Effects of farming systems, tillage, and traffic practices on deep drainage and soil salt loads in the Queensland Murray–Darling and Fitzroy Basins using soil chloride

Context Cropping in the Queensland Murray–Darling and Fitzroy Basins has precursors for secondary salinity – high soil salt loads and increased drainage after clearing.Aims To measure changes in deep drainage, for key tillage, traffic, and cropping systems.Methods Steady-state and transient chloride (Cl) mass-balance were applied to Cl profiles from four tillage and crop rotation trials and one controlled traffic trial in southern and central Queensland, to determine deep drainage below the root zone.Key results Large downward movement of Cl occurred after clearing. Deep drainage from transient Cl balance for cropping was a small proportion of rainfall but considerably higher than under native vegetation. Deep drainage was consistently greater under zero than conventional tillage, for both winter and summer cropping. For example, deep drainage was greatest for zero tillage (∼45mm/year) and least for conventional, stubble mulch, and reduced tillage (2–6.3mm/year) at the highest-rainfall site (677mm/year). Deep drainage was 12.7 and 7.9mm/year for zero and conventional tillage, respectively, at the lowest-rainfall site (497mm/year). Drainage under continuous wheat conventional tillage was more than twice that where some summer crops were included. At Billa Billa, continuous wheat had greater deep drainage by three to five times than continuous sorghum for three of four tillage systems. No drainage was detected during 6years of opportunity cropping. A pasture legume ley had only 1.7mm/year of deep drainage. Deep drainage was less for compacted than non-compacted treatments (23.3vs 38.2mm/year).Conclusion and implications Increased deep drainage with zero tillage and controlled traffic can be reduced using summer crops, particularly opportunity cropping where crops are planted when soil water is sufficient, and ley pastures.