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Background: Addressing Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) is essential for patient-centred care, shared decision making and improved health outcomes. Value-based health care systems in New South Wales (NSW) have a growing focus on collecting and using PROs that matter most to patients to improve their healthcare outcomes. Developing oral health patient reported outcomes measures (OH-PROM) is a first step towards value-based oral health care. This paper describes the development process of an adult and child OH-PROM tool that can be piloted for NSW public dental patients. Methods: An expert panel was assembled to undertake a systematic process of developing OH-PROMs for NSW Health. Key methodological considerations included: (1) forming an expert panel to specify the target population and context of implementation, (2) rapid literature review and environmental scan to identify existing validated OH-PROM tools for adults and children. (3) consensus gathering with the expert panel (4) consumer feedback, and (5) finalisation of the tool for electronic oral health record (eOHR) integration to establish a set of questions, that were relevant, context-appropriate, and important to oral healthcare outcomes for patients using public dental services. Results: The panel considered a total of 59 questions from two child (15), and four adult (44) Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) questionnaires used to collect OH-PROMs. These questions were mapped to the four key dimensions of OHRQoL for OH-PROMs: Oral Function, Orofacial Pain, Orofacial Appearance, and Psychosocial Impact. The consensus resulted in seven questions that aligned with these four dimensions to form two new NSW OH-PROM tools: one for adults and one for children. The tools were tested with consumers for understandability and usefulness before being incorporated into the electronic oral health record system, in readiness for future pilot testing. Conclusion: The process for developing new OH-PROMs for NSW public dental services took a pragmatic approach that combined literature appraisal, expert consensus, and consumer consultation. Future work will assess the implementation of the OH-PROM tool and test its validity for broader use as an outcome measure for value-based oral healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this clinical audit is to evaluate the characteristics of dental infections requiring hospitalisations, which may help improve preventative and management policies. This study retrospectively evaluated the records of patients admitted to the Nepean hospital, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia, due to dental infections between 2018 and 2019. A total of 102 patients, mostly in their thirties with equal gender distribution, were admitted with dental infections, presenting with pain (100%), swelling (99%), trismus (40.2%), dysphagia (27.4%), fever (21%) [>37 °C], tachycardia (24.8%) and tachypnoea (9.3%). Most patients (68%) presented on weekends, outside regular working hours, and public holidays. A total of 52.5% of patients had taken prior antibiotics. Dental caries, smoking, mental health issues, and illicit drug use were featured strongly. The majority of patients (56.4%) underwent treatment under local anaesthesia. The total length of hospital stay was 271 days (mean 2.7, SD 1.6). Augmentin was the most prescribed antibiotic. Complications were reported in 8.8% of the patients, primarily due to airway compromise. Dental infections leading to hospitalisations continue to be a burden on the healthcare system. A notable finding was that the presentations were primarily on weekends, outside regular working hours, and public holidays, and the majority required dental interventions under local anaesthesia. The provision of on-call emergency dental services may reduce potentially preventable hospitalisations and the length of hospital stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown an inverse association between alcohol consumption and kidney cancer risk. We postulate that this inverse association may be further influenced by other risk factors. We used an Australian cohort, the 45 and Up Study, recruited between 2005 and 2009 to investigate the association between alcohol consumption, and other potential risk factors and kidney cancer incidence. The median follow-up was 5.4 years. Of the 267,357 participants aged ≤45 years living in New South Wales, 497 were diagnosed with kidney cancer. There was a significant inverse association between alcohol consumption and risk of kidney cancer (P =.027), and a significant inverse dose–response relationship (P =.011). There was a significant interaction between alcohol consumption and socioeconomic status (P interaction =.001). Participants residing in higher socioeconomic areas (the two most advantaged quintiles) who consumed 8–10 drinks or greater than 10 drinks per week, respectively, had a lower risk of kidney cancer compared to the group who consumed 1–4 drinks per week (hazard ratio (HR) 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15–0.76, HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.31–0.83) with a dose–response trend of HR 0.62 (95% CI 0.42–0.93) per 7 drink increase in weekly alcohol consumption. There could be an inverse association between alcohol consumption and risk in those residents in higher socioeconomic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, like other developed countries, there has been an increase in reports to child protection services about children experiencing domestic violence. While there is research on the importance of the skills and knowledge of the child protection workforce for this growing problem, little is available about practitioner attitudes and beliefs. This paper presents