Effect of longwall mine subsidence on plant production on cropping land

Hinchliffe, David John. (2003). Effect of longwall mine subsidence on plant production on cropping land Master's Thesis, School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland.

       
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Author Hinchliffe, David John.
Thesis Title Effect of longwall mine subsidence on plant production on cropping land
School, Centre or Institute School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences
Institution The University of Queensland
Publication date 2003
Thesis type Master's Thesis
Supervisor Mr. Phil Matthew
Dr. Usha Pillai-McGarry
Dr. David Mulligan
Total pages 100
Collection year 2003
Language eng
Subjects L
300104 Land Capability and Soil Degradation
771007 Rehabilitation of degraded mining lands
Formatted abstract The effect of longwall mine subsidence on crop yield and critical soil factors affecting plant growth was investigated in central Queensland to improve the understanding of subsidence on agricultural production. Specific objectives of the study were to:

• measure the agricultural productivity (crop yield) of specific crops grown on subsided and unsubsided land;

• measure the effect of critical soil physical factors (moisture and bulk density) that affect plant growth on subsided and unsubsided land; and

• examine the relationship between crop yield and soil physical characteristics on subsided and unsubsided land

Two mines (Crinum and Kestrel) near Emerald were selected for the two-year study. Four surface attributes were identified and included unsubsided land, subsided pillar land, subsided panel land and subsided middle panel land. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) was harvested in the first year (2000) at both mine sites, and a second harvest took place in 2001 at the Kestrel site. Crop yields at the Kestrel site during 2000, a wet year, and 2001, a dry year was not significantly different between unsubsided land and the three subsided attributes. Crop yields during year one (2000) at the Crinum site were significantly different between attributes but did not follow any clear trend related to the degree of subsidence. Seed protein and moisture levels were also measured and were found not to be different between all attributes at both sites.

Throughout the growing seasons critical soil physical factors of soil moisture content and soil bulk density were monitored. Subsidence from longwall mining did not notably affect these properties and there was no gradient change across the subsided panel. The results of this study indicate that the effects of subsidence are likely to be very site specific and localised.

Keyword Longwall mining -- Queensland -- Bowen Basin.
Land capability for agriculture -- Queensland -- Bowen Basin.

 
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Created: Fri, 24 Aug 2007, 18:07:55 EST