This study compares the viability of no-till farming (NT) with conventional (traditional) tillage (TT) for improving SOC levels. The results indicate that the NT method is particularly beneficial for improving the quality of agricultural soil. The lower spatial and temporal variability of SOC content, including labile and recalcitrant C forms, observed in TT soil indicates a homogenisation of the soil profile and a more modified structure than in NT soil. The NT system improved the levels of the different fractions of C in the surface soil and reduced the amount of CO₂ released into the atmosphere.

We quantified the effects of clay-delving (which disrupts the A-B horizon boundary and adds clay to the sandy rootzone) on water distribution through the profile of texture-contrast soils using a soluble blue dye to enhance digital images. Profile wetting was highly variable but clay delving effectively reduced finger flow and ponding at the A–B horizon boundary. It also induced deeper and more uniform wetting of both A and B horizons. Effects diminished with distance from the delving line.

Studies determining the influence of soil aeration on dicyandiamide (DCD) degradation rates are sparse. DCD degradation rates were measured under controlled soil aeration conditions by maintaining soil cores at different matric potential levels. The study shows that soil aeration determines DCD degradation rates in soil which has implications for designing optimal DCD utilisation strategies.

Data are scarce on the estimates of CaCO₃ stocks in Australia, effect of land-use management practices on these stocks, and there is a lack of understanding on the fate of CO₂ released from carbonates. We estimated carbonate stocks from four major soil types (Calcarosols, Vertosols, Kandosols and Chromosols) and provide a baseline to assess potential CO₂ emission–sequestration through land-use changes. An overview of uncertainties in accounting for CO₂ emission from major inorganic C transformations in soils.

A broad-scale survey of soil biological and chemical properties were measured across pasture-based grazing systems in south-eastern Victoria. Soil properties were highly variable among pasture sites and biological properties were difficult to predict, but some patterns were evident. The findings of this survey provide baseline information on the landscape scale for commonly used indicators of soil health

Water repellency increased in the 5–8 years following reforestation with Eucalyptus globulus in a study of 31 paired sites (pasture v. plantation) across the south-west of Western Australia. There were no differences in other soil characteristics between pairs, including soil organic carbon content or composition suggesting induction by small amounts of hydrophobic compounds from the trees. Modelling revealed marked differences in the layering and packing of waxes on kaolinite and quartz surfaces, indicating the importance of interfacial interactions in the development of soil water repellency.

This paper presents an improved daily rainfall erosivity model to estimate monthly and annual rainfall erosivity in New South Wales for over 50 years with high accuracy. The model has been implemented in a geographic information system using automated scripts for efficiency and portability. This study provide the baseline information and up-to-date estimates of rainfall erosivity and hillslope erosion for better monitoring, assessment, and mitigation of hillslope erosion risk in NSW.

The determination of the active carbon (AC)-pool has been shown to reflect influences of soil management systems on soil organic matter pools quite well. This contribution combines the method for AC-determination with an alternative titration of the 0.02 M KMnO₄ solution with Na₂C₂O₄. Three long-term field experiments (first: ¹⁴C-label and different cropping systems; second: different tillage treatments; third: different kinds of compost-amendments) were investigated and the results showed the high potential of this methodology for sensitive and reliable detections of differences in SOM characteristics.

The temporal effect of organic waste recycling on soil biodiversity was studied during 24 months. The findings highlighted a first disturbance period (0–6 months) showing a marked increase in pH, potassium content, base saturation and macrofauna abundance, especially ants, whereas earthworm, millipede and nematode populations were substantially reduced. A resilience period (6–18 months) led to a final period (18–24 months) showing an improvement in most soil fertility parameters and a high density of earthworms

This study developed automated procedures in a geographic information system to estimate and map the slope length and steepness (LS) factor from ~30 m digital elevation model across New South Wales. The modelled LS factor values were compared with the reference LS values revealing good accuracy (coefficient of efficiency 0.97). The high-resolution digital LS map has been used along with other factors in the revised universal soil loss equation to estimate hillslope erosion hazard across New South Wales.