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An Assessment of Agricultural Potential of Soils in the Gulf Region, North Queensland

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REPORT TO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT (RID), NORTH REGION ON An Assessment of Agricultural Potential of Soils in the Gulf Region, North Queensland Volume 1 February 1999 Peter Wilson (Land Resource Officer, Land Information Management) Seonaid Philip (Senior GIS Technician) Department of Natural Resources Resource Management GIS Unit Centre for Tropical Agriculture 28 Peters Street, Mareeba Queensland 4880 DNRQ990076 Queensland Government Technical Report This report is intended to provide information only on the subject under review. There are limitations inherent in land resource studies, such as accuracy in relation to map scale and assumptions regarding socio-economic factors for land evaluation. Before acting on the information conveyed in this report, readers should ensure that they have received adequate professional information and advice specific to their enquiry. While all care has been taken in the preparation of this report neither the Queensland Government nor its officers or staff accepts any responsibility for any loss or damage that may result from any inaccuracy or omission in the information contained herein. © State of Queensland 1999 For information about this report contact [email protected] ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors thank the input of staff of the Department of Natural Resources GIS Unit Mareeba. Also that of DNR water resources staff, particularly Mr Jeff Benjamin. Mr Steve Ockerby, Queensland Department of Primary Industries provided invaluable expertise and advice for the development of the agricultural suitability assessment. Mr Phil Bierwirth of the Australian Geological Survey Organisation (AGSO) provided an introduction to and knowledge of Airborne Gamma Spectrometry. Assistance with the interpretation of AGS data was provided through the Department of Natural Resources Enhanced Resource Assessment project. Particular thanks go to Mr Mike Grundy and Mr Ross Searle. CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Summary Recommendations 1. PROJECT BRIEF 1.1 Scope 1.2 Location 1.3 Expected Outcomes 1.4 Time Frame 2. BACKGROUND 2.1 Previous Studies 3. METHODS 3.1 Existing Information and Key Area Identification 3.2 Land Systems Interpretation 3.3 Data Base Development 3.4 Airborne Gamma Spectrometry 3.5 Field Verification 3.6 Agricultural Suitability Framework 4. PROJECT FINDINGS 4.1 General Agricultural Suitability Assessment 4.2 AGS Interpretation and Soils Mapping 4.3 Key Area Descriptions – Location & Geomorphology Soil Landscapes Agricultural Suitability 4.4 Soils Types and Soil Landscapes 4.5 Agricultural Suitability Assessment APPENDICIES Appendix 1 - Limitations and Suitability Tables Appendix 2 - Soil Type and Soil Landscape Descriptions Appendix 3 - Soil Sample Chemical Analysis and Dispersion Test Results LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Location of the study area and eleven key areas Figure 2: Description of Leinster Land System showing the complexity of landscape and soil types. (Copied from Galloway et al. 1970) Figure 3: Example of soil limitation and suitability assessment Figure 4: Example of assessment of land system agricultural suitability Figure 5: Airborne Gamma Spectrometry (Courtesy of AGSO) Figure 6: Individual bands of AGS data showing Th, U and K response variation (Courtesy of AGSO) LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Potential Crops and Land Use Groups Table 2: Soil Type/Soil Landscape Suitability Classes and Agricultural Land Class Table 3: Area (Ha) of Potential Agricultural Land for each Key Area ACCOMPANYING MAPS Map 1: Soil Landscapes of the Mitchell River Area Map 2: Soil Landscapes of the Lynd River, Einasleigh River, Bundock/McKinnons Creek and McBride Plateau Areas Map 3: Soil Landscapes of the Gilbert River Area Map 4: Soil Landscapes of the Flinders River, Upper Cloncurry River and Corella Creek Areas Map 5: Soil Landscapes of the Leichhardt and Alexandra Rivers Area Map 6: Soil Landscapes of the Gregory River Area Map 7: Agricultural Suitability – Tree Crops Map 8: Agricultural Suitability – Bananas Map 9: Agricultural Suitability – Row Crops Map 10: Agricultural Suitability – Field Crops Map 11: Agricultural Suitability – Peanuts Map 12: Agricultural Suitability – Sugar Map 13: Agricultural Suitability – Rice Map 14: An Assessment of Potential Agricultural Suitability from Land Systems Map 15: Regional Interpretation of AGS Data REFERENCES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Summary The Gulf Region lacks soils information. Existing land systems data is not at suitable scales for intensive interpretation of agricultural suitability. A general assessment has been made to determine land systems with significant areas of soils with potential for agricultural development. New data, including airborne gamma spectrometry at regional scales, has been used to further map and assess potential agricultural suitability for eleven key areas. