A Preliminary Model to Predict Rainfall Use Efficiency of Pastures on Open-Cut Coal Mines in Central Queensland, Australia

Bisrat, Simon A.; Mullen, Ben; Grigg, A. H.

doi:10.21000/jasmr02010459

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 11 publications

(5 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Post-mining land has been returned to pastoral land use following rehabilitation with buffel grass in central Queensland (Bisrat et al 2004). …”

Section: Value For Other Purposesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat use and behaviour of birds in areas invaded by buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) and in restored habitat

Young¹,

Schlesinger²

2014

Wildl. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Context Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) is an introduced pasture grass that has spread over large areas of semiarid Australia with potentially significant negative consequences for biodiversity. Previous studies suggest that the response of bird communities to the changes in habitat associated with buffel grass invasion is complex. Aims This study compares the behaviour of birds between sub-sites with predominantly native vegetation where buffel grass had been removed and control sub-sites with buffel grass, which were left unmanaged, at two locations in central Australia. Our objective was to evaluate whether removing buffel grass at small scales had measurable benefits for local bird species and to better understand how the presence of buffel grass affects bird behaviour. Methods We assessed differences in microhabitat use and behaviour of all species combined and when separated into above ground, flexible and ground foraging guilds. We also tested for direct correlations between different cover types and the microhabitat use and behaviour of birds within guilds, with some further analyses of three common species individually. Key results Management of buffel grass was associated with changes in the microhabitat use and behaviour of birds when all species were combined and for all foraging guilds. Buffel grass cover was negatively correlated with the proportional time birds spent on the ground and with proportional time spent foraging. However, of the three species examined individually only the behaviour of white-winged trillers (Lalage tricolor) was consistently correlated with ground vegetation cover. Our observations also suggest birds spent less time overall at sites with high buffel grass. Conclusions Managing buffel grass in small areas creates islands of habitat that provide important opportunities for foraging at a localised scale. Buffel grass and other ground cover affects the behaviour of birds collectively, but individual species responses vary. Implications Management of buffel grass in small areas with high conservation value should be considered. Our study will help to inform land managers of the benefits of controlling buffel grass on a localised scale.

show abstract

“…Post-mining land has been returned to pastoral land use following rehabilitation with buffel grass in central Queensland (Bisrat et al 2004). …”

Section: Value For Other Purposesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat use and behaviour of birds in areas invaded by buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) and in restored habitat

Young¹,

Schlesinger²

2014

Wildl. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Livestock grazing of pastures on rehabilitated land is a potential postmine land use (Mentis 1999;Ditsch et al 2006); however, there are few published examples of the viability of such rehabilitation in Australia. Bisrat et al (2004) and Grigg et al (2002) found that the calculated safe stocking rate for sown buffel grass pastures and cattle liveweight gain observed over 18 months on rehabilitated mining land at two sites in central Queensland was comparable to that on unmined land in the region. At a third mine, the safe stocking rates were lower due to steep slopes and sodic soils.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Sustainability of beef production from brigalow lands after cultivation and mining. 2. Acland Grazing Trial pasture and cattle performance

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Context. Agricultural land used for open-cut coal mining in Queensland is required by law to be returned to a safe, stable and self-sustaining state for agriculture.Aims. The aim of this research was to identify whether rehabilitated pastures on post-mine soil at a site near Acland could viably support cattle production.Methods. Five years of field data from Botanal pasture assessments, pasture quality, cattle liveweights and faecal observations, plus supplementary cattle liver data, were used to compare pasture and cattle performance from mined and unmined previously cultivated brigalow land. Subtropical pasture species were sown in 2007 (Rehab1, 22 ha), 2010 (Rehab 2, 32 ha) and 2012 (Rehab3, 22 ha) in three rehabilitated paddocks and in 2012 in an unmined (Control, 21 ha) paddock. The paddocks were grazed for 117-190 days of each year by Angus cattle.Key results. Mean total standing dry matter in grazed pasture over the five trial years was consistently higher in Rehab 2 (5656 kg/ha) than in the other paddocks. Rehab 1 (3965 kg/ha) and Rehab 3 (3609 kg/ha) performed at an intermediate level and the Control paddock produced less pasture (2871 kg/ha). Grass leaf crude protein was higher in Rehab 2 than in the other paddocks and declined significantly (P < 0.001) across all paddocks as pasture aged. Pasture species remained perennial, palatable and productive in all paddocks; however, pasture yield, quality and composition trends over time suggested that pasture rundown occurred across all paddocks. The mean liveweight gain (LWG) per head when grazing the trial paddocks (trial LWG) was higher (P < 0.05) in the Rehab 2 cohort than the other paddock cohorts in Years 3 and 5, and trial LWG in the Control cohort was not significantly (P > 0.05) different from one or more of the rehabilitated paddock cohorts each year. Cattle production per hectare during the trial grazing periods was also consistently highest in Rehab 2 (5-year mean trial LWG 131 kg/ha) compared with the other paddocks (67-80 kg/ha). Conclusion.The rehabilitated pastures in use by the mine were considered at least as productive as the surrounding unmined brigalow landscape.Implications. The Acland rehabilitation process was considered successful in establishing pastures that were able to viably support cattle production.

