Spatial Variability of Topsoil Properties on a Semi-Arid Floodplain

This study relates the spatial heterogeneity (or patterning) of geochemical elements in the topsoil of a semi-arid floodplain/hillslope system in north-eastern Australia to vegetation distribution and rates of flood inundation. A total of 540 topsoil samples were collected from six flood frequency zones, ranging from a frequently flooded area (RI = 1:1–2 yrs) to two zones that have not flooded in living memory (RI > 50 yrs). Within each zone, topsoil samples were collected from both vegetated and non-vegetated surfaces, and each sample was analysed for 26 parameters. A combination of multi- and univariate analyses reveals that vegetation is an important contributor to topsoil heterogeneity. In zones subject to relatively frequent flooding, the spatial distribution of parameters in the topsoil is greatly influenced by the movement of water, with vegetation acting as a sink rather than a source. However, as floods become increasingly rare, distinct resource-rich units become evident in the topsoil beneath the vegetation. These findings indicate that topsoils in semi-arid floodplains are altered when their natural flooding regimes are reduced, beginning to approximate hillslopes when flood frequencies exceed 1-in-7 to 10 years. This points to the need for frequent flood (overbank) releases that are able to cover the 1-in-20-year floodplain to maintain the character of the soils and support vegetation growth in these environments.