Landloch's capability statements have been updated to highlight the expanding number of services we offer to clients and the increasing number of industries we now serve.

A new technical note discussing the impacts of surface roughness in arid zones has been added to the Technical Notes section. The file can also be viewed by clicking the following link: Surface Roughness Impacts - Arid Zones

The capabilities section has been updated to include an outline of Landloch's services for the construction industry. These services include soil mapping, soil sampling and analysis, advise on soil management or remediation, and advise on erosion and sediment control. The new capability statement can be downloaded here:Soil Characterisation and Management for Construction Sites (PDF 210k).

Landloch Pty Ltd and the University of Southern Queensland have finalised a study for the Toowoomba City Council investigating potential impacts on Toowoomba soils of using laundry grey water to irrigate lawns and gardens. Samples of laundry grey water were taken from Toowoomba houses and analysed for soluble salts, nitrogen, phosphorous and faecal coliforms. Four of the most commonly found soils in Toowoomba were leached with solutions based on the laundry grey water quality measured. The resultant changes in soil structure and chemistry were recorded.

The study highlighted issues with the use of laundry grey water including potentially high phosphorus concentrations, high sodium concentrations in soluble salts, no faecal coliforms in the majority of samples (one household with a baby had faecal coliform values that would cause concern) and increased suspended solids concentrations from front loading machines.

Using laundry grey water to irrigate Toowoomba soils will increase pH of soil, increase soil sodicity and clay dispersion and result in lower water permeability, restricted drainage when wet and hardsetting and cloddy soil structure when dry.

The potential soil impacts and the cost and complexity of the disposal systems required for subsurface irrigation will make long-term, regular, use of laundry grey water for irrigation unattractive to most householders. It is noted that even if households opt for simpler disposal methods such as buckets, the potential for damage to soils and plants will remain.

Sometimes quite small changes can have tremendous impact.

In the last 12 months, an upgraded rainfall simulator control system has made life easier for Landloch staff. A handheld computer has replaced cumbersome electronics, and provides precise control of nozzle sweep speed and cycle times. The new system is lighter and avoids the overheating issues of the control equipment used previously.

The handheld computer control system has now been used in rainfall simulator studies at several locations in Western Australia, in New South Wales, and in central and southern Queensland. It has also had extensive use in Landloch’s erosion laboratory in Toowoomba.

The same technology has been extended to runoff logging, with a handheld computer being used to log the tipping buckets that measure runoff rates from rainfall simulator plots. The simplicity and reliability of the system has further improved efficiency and reliability of field studies.

Rainfall simulation is technically complex and operation of the equipment will always provide challenges, as the field conditions encountered can be difficult. However, the new control and logging systems have performed reliably and the resultant improvement in efficiency and ease of operation is welcomed by both staff and clients.

The Case Studies page has been updated to include the final report of stage 1 of the Hydromulch project. The project aimed to test the critical shear strengths of a range of hydromulch products with varied application rates.