2007 Annual Report - Central Queensland University

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2007 Centre for Plant & Water Science Annual ReportNATIVE PLANTS AND RAIL TRACK STABILISATIONPresence of woody vegetation adjacent to rail tracks is known to improve stability of railformation in cracking clayey soils (Potter and Cameron 2005). This concept was tested atBanana, central Queensland, by establishing over 100 native species on either side of the railtrack (see page 37 of 2006 Annual Reporthttp://cpws.cqu.edu.au/FCWViewer/getFile.do?id=7447). Of the established species, over 80%of them survived the frost, drought and the wet weather conditions during the last two years.Some species have reached 2-3 metres in height, and most species have developed at least 50%canopy cover. The established species will be monitored for long-term sustainability, changesin soil moisture and soil stability. The data from the vegetated site will be compared with thoseobtained from the adjacent non-vegetated sites, with the view to selecting suitable plant species,and optimising maintenance practices.Potter, W. and Cameron, D. A. (2005). Potential Remediation of Rail Track Foundations inPoorly Drained Clay Sites with Native Vegetation. Proc. the 7th International Conference onthe Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways and Airfields, June, Trondheim.A view of the site (2 years after planting) showing diversity of plant species planted and theirgrowth performance.PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigators: Assoc. Professor Nanjappa AshwathCo-investigators: Darryl Nissen (QR), Don Cameron (UniSA)FUNDINGRail CRC, Queensland Rail41
2007 Centre for Plant & Water Science Annual ReportSELECTION OF NATIVE PLANTS FOR ESTABLISHMENT UNDER HIGHVOLTAGE POWER LINESA field trial was established at Stanwell Power Station under high voltage power lines with theaim of stabilising the batter slope, and selecting suitable plant species for revegetation of barrenareas under power lines in central Queensland. The site that had been left barren for 20 yearswas chosen for the study. The site was graded and a layer of top soil placed, before introducingthree treatments. The treatments comprised; hydromulching, stone mulching and greenwastemulching. Seedlings of 60 natives shrub and ground cover species (other than grasses) wereestablished on each of the stone mulched and greenwaste mulched treatments. Thehydromulched treatment, however, was exposed to two treatments – direct seeding and plantingof tube stocks of up to 10 grass species. All three plots were connected to a drip irrigationsystem and were watered occasionally.The results to date show survival of more than 90% of the planted seedlings. Furthermore, theplants established in the greenwaste mulched treatment are growing faster than those grown inrock-mulched treatment. Further monitoring of plant growth, root distribution, canopy cover,soil water changes and sustainability of established species will be undertaken both to evaluatethe establishment techniques and to select suitable species for wider areas of centralQueensland.Fig 1. The project leaders Dr N. Ashwath and M. Carige inspecting the seedlings of nativespecies maintained at CQUniversity nursery (left), which were later planted at Stanwell PowerStation (right) on stone mulched and greenwaste mulched plots.PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigator: A/P Nanjappa AshwathCo-investigators: M. Carige (Ergon Energy), L. Painter, V. BardenFUNDINGErgon Energy, Powerlink, Central Queensland University42
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2007 Annual Report - Central Queensland University

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