Landcare - Warburton Project > Stage 1, Staggered Furrows and Spirals (February '91)

Picture 1. Tractor using an opposed disc plough to cut staggered furrows along the contour. The opposed disc plough is raised and lowered cutting furrows on each side with a mound of soil forming between the discs and providing a soft seed bed for wind blown and also planted seed. Each furrow is 3-4 metres long with about three metres between each furrow. The distance between each row of furrows can vary from 3-4 metres.

Picture 2. A close-up view of the opposed disc plough cutting the two furrows on each side and forming a soft mound between them. Wind blown seed lodges in the furrows and the soft soil from the mound gravitates into the furrow covering the seed. Wind blown dust and soil also collect in the furrow and cover seed.

Picture 3. Aerial view of five spirals cut with an opposed disc plough in a paddock of stagged furrows.

Picture 4. Women from the Warburton community planted acacia seed of local varieties on the spirals. Germination of the seed may only take place every 20 to 30 metres and if this is the case the circular nature of the spiral allows the plants to be clumped together. When the clump produces its own seed, then the resultant seedlings will make the clump thicker and it will become self sustaining.