LAND CAPABILITY

Many land owners are unwilling or unable to change land use patterns. This is caused by economic problems and a lack of understanding of long term effects of unsustainable agriculture. Dry land salinity has resulted caused for example, by extensive clearing of native woodlands in the Western Australian wheatlands in the mid 1920s and Victoria in the 1960s. Rising water tables and salinity led to the abandonment of a number of early irrigation areas along the Murray around the turn of the century. The serious long term consequences of the rising water tables in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) have been known since the 1950s

The simple method used by farmers for the classification of land is not as useful as the now almost uniform system used by various government departments concerned with rural capability. The uniform capability system is most useful for the valuer and allows him/her to join with other rural professionals and landholders in a common language when assessing land capability.

THE UNIFORM LAND CAPABILITY SYSTEM

RURAL ASSESSMENT FACTORS AND CAPABILITY CLASSES

The major influences upon the capability of Crown land are climate, terrain, soil type, erosion susceptibility and past and present land use practices. These factors, usually occurring in combination, establish the capability of the land to accept varying intensities of rural and agricultural use. Natural resource features also determine constraints of a site and indicate the degree of protective management which should be incorporated into any lease agreement or statutory land use control (eg farm management plans over pastoral leases).

Certain kinds of rural use such as intensive animal uses (piggeries, poultry and cattle feedlots) or crop uses (nurseries, greenhouses) require larger capital investment and are only minimally influenced by the natural resource characteristics of a site. Such intensive rural uses are usually more dependent on the ability of the site to accept
buildings or associated waste control facilities and local constraints and controls.

There is a complex process of interaction among the various environmental components affecting rural capability. It is not be feasible to prescribe a single capability rating scheme to satisfy the diverse needs of rural land use planning in NSW but the following general capability criteria derived from both the Soil Conservation Service scheme and the Department of Agriculture/Department of Environment and Planning agricultural rating scheme is an ideal universal base. Provision for noting relevant exceptions is also made.

THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE/DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITY RATING SCHEME

The aim of this method is to rank rural lands into one of five capability classes based on the potential productivity of the land, in the relevant social and economic context. It is a rapid subjective method designed to be carried out by experts. Land that has a high capability for agriculture under either of the above schemes will not necessarily have a high suitability for agriculture if conflicting demand, cultural or locational factors make agricultural use of the land uneconomic or undesirable.

A COMMON "FARMERS" LAND CAPABILITY CLASSIFICATION USED BY A NUMBER OF RURAL VALUERS




RURAL CAPABILITY SCHEME

LAND SUITABLE FOR REGULAR CULTIVATION

CLASS 1

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Cropping Land -- No erosion hazards: Capable of a wide range of agricultural uses and regular cultivation for cropping (cereals, oilseeds, fodder etc.) or intensive horticulture (vegetables, orchards). Includes "agricultural lands" and many areas prepared for irrigation schemes.

LAND ATTRIBUTE GUIDELINES

CLIMATE: Not exposed to recurrent extremes which reduce productivity.
SLOPE: 0-2%--flat
TERRAIN: Commonly plains, except drainage plains.
DRAINAGE: Good, though may be flood liable with low long term cost.
SALINITY: No salting evident.
EROSION HAZARD: Nil to low.
SOIL CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS: No special measures are needed.


RURAL CAPABILITY CLASS 1
Better quality cropping land




CLASS 2

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Cropping Land--Minor to moderate erosion hazards
Capable of supporting a wide variety of agricultural uses similar to Class 1. Can include "prime agricultural lands" and irrigated lands.

LAND ATTRIBUTE GUIDELINES

CLIMATE: Not exposed to recurrent extremes which significantly reduce productivity.
SLOPE: 2-5%--plain.
TERRAIN: Commonly plains, except drainage plains.
DRAINAGE: Moderate to good, though may be flood liable with a low to moderate long term cost.
SALINITY: No salting evident.
EROSION: Hazard Low.

SOIL CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS
Requires simple soil conservation measures, such as strip cropping, conservation tillage and adequate crop rotation.

RURAL CAPABILITY CLASS 2
Moderate cropping land




CLASS 3

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Cropping Land--Moderate to severe erosion hazards Sloping land suitable for cropping on a rotational basis. Generally used for the
production of the same type of as listed for Class 1, although productivity will vary depending upon soil fertility. Individual yields may be the same as for Classes 1 and 2, but increasing restrictions due to the erosion hazard will reduce the total yield over time.
Soil erosion problems are often severe. Generally fair to good agricultural land.

