Blown away

THE sustained dry and windy start to February has seen isolated dust storms exposing just how fragile some of our soils are when not bound by cover.

They are also a good reminder there is still time to prevent this damage by de-stocking more vulnerable areas of the farm.

Agriculture Victoria land management extension officer Clem Sturmfels said that while dust storms contained mostly mineral materials, they also contained significant quantities of organic matter, one of the most valuable components of our soils.

“Leaving stock in a paddock for an extra couple of weeks to make use of remaining water supplies can be all it takes to expose the paddock to the risk of wind erosion.

“Dust storms or wind erosion occur when the speed of the wind at the soil surface exceeds the forces holding soil particles in place, typically, soil particles exist as a small pea sized peds or aggregates.

“As these peds or aggregates break down the soil becomes more vulnerable to erosion and once the process of wind erosion starts it can be nearly impossible to stop as the larger sand grains bounce and roll across the soil surface stripping remaining vegetation and smashing (or sand blasting) the soil in front of them.”

Research shows that the most vulnerable areas are those with lightly textured soils, little groundcover and shelter belts and topography that exposes them to high wind speeds.

Lighter textured soils contain a high proportion of sand, with little or no clay.

Wind erosion can start anywhere the soil has been disturbed, such as in gateways, along tracks and around water troughs.

Mr Sturmfels said the key to preventing wind erosion is to maintain as much ground cover as possible and avoid disturbing the soil.

“Aim for 80 per cent cover in pasture paddocks and 60 per cent cover in crop stubbles. Ground cover also helps moderate temperature extremes in soil and retains moisture.”

 

Maintaining good ground cover will reduce the risk of wind erosion but will also reduce damage to pastures and assist with a faster recovery following the autumn break.

Bare soil is also more susceptible to oxidation and microbial activity that can release stored carbon as CO2.

Building the soil carbon levels back up can take years in drier climates and soil carbon is a valuable soil resource as it improves soil structure, increases water retention and nutrient availability.

When ground cover levels are low, the only practical way to reduce the risk of wind erosion is to remove livestock to other paddocks or place stock in a stock containment area.