show abstract

“…A shift in the area from pulses to cereals and from cereals to pulses was observed in Rabi and Kharif seasons, respectively. Bisrat [10] in his study on economic analysis of watershed treatment through groundwater recharge of Basavapura micro-watershed in Kolar district of Karnataka revealed that average yield of bore well increased from 1150 gallons per hour (GPH) to 1426 GPH that is by 24 per cent due to construction of water harvesting structures. Naidu (2001) in his study on Vanjuvankal watershed of Andhra Pradesh noticed that, because of water harvesting structures and percolation ponds the ground water level in watershed area showed a rise by 2 to 3 meters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting for Recharging Shallow Groundwater

MVSS¹

2014

J Geol Geosci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Water management is very critical for the growth and development of any economy, more so in a developing countries like India. However, resource is now under stress, because of excessive groundwater abstraction in the course of socioeconomic development and meeting increasing needs of growing population. Therefore, we need to conserve this precious resource while benefiting from it. The prime objective of the study is to identify the potentiality of rainwater for recharging shallow Groundwater in the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad, Kukatpally campus. Normal annual rainfall in the study area is 821mm with unutilized non-committed surplus monsoon runoff. Artificial recharge of ground water through rooftop rainwater harvesting was done by constructing three recharge structures each with a capacity of 1,00,000 litres at different places in the study area with two recharge shafts for injecting rainwater into unconfined and confined aquifer system. Three measuring bore wells (piezometers) with a diameter of 6" were dug upto a depth of 30 m near the recharge structures for impact assessment studies. Water levels measured in the three bore wells on daily basis during the monsoon period were found to be 86.3, 90.2, 38.3 ft on 15 th June 2012 before rainwater recharge and the corresponding water levels have been improved to 50.7, 56.5, 10.3 ft respectively on 1 st October 2012 due to recharge of rainwater. A corresponding rise of 35.6, 33.7, 28.0 ft in groundwater levels has been registered indicating significant improvement of groundwater levels. Rainfall received during the years 2012 and 2013 is 774 and 1104 mm respectively. Total amount of surplus rainwater received during 2012 is 7,11,174, 8,93,849 and 4,74,814 liters recharged near Near Library, Near Girls Hostel and Near New IST respectively. Total amount of surplus rainwater received during 2013 is 10,13,563, 12,73,911 and 6,76,703 liters recharged near Near Library, Near Girls Hostel and Near New IST respectively. A total rainfall of 774 and 1104 mm has been found to be recorded and a total quantity of 50,44,013 liters of groundwater has been found to be recharged during the years 2012 and 2013 years respectively.

show abstract

A Preliminary Model to Predict Rainfall Use Efficiency of Pastures on Open-Cut Coal Mines in Central Queensland, Australia

Cited by 3 publications

References 11 publications

Habitat use and behaviour of birds in areas invaded by buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) and in restored habitat

Habitat use and behaviour of birds in areas invaded by buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) and in restored habitat

Sustainability of beef production from brigalow lands after cultivation and mining. 2. Acland Grazing Trial pasture and cattle performance

Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting for Recharging Shallow Groundwater

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About