findings on research undertaken in New South Wales, which is the most populated state in Australia. The research considered the attitudes and beliefs of the statutory child protection workforce about domestic violence. It relied on a large‐scale survey of 1041 child protection practitioners. In order to compare the attitudes and beliefs of child protection workforce with those of the general community, the survey replicated questions from the Australian National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Surveys. Overall, the attitudes and beliefs of the workforce more closely reflected contemporary theory and evidence about domestic violence than those of the community. The research also examined variations in the attitudes and beliefs of the child protection workforce according to practitioner characteristics, finding variations by gender. The implications for the fields of child protection and social work are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fear dominates women and children's experience of domestic violence. Fear of harm, and the consequences of others finding out, can mean mothers are reluctant to seek help. Ironically, these survival behaviours can be understood as non-protective by child protection practitioners. This article describes research undertaken in New South Wales (NSW) Australia to determine the impact on child protection practitioner perceptions of child safety when Response-Based Practice (RBP) questions are combined with the standard NSW Structured Decision Making (SDM) safety assessment. RBP reflects core social work values through questions that explore how victims respond to, resist and manage violence. A vignette experiment with a between-subjects design was used to compare child safety assessments by practitioners who watched an interview guided by SDM alone and practitioners who watched an interview using the combined 'treatment' (SDM+RBP) approach. Participants (N =  1,041) were randomly assigned to SDM and treatment groups. Participants who watched the treatment approach were significantly more likely to assess the mother as cooperative and protective and significantly less likely to indicate that the children would be taken from her care. Thus, the results demonstrate that understanding how women manage violence changes practitioner views about maternal protectiveness and child safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to water is a critical aspect of livestock production, although the relationship between livestock weight gain and water quality remains poorly understood. Previous work has shown that water quality of poorly managed farm dams can be improved by fencing and constructing hardened watering points to limit stock access to the dam, and revegetation to filter contaminant inflow. Here we use cattle weight gain data from three North American studies to develop a cost-benefit analysis for the renovation of farm dams to improve water quality and, in turn, promote cattle weight gain on farms in south-eastern Australia. Our analysis indicated a strong likelihood of positive results and suggested there may be substantial net economic benefit from renovating dams in poor condition to improve water quality. The average per-farm Benefit-Cost Ratios based on deterministic assumptions was 1.5 for New South Wales (NSW) and 3.0 for Victoria in areas where rainfall exceeds 600mm annually. Our analyses suggested that cattle on farms in NSW and Victoria would need to experience additional weight gain from switching to clean water of at least 6.5% and 1.8% per annum respectively, to break even in present value terms. Monte Carlo simulation based on conservative assumptions indicated that the probability of per-farm benefits exceeding costs was greater than 70%. We recommend localised experiments to assess the impact of improved water quality on livestock weight gain in Australian conditions to confirm these expectations empirically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: There are significant inequalities in oral health status between Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal children in Australia, particularly where the children have insufficient access to various forms of fluoride. There has been a growing interest in seeing fluoride varnish programs used more widely for Aboriginal children due to proven effectiveness. Despite this, there has been limited scale‐up of these programs in Australia. This study investigates the feasibility of using Aboriginal dental assistants to provide regular fluoride varnish applications for Aboriginal children in the primary school setting. Design: A mixed‐methods approach including auditing the number of Aboriginal dental assistants were trained and then approved by the NSW Chief Health Officer to apply fluoride varnish, and collection and reporting of participant data on the each of the fluoride varnish days in the local patient management system. Setting: Six Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services from regional NSW were invited to participate in the study. They also nominated a primary school and an Aboriginal dental assistant to participate in the study. Key measures for improvement: Data were obtained from four 'fluoride varnish days' held at the schools over a 12‐month period between December 2017 and December 2018. The number of Aboriginal dental assistants were trained and then approved by the NSW Chief Health Officer to apply fluoride varnish is also reported. Strategies for change: In total, 8 Aboriginal dental assistants were trained to apply fluoride varnish during the study. Overall, students participating in the study received three or more fluoride varnish applications. Effects of change: Results showed that Aboriginal dental assistants are able to safely and effectively apply fluoride varnish in a school