The impact of contour furrowing on chenopod patterned ground at Fowlers Gap, western New South Wales

Abstract

Patterned ground occurs extensively across the world's arid and semi-arid areas. The Australian chenopod shrublands, typical of the other areas, has been degraded through species change and erosion since the application of European grazing methods and management practices. Contour furrowing was applied to these areas in an attempt to reduce erosion and encourage the establishment of desirable vegetation. Contour furrowing disrupted the natural hydrology and soil chemical mosaic of the patterned ground system. The contour furrows encouraged soil erosion by the concentration of sheet flow into a ‘stream flow’ because of furrow breakthrough. The breakthroughs were a direct consequence of the use of dispersive soil to construct the furrow banks. The application of this rehabilitation technique to other areas of south-eastern Australian is limited due to the widespread occurrence of dispersive soils. Similar problems may be encountered within western Africa.