Soils and Land Suitability of the Lockyer Valley Alluvial Plains South-East Queensland

QNRM01215 LandLand RResouresourcceses BBulletinulletin Soils and Land Suitability of the Lockyer Valley Alluvial Plains South-East Queensland B. Powell J. Loi and N.G. Christianos 276 Land Resources Bulletin Soils and Irrigated Land Suitability of the Lockyer Valley Alluvial Plains, South-East Queensland B Powell J Loi and NG Christianos Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Queensland 2002 QNRM01215 ISSN 1327 - 5763 This publication was prepared by Department of Natural Resources and Mines officers. It may be distributed to other interested individuals and organisations. 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 Department of Natural Resources and Mines 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, Department of Natural Resources and Mines 2002 Department of Natural Resources and Mines Locked Bag 40 Coorparoo DC Qld 4151 ii CONTENTS List of tables iv List of figures v List of maps v Summary vi 1. INTRODUCTION 1 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE LOCKYER VALLEY 2 Climate 2 Geology and relief 5 Vegetation 9 Hydrology 11 Land use 17 3. METHODS 22 Soil survey 22 Chemical and Physical characterisation 22 Clay mineralogy 23 Soil Geomorphology 23 4. SOILS 25 Soils of the major stream flood plains and levees 25 Soils of the major stream terraces and plains 27 Soils of the major stream elevated terraces, fans and pediments 31 Soils of alluvial fans derived from basalt (upper reach tributaries) 33 Soils of alluvial fans and flats derived from upper Marburg beds (middle reach tributaries) 35 Soils of alluvial fans and flats derived from lower Marburg beds (lower reach tributaries) 36 Soils of alluvial fans and flats derived from Helidon Sandstone (northern tributaries) 38 Soil Geomorphology 41 5. LAND EVALUATION 45 Land suitability for agriculture 45 Limitations and land suitability assessment 46 Irrigation water quality impacts on land sustainability 48 Agricultural land classes 49 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 51 REFERENCES 52 APPENDICES 1. Morphological and analytical characteristics of the soils of the Lockyer Valley 57 2. Limitations and suitability of Lockyer Valley soils for various crops 98 iii LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1 Climate − rainfall, evaporation and rain days (Gatton DPI Research Station), 1968 – 1996 2 Table 2.2 Climate − temperatures at Gatton DPI Research Station, 1968−1996 2 Table 2.3. River patterns in the Lockyer Valley 5 Table 2.4 Alluvial source materials in the Lockyer Valley catchment 6 Table 2.5 Broad relationships between soils and geology, Lockyer Valley 7 Table 2.6 Soil/Geology−vegetation associations 10 Table 2.7 Alluvial areas and working storage 12 Table 2.8 Distribution of bore water salinity hazard in the alluvia of Lockyer sub-catchments (White 1980) 16 Table 2.9 Estimated annual production of major crops in the Lockyer Valley 18 Table 4.1 Lithology − landscape soil groups and associated source materials 25 Table 4.2 Morphology and landscape position of soils of the major stream flood plains and levees 26 Table 4.3 Summary of chemical properties for soils of the major stream flood plains and levees 26 Table 4.4 Morphology and landscape position of soils of the major stream terraces and plains 28 Table 4.5 Summary of analytical data for soils of the major stream terraces and plains 29 Table 4.6 Summary of analytical data for Sippel and Helidon SPCs 30 Table 4.7 Morphology and landscape position of soils of the major stream elevated terraces, fans and pediments 32 Table 4.8 Summary of analytical data for soils of the major stream elevated terraces 33 Table 4.9 Morphology and distinguishing features of soils of alluvial fans derived from basalt 34 Table 4.10 Summary of analytical data for soils of alluvial fans derived from basalt (2 sites) 34 Table 4.11 Morphology and landscape position of soils of alluvial fans and flats derived from upper Marburg beds 36 Table 4.12 Summary of soil analytical data for soils of alluvial fans and flats derived from upper Marburg beds 36 Table 4.13 Morphology and landscape position of soils of alluvial fans and flats derived from lower Marburg beds 37 Table 4.14 Summary of analytical data of Hattonvale and Glencairn soils 37 Table 4.15 Summary of analytical data for Stockyard 38 Table 4.16 Morphology and landscape position of soils of the alluvial fans and flats derived from Helidon sandstone (northern tributaries) 39 Table 4.17 Summary of analytical data of soils of the alluvial fans and flats derived from Helidon sandstone (northern tributaries) 40 Table 4.18 Landform components, soil facies and age of alluvial pedoderms of the Lockyer Valley (Powell, 1987). 