Government soil survey results

Representatives from the Department of Resources travelled to Collinsville in March to present an overview of the 2021 soil surveys conducted across the BBB as part of the soil and land conservation technical support for priority hotspots in reef catchments project.

Under the project, departmental soil scientists collected soil samples to help assess and understand the variability of soils in the region, particularly in areas where data was limited or outdated. 

The collection and interpretation of soil and land resource information is required to assess the variability of soils and landscapes, and to demonstrate how this variation affects land use, for example agricultural suitability, land management, and land degradation risks. 

In April last year, the Department of Resources team spent time in the BBB, in particular the Broken River and Little Bowen River catchments. They worked closely with LDC field officers to shortlist sampling locations and liaise with landholders to coordinate the visits.

Site data will help support soil characterisation and understanding in the BBB as well as improve input data and information into mapping products and extension activities.

Soils are being described for: texture, colour, mottles, structure, segregations, coarse fragments, field pH, permeability and drainage.

Site analysis includes: location, slope, landform element, landform pattern, surface condition, erosion, geology, lithology and vegetation.

Representative soil core depths: 0-10cm, 10-20cm, 20-30cm, 50-60cm, 80-90cm, 110-120cm, and 40-150cm. 

The results will be stored on the Queensland Government’s Soil and Land Resource information (SALI) database, made available to the public through the Queensland Globe website and the Queensland Spatial Catalogue.