Correlations between infiltration, emergence, crust strength and physical and chemical soil properties of irrigable soil of the MacIntyre Brook, Queensland

Abstract

Relationships between infiltration, seedling emergence (of Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and crust strength were correlated with soil physical and chemical properties for SO sites adjacent to the Macintyre Brook, Inglewood in southern Queensland. Regression techniques were used to determine the relationships between site response and pH, electrical conductivity, total exchangeable cations, and percentages of sodium, carbon, sand, silt and clay. The regressions indicated that high inter-correlation existed between soil properties measured. Infiltration was significantly correlated with specific conductivity, clay, sand, carbon and coarse sand, and emergence was significantly correlated with carbon and coarse sand. Crust strength was significantly correlated with clay, carbon, sand, sodium, silt and pH. An increase in percentage carbon through organic matter management may be the simplest solution to overcoming infiltration, emergence and crusting problems in the soil examined.