41 Table 5.1. Distinguishing land use requirements and limitations for irrigated land uses considered for the Lockyer Valley alluvial plains 45 Table 5.2 Irrigated land suitability ratings and areas (ha) for different land uses 47 Table 5.3 Agricultural land potential of soils of the Lockyer Valley 50 iv LIST OF FIGURES Page 1 Location of Lockyer Valley, south-east Queensland viii 2.1 Mean annual rainfall for Lockyer Valley 3 2.2 Geology map of the Lockyer Valley, south east Queensland (simplified) 4 2.3 Idealised cross section relationships of Lockyer Valley geology units 6 2.4 Sub-catchments of the Lockyer Valley 13 2.5 Water supply and Monitoring in the Lockyer Valley 14 4.1 Cross section of four typical alluvial soil landscapes in the study area 42 4.2 Pedoderms, soil facies and landform elements in the study area 44 MAPS In back pocket of report 1. Soils of the Lockyer Valley alluvial plains − sheet 1 (1: 50 000) NR&M Ref. No 99-LOC-I-P3205 2. Soils of the Lockyer Valley alluvial plains − sheet 2 (1: 50 000) NR&M Ref. No 99-LOC-I-P3206 3. Soils of the Lockyer Valley alluvial plains − sheet 3 (1: 50 000) NR&M Ref. No 99-LOC-I-P3207 4. Lockyer Valley Alluvial Plains Suitability for Irrigated Crops (1:100 000) NR&M Ref. No 99-LOC-I-A13325 v Summary The Lockyer Valley is located east of the Great Dividing Range in south-east Queensland. It is a major tributary catchment for the Brisbane River, and a fertile valley of 2 890 km2 that is used for intensive agriculture. The climate is subtropical with summer dominant rainy seasons. At present, over 25 000 ha of soils occupying the alluvial plain and colluvial footslopes are intensively irrigated and produce about 40% of Queensland’s vegetable requirements. The alluvial soil landscapes on which these activities are based have been surveyed at 1: 50 000 scale and assessed for suitability for a range of crops. The alluvial plain of the valley overlies steeply incised valleys that were filled with gravels, sands, loams and clays over geological time. The source materials for the alluvia were predominantly Tertiary basalt rocks in the south, sedimentary rocks of the Marburg Formation in the centre and sedimentary rocks of Helidon sandstone mainly in the north Powell (1987). The composition of the alluvial source parent materials was deemed to be the primary determinant of the nature of the soils and the attributes important for irrigation suitability. The alluvia is more than 30 metres deep and is characterised by intermittent aquifers at various levels and of variable quality. Most irrigation water is supplied by artesian aquifers, but demand use is well in excess of supply especially during drought years. Some surface water schemes to support irrigation operate in the lower reaches of the Lockyer Creek. The alluvial plain survey area of some 61 000ha has 33 classes of mapped soils (see Soil Maps, Sheets 1-3). The soils are classified into seven distinct groups determined by landforms and the lithology of the alluvial source material. Four groups relate to basalt sources and tend to be black or brown in colour and exhibit shrink and swell characteristics due to the presence of smectite clay minerals. They are fertile (apart from nitrogen), generally high in clay content, high in plant available water and have slightly acid to alkaline pH trends throughout the soil profile. The better drained soils of mainly basaltic origin (eg Lockyer, Cavendish, Tenthill, Hooper, Robinson) have relatively few limitations for irrigated cropping except for excessive stoniness and flood frequency in some lower lying locations. The more slowly drained cracking clays become waterlogged for extended periods during wet periods in some backplain areas (eg Blenheim, Lawes) and invariably in backswamp areas (eg Clarendon). This difference in soil drainage and stickiness becomes a significant factor for fresh vegetable crop profitability when being able to harvest quickly after rain provides a substantial market advantage. For the same reason, timeliness of management practices after rain (eg cultivation, spraying) on these soils are also likely to lead to higher productivity. By contrast, the three groups of soils derived from sedimentary rock alluvial sources are sandier in texture, less fertile, of variable wetness with lower plant available water and acid to neutral pH trend. They often have buried layers of older layered and some duplex soils. This makes many of them generally more difficult to manage. Some of the better quality soils (eg Abell, Balaam, Buaraba, Donnell, Holcomb, Redbank) are suitable for irrigation but in many cases are limited by the supply of available irrigation water.

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