The productivity of Ferrosols used for rainfed agricultural production in the south and central Burnett regions of south-east Queensland was examined in relation to the duration under continuous cultivation. A range of crops grown in on-farm situations during 1986-90 were examined using paired sites to assess the extent of yield decline with time under cropping. The changes in soil chemical characteristics that have occurred during the cropping period were also assessed. All locations showed evidence of a significant reduction in crop growth (50-100%) where continuously cropped sites were compared with sites which had either never been cropped or which had been under grazed grass pasture for >20 years. In the absence of severe late season water deficits, this reduced growth rate was always reflected in lower (21-72%) crop yields at maturity. However, crop dry matter (DM) could interact with crop water use under conditions of late-season water deficit to negate, or even reverse, early growth advantages on previously untilled soil. At least part of the observed yield reduction on continuously cropped soil was due to nutrient deficiencies resulting from depletion of both surface and subsurface reserves during cropping. Long-term cropping has resulted in depletion of soil K and Zn (especially in the subsoil), organic carbon and total N status, and caused significant acidification of both surface and subsoil layers despite the use of lime. The decline in subsoil K status and falling subsoil pH have severe implications for crop performance in dry seasons, when crops rely on subsoil reserves to sustain crop growth. The decline in soil N status has occurred despite a high frequency (>50%) of grain legumes in the crop rotations practised on all farms monitored, and illustrates the small N return from these crops under rainfed conditions. The reduction in soil organic carbon due to cropping was extreme, with continuously cropped areas having organic carbon levels of only 0.9 to 1.5% in the 0-10 cm layer-values which were only 25-40% of levels in untilled soil. Grazed grass leys were only partly successful in restoration of soil organic carbon status.
", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Soil and crops. Soil-plant relationships. Soil productivity", "Agriculture and the environment", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Soil chemistry", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "6. Clean water"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Bell, Michael J., Harch, G.R., Bridge, B.J.,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1071/ar9950237"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Australian%20Journal%20of%20Agricultural%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1071/ar9950237", "name": "item", "description": "10.1071/ar9950237", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1071/ar9950237"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "1995-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1071/ea01175", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-07-25T16:18:05Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2005-12-23", "title": "Using Zero Tillage, Fertilisers And Legume Rotations To Maintain Productivity And Soil Fertility In Opportunity Cropping Systems On A Shallow Vertosol", "description": "The effect of 2 tillage practices (zero v. conventional), fertiliser application (nitrogen, phosphorus and zinc), and pulse\uffe2\uff80\uff93cereal rotation on changes in soil mineral nitrogen, plant-available water in the soil, grain yield and protein, and key soil fertility parameters (total nitrogen, organic carbon) in the Central Highlands of Queensland were examined between 1991 and 1998. Four pasture treatments (perennial legume, perennial grass, annual legume and legume\uffe2\uff80\uff93grass mixes) were included in January 1995, following previously unsuccessful attempts to grow lucerne and annual medics. The experiment was conducted as an opportunity cropping system on an open downs soil at Gindie that is representative of a large proportion (70%) of soils in the Central Highlands. Tillage practice did not affect the amount of mineral nitrate or the plant-available water content of the soil at planting, except in 1991 and 1998 when plant-available water content was higher under conventional tillage than zero tillage. However, zero tillage improved grain yield in 2 of 4 years (wheat in 1992; sorghum in 1996), increased uptake of nitrogen in every crop and produced greater grain protein levels in both wheat crops grown than conventional tillage. There were grain responses to nitrogen + phosphorus fertilisers (wheat in 1991 and sorghum in 1997). Grain protein was increased with applications of nitrogen regardless of whether phosphorus was added in 3 of the 4 crops planted. Sowing a pulse did not significantly increase grain yields in the following crop although it did increase soil mineral nitrogen at planting. Soil nitrate remained low in control (P0N0) plots (<39 kg N/ha) when crops were planted each year but increased significantly (average 84 kg N/ha) following a long fallow of 3.5 years resulting from drought. Plant-available water content of the soil at sowing was lower where chickpeas had been grown the previous season than with wheat. Neither tillage practice nor fertiliser application affected soil organic carbon or soil total nitrogen concentrations in the topsoil. However, all pasture treatments improved soil total nitrogen compared with continuous cropping, and with the exception of annual pasture legumes, also improved soil organic carbon after only 2 seasons. Largest improvements in soil fertility (total nitrogen and organic carbon) occurred with perennial species. It was concluded that zero tillage practices can have beneficial impacts on grain yields as well as minimising environmental degradation such as soil erosion in this region. However, if soil fertility levels are to be maintained, or improved, perennial pasture rotations will need to be used as current levels of fertiliser application or rotations with pulses had no significant beneficial effect.
", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "070300 Crop and Pasture Production", "Soil and crops. Soil-plant relationships. Soil productivity", "Sustainable agriculture", "Methods and systems of culture. Cropping systems", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Fertilisers", "6. Clean water"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Standley, J., Millar, G., Reid, D. J., Halpin, N. V., Armstrong, Roger.,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1071/ea01175"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Australian%20Journal%20of%20Experimental%20Agriculture", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1071/ea01175", "name": "item", "description": "10.1071/ea01175", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1071/ea01175"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2003-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1071/ea9950903", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "unspecified", "updated": "2026-07-25T16:18:05Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2005-03-31", "title": "Sustaining Productivity Of A Vertisol At Warra, Queensland, With Fertilisers, No-Tillage, Or Legumes .1. Organic Matter Status", "description": "Management practices involving legume leys, grain legumes, and no-tillage and stubble retention, along with nitrogen (N) fertiliser application for wheat cropping, were examined for their effectiveness in increasing soil organic matter (0-10 cm depth) from 1986 to 1993 in a field experiment on a Vertisol at Warra, Queensland. The treatments were (i) grass + legume leys (purple pigeon grass, Setaria incrassata; Rhodes grass, Chloris gayana; lucerne, Medicago sativa; annual medics, M. scutellata and M. truncatula) of 4 years duration followed by continuous wheat; (ii) 2-year rotation of annual medics and wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Hartog); (iii) 2-year rotation of lucerne and wheat; (iv) 2-year rotation of chickpea (Cicer arietinum cv. Barwon) and wheat; (v) no-tillage (NT) wheat; and (vi) conventional tillage (CT) wheat. Fertiliser N as urea was applied to both NT wheat and CT wheat at 0,25, and 75 kg N/ha. year. The CT wheat also received N at 12.5 and 25kg N/ha. year. After 4 years, soil organic carbon (C) concentration under grass + legume leys increased by 20% (650 kg C/ha. year) relative to that under continuous CT wheat. Soil total N increased by 11, 18, and 22% after 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively, under grass + legume leys relative to continuous CT wheat. These increases in soil organic matter were mostly confined to the 0-2.5 cm layer. After the start of wheat cropping, organic C and total N levels declined steadily but were still higher than under CT wheat and higher than initial values in December 1985. Although 2-year rotations of lucerne-wheat and medic-wheat had a small effect on soil organic C, soil total N concentrations were higher than in the chickpea-wheat rotation and continuous CT wheat from November 1990 to November 1992. Soil under chickpea-wheat rotation had organic C and total N concentrations similar to continuous CT wheat, although from the former, about 70 kg/ha. year of extra N was removed in the grain from 1989 to 1993. No-tillage practice had a small effect on soil organic C, although total N concentration was higher than under CT wheat in November 1993. These effects were mainly confined to the surface 0-2.5 cm depth. The C to N ratio was only affected in soil under grass + legume leys, and no-tillage treatments. These data show that restoration of soil organic matter in Vertisol requires grass + legume leys, primarily due to increased root biomass, although soil total N can be enhanced by including legume leys for longer duration in cropping systems in the semi-arid and subtropical environment.
", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "1100 Agricultural and Biological Sciences", "Soil and crops. Soil-plant relationships. Soil productivity", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Soil conservation and protection", "6. Clean water", "12. Responsible consumption"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1071/ea9950903"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Australian%20Journal%20of%20Experimental%20Agriculture", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1071/ea9950903", "name": "item", "description": "10.1071/ea9950903", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1071/ea9950903"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "1995-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1071/sr9860265", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-07-25T16:18:08Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2005-04-06", "title": "Long-Term Trends In Fertility Of Soils Under Continuous Cultivation And Cereal Cropping In Southern Queensland .1. Overall Changes In Soil Properties And Trends In Winter Cereal Yields", "description": "Changes in fertility of some southern Queensland soils resulting from extended periods of cultivation are presented, together with trends in yields of winter cereals on these soils. Six major soils of the cereal-belt, cropped for maximum periods of 20-70 years were examined. These were: Black earths, Waco soil; grey, brown and red clays (brigalow), Langlands-Logie soil; grey, brown and red clays (poplar box), Cecilvale soil; grey, brown and red clays (belah), Billa Billa soil; grey, brown and red clays (coolibah), Thallon soil; red earths, Riverview soil. Organic matter and its constituents, especially total organic C, organic C in the light fraction, total N and mineralizable N, were affected most by cultivation, showing decreases of 19-67% overall. Other soil properties probably associated with organic matter, including bulk density and DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) extractable manganese, were also significantly affected by cultivation in all soils. Soil properties affected least by cultivation were concentrations of inorganic phosphorus, total and exchangeable potassium, calcium carbonate, and dithionite extractable iron and aluminium. Most other soil properties studied (organic P, total sulfur, pH, exchangeable magnesium and sodium, exchangeable sodium percentage, and oxalate-extractable iron and aluminium) were affected by cultivation in at least four soils. Four factors accounted for 70% of the total variation among the 45 soil properties considered. They appeared to represent organic matter, clay colloids, iron and aluminium oxides, and soluble salts. Dry matter yield and/or N uptake of winter cereal crops (wheat and barley) measured in 1983 showed significant decreasing trends with period of cultivation in all soils.
", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Soil and crops. Soil-plant relationships. Soil productivity", "2304 Environmental Chemistry", "Wheat", "Methods and systems of culture. Cropping systems", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Queensland", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Soil conservation and protection", "1111 Soil Science"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1071/sr9860265"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1071/sr9860265", "name": "item", "description": "10.1071/sr9860265", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1071/sr9860265"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "1986-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1071/sr14236", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-07-25T16:18:08Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2015-09-11", "title": "Managing Cattle Grazing Intensity: Effects On Soil Organic Matter And Soil Nitrogen", "description": "Extensive cattle grazing is the dominant land use in northern Australia. It has been suggested that grazing intensity and rainfall have profound effects on the dynamics of soil nutrients in northern Australia\uffe2\uff80\uff99s semi-arid rangelands. Previous studies have found positive, neutral and negative effects of grazing pressure on soil nutrients. These inconsistencies could be due to short-term experiments that do not capture the slow dynamics of some soil nutrients and the effects of interannual variability in rainfall. In a long-term cattle grazing trial in northern Australia on Brown Sodosol\uffe2\uff80\uff93Yellow Kandosol complex, we analysed soil organic matter and mineral nitrogen in surface soils (0\uffe2\uff80\uff9310\uffe2\uff80\uff89cm depth) 11, 12 and 16 years after trial establishment on experimental plots representing moderate stocking (stocked at the long-term carrying capacity for the region) and heavy stocking (stocked at twice the long-term carrying capacity). Higher soil organic matter was found under heavy stocking, although grazing treatment had little effect on mineral and total soil nitrogen. Interannual variability had a large effect on soil mineral nitrogen, but not on soil organic matter, suggesting that soil nitrogen levels observed in this soil complex may be affected by other indirect pathways, such as climate. The effect of interannual variability in rainfall and the effects of other soil types need to be explored further.
", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Soil and crops. Soil-plant relationships. Soil productivity", "13. Climate action", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Cattle", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Soil conservation and protection", "Rangelands. Range management. Grazing"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1071/sr14236"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1071/sr14236", "name": "item", "description": "10.1071/sr14236", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1071/sr14236"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2015-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}], "links": [{"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "This document as GeoJSON", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Soil+and+crops.+Soil-plant+relationships.+Soil+productivity&f=json", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "alternate", "type": "text/html", "title": "This document as HTML", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Soil+and+crops.+Soil-plant+relationships.+Soil+productivity&f=html", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection URL", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"type": "application/geo+json", "rel": "first", "title": "items (first)", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Soil+and+crops.+Soil-plant+relationships.+Soil+productivity&", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "last", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "items (last)", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Soil+and+crops.+Soil-plant+relationships.+Soil+productivity&offset=6", "hreflang": "en-US"}], "numberMatched": 6, "numberReturned": 6, "distributedFeatures": [], "timeStamp": "2026-07-26T00:03:41.994931Z"}