The Brigalow Catchment Study: VI.† Evaluation of the RUSLE and MUSLE models to assess the impact of clearing brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) on sediment yield

Abstract

Land clearing for cropping and grazing has increased runoff and sediment yield in Central Queensland. The Brigalow Catchment Study (BCS), was established to determine the effect of land clearing on water balance, soils, and productivity, and consisted of three catchments: brigalow forest, cropping, and grazing. Factors responsible for changes in and models for predicting sediment yield have not been assessed. Objectives of this study are to identify climatic, hydrological, and ground cover factors responsible for the increased sediment yield and to assess suitable models for sediment yield prediction. Runoff and sediment yield data from 1988 to 2018 were used to assess the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and the Modified USLE (MUSLE) to predict the sediment yield in brigalow catchments. Common events among the three catchments and events for all catchment pairs were assessed. The sediment yield was approximately 44% higher for cropping and 4% higher for grazing than that from the forested catchment. The runoff amount (Q) and peak runoff rate (Qp) were major variables that could explain most of the increased sediment yield over time. A comparison for each catchment pair showed that sediment yield was 801 kg ha−1 or 37% higher for cropping and 28 kg ha−1 or 2% higher for grazing than for the forested catchment. Regression analysis for three different treatments (seven common events) and for different storm events (15 for forested, 40 for cropping, and 20 for grazing) showed that Q and Qp were best correlated with sediment yield in comparison with variations in ground cover. The high coefficient of determination (R2 > 0.60) provided support for using the MUSLE model, based on both Q and Qp, instead of the RUSLE, and Q and Qp were the most important factors for improving sediment yield predictions from BCS catchments.