Reduced ground cover

Impact

‘Ground cover’ refers to the material that covers the surface of the soil.  It includes native vegetation, crop stubble, pasture, weeds, leaf litter, rocks and logs.  Ground cover is important for protecting the soil surface from raindrop impact, reducing run-off and soil erosion and enhancing water infiltration.  Ground cover does not include taller vegetation such as trees that provide canopy cover.  Where dense canopy cover limits the growth of ground cover around the base of the tree the bare soil maybe susceptible to erosion.  The condition of the ground cover has implications for flora and fauna habitat, ecological processes and soil condition.

Suggested indicator: Ground cover

Reduced ground cover may be associated with:

Potential associated impacts Suggested indicators+
Increased potential for soil erosion 
  • Hillslope erosion
  • Gully erosion
  • Wind erosion
If eroded sediments are washed into waterways, water quality may be affected
  • Fine sediment in water
  • Phosphates in water
  • Nitrates in water
  • Faecal coliforms in water
  • Farm chemicals in water
Changed vegetation condition and composition
Decreased fuel load, which may reduce fire intensity
  • Impact of fire
Reduced quality and quantity of soil organic matter 
  • Soil life
Changed infiltration that may alter watertable levels
Increased potential for loss of soil nutrients
  • Soil chemistry
Increased evaporative water loss from the soil surface, which may reduce plant available water content of the soil
  • Plant available water content

+ Descriptions of indicators (PDF, 76K)* provides a brief description of each indicator including techniques and purpose.

* Requires Adobe Reader

Last updated 7 September 2010

Land Manager's Monitoring Guide