present and potential extent of deterioration of surface and subsoils, and to consider the effects of various practices of management on ecological stability.

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Image: Salting on Dryland Farms in NW Vic fp
Summary (PDF 134KB)
V.
Discussion (PDF 114KB)
I.

II.
Introduction (PDF 134KB)

Environment (PDF 347KB)
    Climate
    Geomorphology
    Soils
    Salts in soils
    Origin of salts
    Native vegetation
    Land Use
Incidence of saline Surfaces (PDF 1.0MB)
    Saltpans at the base of E-W dunes
    Saltpans beside channels
    Saltpans on broad plains
    Saline surfaces on red clay plains
    The dynamics of salting
    The development of saltpans
    Undetected deterioration
    Prevention
    Soil Conservation
VI.
Acknowledgements (PDF 113KB)
VII
References (PDF 113KB)
vro
Appendix I - Chemical Analysis of soils (PDF 144KB)
III.
Appendix II - Particle-size analysis (PDF 111KB)
Appendix III - Moisture in soils at various tensions (PDF 82KB)
Appendix IV - Analytical Methods (PDF 108KB)

IV.

Fied Observations (PDF 939KB
    Dune - salted flat - dune transect. - Sites 13-17
    Dune - salted flat - dune transect. - Sites 3-10
    Margin of a saltpan
    Flats with non-saline surfaces
    Large saltpan
    Partially-reclaimed saltpan
    Dune-flat transect with saltpan above the break in slope
    Moisture in dunes
Image:  Salting on Dryland Farms in North-Western Victoria
Saline surfaces in North-western Victoria (PDF - 1.6Mb)


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