LAND ATTRIBUTE GUIDELINES

CLIMATE: Favourable for sensitive crops.
SLOPE: <10% where soil erosion hazard vary from moderate to high--undulating
TERRAIN: Sideslopes and footslopes
DRAINAGE: Well drained with good water holding capacity. Economic loss due to flooding is low to moderate over the long term.
SALINITY: No salting evident.
EROSION HAZARD: Slight to high.
SOIL CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS: Requires soil conservation measures, such as graded banks, waterways and diversion banks together with conservation tillage and adequate crop rotation.
EXCEPTION: 10% is the average upper limit for cultivation on most soils. The limit on coastal areas of high rainfall and in the northern part of the state falls to 8% while in low rainfall areas or in the southern part of the state it may rise to 12%. On highly fertile and stable soils of basaltic origin this may rise to 20% while for low quality solodic soils
it may fall to 5%.
HOBBY FARMS: Hobby Farms can be established on Classes l, 2 and 3 land. However, it may not be desirable due to the reduced productivity of prime agricultural lands.


RURAL CAPABILITY CLASS 3 Poorer quality cropping land
SUITABLE FOR GRAZING




CLASS 4
GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Grazing Land--Suitable for occasional cultivation with few to
no erosion hazards. Lands capable of pasture improvement and occasional cash or forage crops but not the range of agricultural uses listed for Class 1 to 3. May accept hobby farms if adequate provisions are made for water supply, effluent disposal and selection of safe building sites and access Capability limited by slope, soil erosion, shallowness or rockiness, climate or a combination of these factors.

LAND ATTRIBUTE GUIDELINES:
SLOPE: Up to 20%--rolling to hilly. (Includes soils that would otherwise be in Classes I to 2 excepting slope ranges from 10% to 20%).
TERRAIN: Sideslopes; plains where soils are poor
DRAINAGE: Good to poorly drained.
SALINITY: Nil
EROSION HAZARD: Slight to moderate
SOIL CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS: Requires simple soil conservation measures, such as pasture improvement, stock control, application of fertilizer and minimal cultivation for permanent pastures.

See below example of classes 4,6,& 8:



CLASS4: BETTER QUALITY GRAZING LAND IS AT THE FOREGROUND RISING TO CLASS 6 AND CLASS 8 IN THE BACKGROUND


CLASS 5

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Grazing Land--Suitable for occasional cultivation with
moderate to severe erosion hazards. Land capable of pasture improvement and occasional cash or forage crops but productivity is generally lower than for grazing lands in class 4. Soil erosion hazard requires more intensive measures than class 4.

Capability considerably limited by slope, soil erosion hazard, shallowness or rockiness, climate, or a combination of these factors. If used for hobby farms, adequate provision should be made for water supply, effluent disposal and selection of safe building sites and access roads.

LAND ATTRIBUTE GUIDELINES

SLOPE: 10-20%--rolling to hilly (or lower sloping lands if soils are poor.)
TERRAIN: Sideslopes
DRAINAGE: Moderate to poorly drained
SALINITY: May occur in low lying depressions, usually where drainage is impeded by natural or man-made structures
EROSION HAZARD: Moderate to very high
SOIL CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS: Requires intensive conservation measures such as absorption banks, diversion banks and contour ripping, together with management practices as in Class 4 land. (NB 20% is an average practical limit for the use of mechanical equipment.)

See diagram below of Class 5 moderate quality grazing land:








CLASS 6

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Grazing Land--Not Suitable for cultivation: Land capable of grazing but not cultivation. Grazing based on native pastures or improved pastures,
relying on minimum tillage techniques. If used for hobby farms, adequate provision should be made for water supply, effluent disposal and selection of safe building sites and access roads.

LAND ATTRIBUTE GUIDELINES

SLOPE: 20-331/3,--steep to mountainous (or lower sloping lands if shallow or very rocky.)
TERRAIN: Sideslopes
DRAINAGE: Land may be subject to periodic inundation and high watertable, however, these are of short duration or can be economically solved. eg draining.
SALINITY: Salting can be evident
EROSION HAZARD: Moderate to very high
NOTE: The occurrence of feral and noxious animals and weeds may be high on this land but does not impose a severe limitation to grazing.
SOIL CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS: Requires limitation of stock,
broadcasting seed and fertilizer, prevention of fire and destruction of vermin, possibly gully control structures, but intensive earthworks are impractical.
NB. Slopes over 331/3% or 18° in a notified catchment have timber clearing or destruction restrictions under the Soil Conservation Act, 1938).

