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Maintained 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 runoff 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
Maintained ground cover may be associated with:
Potential associated impacts Suggested indicators
Changed vegetation condition and composition
  • Native vegetation area
  • Vegetation desity*
  • Impacts on native vegetation*
  • Ground cover
  • Shrub cover*
  • Tree canopy cover & health*
  • Weed cover*
  • Organic litter*
  • Native plant richness*
  • Weed species*
  • Pasture species*
Increased fuel load leading to higher intensity fires
  • Impact of fire*
Increased quality and quantity of soil organic matter 
  • Soil life*
Changed infiltration/flow that may alter watertable levels
Increased potential for gain of soil nutrients
  • Soil chemistry*
Decreased potential for soil erosion
  • Hillslope erosion*
  • Gully erosion*
  • Wind erosion*
* Yet to be developed

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