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff have identified these key areas for possible irrigation development. Indicative figures of total area of soils with agricultural potential in these key areas are given. These are based on limited field verification and should be considered as preliminary only. Identified potential agricultural soils will require further detailed mapping and assessment work if intensive development is likely to occur. Recommendations From this reconnaissance assessment of the agricultural potential of soils in the Gulf Region, the following recommendations are made: • Further detailed soils and agricultural suitability investigations should be undertaken in the following key areas – The Gilbert River, The Leichhardt River, The Gregory River and the Bundock/McKinnons Creek areas. • Other areas of predominantly red and yellow earths below the western margin of the Eastern Highlands should be further investigated, particularly along the mid reaches of the Einasleigh and Lynd Rivers. • Lands in the Julia Plains and Carpentaria Plains (Flinders River and Upper Cloncurry River areas) should be thoroughly investigated prior to any future irrigation development. This is on the basis of soil chemical limitations and salinity risks. Potential groundwater recharge and discharge should be considered. • Future land resource assessments throughout Queensland should utilise Airborne Gamma Spectrometry data and integrated digital elevation modeling as key mapping tools. 1. PROJECT BRIEF 1.1 Scope The scope of this project is as stated in the Water Infrastructure Planning and Development Implementation Plan 1997/98 to 2001/02; Definition Statement; Gulf Region Study (Department of Natural Resources, Regional Infrastructure Development, North Region. October 1997). This study supports the first two phases of that definition statement. 1. Study initiation, collection and review of existing information and study reports. 2. A series of reports dealing with specialised aspects such as land resources and use, hydrology/water management, marketing and cropping systems analysis, engineering, economics, financial, social, cultural and preliminary environmental impacts. In particular this study provides an updated assessment of the potential suitability of land and soil resources to support regional agricultural development, particularly sustainable irrigation systems in the Gulf Region of North Queensland. The resulting land resource information will feed into the overall Gulf Region Study to assist the assessment of water resource availability, and potential water requirements within the key areas. Close links have been developed and maintained with the Department of Primary Industries Agronomy and Marketing Groups who are collaborators in the Gulf Region Study. 1.2 Location The Gulf study area covers the catchments of the Mitchell, Gilbert, Etheridge, Einasleigh, Norman, Flinders, Leichhardt, Albert, Nicholson and Gregory Rivers as defined in the WIP/DIP Gulf Region Study Definition Statement. The area is within the Local Government Shires of Richmond, Burke, Carpentaria, Croydon, Etheridge and Mareeba. The study area lies between the Gulf of Carpentaria and 22o south latitude, and between 138o and 145o east longitude. More detailed soils investigations were limited to eleven key areas (sections 3.1 and 4.3). The location of the study area and the key areas are shown in Figure 1. 1.3 Expected Outcomes Within key areas of these catchments, this study has identified the location and quantified the area of land/soil resources which may contribute significantly to irrigation led opportunities for regional development in the Gulf Region of North Queensland. This may lead to improved sustainable natural resource utilisation and management. Other related strategies include - • State Water Conservation Strategy: A Discussion Paper (1993) • GLADA regional development strategy (in prep) • Gulf Region Landcare strategy (in prep) • Gulf Multiple Use Strategic Plan 1.4 Time Frame The project commenced in March 1998, following funding approval from RID. Interim results and key area definition were presented in an interim report (June 1998) and have been made available to other Gulf Region study groups to assist with their progress. Due to time limitations and the extensive area to be surveyed, an assessment commensurate only with a reconnaissance survey was undertaken. FIGURE 1: Location of the study area and eleven key areas 2. BACKGROUND 2.1 Previous Studies Previous land resource studies in the region are broad scale and fairly limited in their consideration of agricultural suitability. The majority of previously published information is contained in
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