A review of results of trials with trash management for soil conservation

Land use studies in Queensland canegrowing districts have identified soil erosion as a major problem in areas where sugarcane is being grown on steeply sloping lands without adequate land management or protection (Dawson et a/., 1983). Severe erosion will not only result in the loss of long term productivity but through sedimentation and siltation cause flooding and poor drainage on other productive lands. Soil losses as high as 382 t ha- I yeac l have been reported from trials in North queensland canegrowing districts (Matthews and Makepeace, 1981) while losses III central Queensland were more than 200 t ha- I yeaC (Sallaway, 1979). These figures far exceed the widely accepted annual soil loss value of 12.5 t ha- I yeacl (Hudson, 1971). A research program was initiated in 1982 by Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations staff to identifY trash management practices that are most appropriate in controlling soil erosion on sloping canelands. The effects of various trash management practices on soil loss and cane yield are being compared with those of the normal canegrowing practices of the district. This paper presents preliminary results.