Class 6 poor quality grazing land:







Class 6 land affected by salinity:


OTHER LAND

CLASS 7

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Land Best Suited to Timber: Land best suited to timber due to erosion hazard, steepness, shallowness or infertility.

LAND ATTRIBUTE GUIDELINES
SLOPE: Generally 331/3-50%,--mountainous or deeply dissected. (However, may occur on slopes < 33'/3% if soils are shallow, infertile or poorly structured etc. eg. slopes < 10% on sandstone plateaux) AND has one or more of the following:
DRAINAGE: Frequently flooded or ponded drainage.
SOILS: Shallow, evident to strongly saline, high to extreme erosion hazard.
FERAL ANIMALS/ WEEDS: Uneconomic
SOIL CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS: Stock should be excluded and, when cleared, land should be allowed to revert to timber.

SEE EXAMPLE IN DIAGRAM 14-34 LAND BEST SUITED TO TIMBER AS IT IS AFFECTED BY LANDSLIP AND REQUIRES VEGETATION




CLASS 8

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Land Unusable for Agricultural or Pastoral Use
Land unusable due to severe limitation of land attributes.

LAND ATTRIBUTE GUIDELINES

SLOPE: Generally > 50%--precipitous. However may occur on lesser slopes where soils exhibit one or more of the following:


SOIL CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS
Land best suited to nature conservation, scenic protection or

FURTHER GUIDELINES - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING LAND EVALUATION AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Further to the capability classification above the two departments have issued the following guidelines to help the assessment of land capability.

CLASS 1

Land capable of regular cultivation (cereals, oilseeds, fodder) or intensive horticulture (vegetables, orchards). It has a very good capability for agriculture where there are only minor or no constraints to sustain high levels of production. It includes irrigated areas with high production. All, or nearly all, of the following conditions are to be satisfied:


CLASS 2

Land suitable for cultivation or cropping, but not suited to continuous cropping or intensive horticulture. It has good capability for agriculture, except where constraints limit the cropping phase to a rotation with improved pastures thus reducing the overall level of production.

CLASS 2 LANDS CAN BE EITHER (A) OR (B):

(a) where pockets of Class 1 land are too small for general agricultural use and occupy between 25% and 75% inside a zone of a lower class, then that whole zone should be placed in Class 2 provided that the productivity of crops appropriate to that zone is very high; otherwise the zone should be included in Class 3.

(b) all or nearly all of the following conditions are to be satisfied:


CLASS 3

Land suitable for grazing and pasture improvement, and can be cultivated for an occasional cash crop or forage crop in conjunction with pasture management. The overall level of production is moderate as a result of high environmental costs which limit the frequency of ground disturbance. Has a moderate capability for agriculture.

Pasture land capable of sustained high levels of production, although conservation measures may be required. More than one condition is to be satisfied:


CLASS 4

Land suitable for grazing and not suitable for cultivation. Agriculture is based on native pastures or improved pastures relying on minimum tillage techniques. The overall level of production is low. Environmental constraints make arable agriculture uneconomic.

All or nearly all of the following conditions are to be satisfied:


CLASS 5

Land suited for only rough grazing or Land not suited to agriculture. Agricultural production is very low or zero. Severe or absolute constraints to production are imposed by environmental factors. The lands have either a single or very severe limitation or a combination of two or more severe limitations from the following list are present:

(The extra guidelines end at Class5)

FARM PLANS

A farm plan details and maps the resources of the land (land classes, soil types, waterways) and provides a guide for long term planning of paddock design, crop types, rotations and soil conservation strategies which are appropriate for sustainable production on the land units identified in the plan.

The diagram below shows a number of alternative land uses, classes of land that have different land use capabilities and management requirements. Scrub is retained on rocky hilltops, pasture on steep slopes, perennial horticulture is on the middle slopes and
cultivation of vegetables is on the lower slopes. Land used and managed within its capability has a low risk of degradation by water erosion.







LAND CAPABILITY MAP











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