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Increased ground cover

Impact

Ground cover describes 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.  The condition of the ground cover has implications for flora and fauna habitat, ecological processes and soil condition.

Suggested indicator: Ground cover
Increased ground cover may be associated with:
Potential associated impacts Suggested indicators
Changed vegetation condition
  • Native vegetation area
  • Vegetation desity*
  • Native plant richness*
  • Weed species*
  • Weed cover*
  • Tree canopy cover & health*
  • Shrub cover*
  • Large trees*
  • Pasture species*
Increased fuel load, which may increase fire intensity
  • Impact of fire*
 

Changed infiltration that may altered the watertable
  • Soil infiltration*
  • Depth to groundwater

Reduced evaporative water loss from soil surface that may increase plant available water content
  • Plant available water content*
 

Increased quality and quantity of soil organic matter 
  • Soil life*
  • Organic litter*
 

Increased potential for gain of soil nutrients
  • Soil chemistry*
 

Reduced potential for soil erosion 
  • Hillslope erosion*
  • Gully erosion*
  • Wind erosion*

* Yet to be developed

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