setting with remote supervision. Lessons learnt: This program can be scaled at the state level in NSW, and this could provide the basis for a nationally consistent program. Initial discussions have been held with several jurisdictions to lead this process via the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC) based on the results of this study and the support of key stakeholders. The Poche Centre as part of its scale‐up planning for the Fluoride Varnish Program is examining the feasibility of including the apply fluoride varnish skillset in its existing Aboriginal Dental Assistant Scholarship Program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports findings from research commenced in 2019. Stage one assessed the attitudes and beliefs of child protection practitioners towards domestic violence. Stage two considered the impact of combining Structured Decision Making (SDM - the standard assessment approach) with Response Based Practice (RBP - a contemporary approach to understanding violence), on child protection decisions. To improve the child protection response to children who experience domestic violence. This article reports on stage three; considering the impact of practitioner attitudes and beliefs on child protection decisions and whether the combined assessment approach (SDM + RBP) moderated the impact of practitioner attitudes and beliefs. 1041 child protection practitioners participated in the research while attending one of 17 practice conferences across New South Wales, Australia. An innovative video vignette experiment with a between-subjects design was used, relying on professional actors to play the roles of practitioner and mother of the children reported. Participants watched a video interview of a safety assessment and completed a survey. Practitioner attitudes and beliefs were not significantly correlated with assessments about the children's safety; but attitudes did impact decisions about the likelihood of the children being brought into care. Attitudes and beliefs moderated the impact of misinformed attitudes, to some extent. The research confirms the value of the combined SDM + RBP approach to guide practitioners to a more holistic understanding of domestic violence. It also confirms that assessment approaches are only ever as good as the beliefs and attitudes of the people who apply them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the impact of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes extends into young adulthood and beyond. Topics include young adults with childhood-onset type 1 diabetes have invited to participate in an online survey via the Research Electronic Data Capture system; and data have concerning given has a well-educated and motivated group of respondents.

Background The simultaneous adoption of laparoscopy and partial nephrectomy ( PN) has been reported to result in unintended consequences. We aim to examine the contemporary (2001-2009) trends in use of PN and laparoscopy within a population-wide database. Methods All renal cell carcinomas diagnosed between 2001 and 2009 in New South Wales, Australia, were identified from the Central Cancer Registry. Records of treatment were electronically linked. All patients with localized renal cell carcinoma who underwent surgical treatment were selected for this study (3771 patients). Follow-up was to the end of 2010. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictors of PN and laparoscopy. Results In the entire cohort, 150 (4%), 495 (13%), 1516 (40%) and 1610 (43%) received laparoscopic PN, open PN, laparoscopic radical nephrectomy ( RN) and open RN, respectively. Between the years 2001 and 2009, there was a gradual increase in the use of PN except between 2005 and 2007. Between 2001 and 2009, a rapid uptake of laparoscopy was observed. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that age ( OR: 0.99 (0.98-0.99)), year of surgery ( OR: 1.15 (1.11-1.19)), comorbidity ( OR: 1.40 (1.12-1.76)) and hospital case load >8/year ( OR: 2.39 (1.49-3.81)) predicted use of PN. Year of surgery ( OR: 1.19 (1.15-1.21)), comorbidity ( OR: 0.70 (0.58-0.85)), non-teaching hospital ( OR: 0.70 (0.53-0.93)), private hospital ( OR: 1.86 (1.45-2.38)) and hospital case load > 8/year ( OR: 3.36 (2.22-5.09)) predicted use of laparoscopy. Conclusion The unintended decrease in PN associated with increased use of laparoscopic RN had reversed by 2009. Hospital case load predicts the use of PN and laparoscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian males. There are limited data on the long-term health system costs associated with PCa. The aim of this study is to estimate long-term health care costs of PCa. Methods We estimated the health system costs for a cohort of 1873 males diagnosed with PCa between 2000 and 2002, using linked medical, pharmaceutical and hospital data. Treatment was defined by an initial phase, measuring health care costs up to 6 months following diagnosis and a continuing phase (including metastatic treatment), measuring treatments to 9.5 years. Nonparametric models were used to calculate average health care costs by PCa risk groups at diagnosis (low to metastatic) and treatment pathways. Results Health system costs increased with increasing PCa risk category, from $16 923 (low risk) to $39 101 (metastatic risk group). For men with initial localized risk, costs were $8 454 for the active surveillance treatment pathway, $9621 for external beam radiation therapy/brachytherapy, $19 210 for androgen deprivation therapy, $20 636 for radical prostatectomy, $21 161 for radical prostatectomy + external beam radiation therapy/brachytherapy, $21 388 for any of the treatments previously listed + androgen deprivation therapy, with an additional cost of $55 370 if metastatic treatment was undertaken. Conclusions Treatment costs are highest during two phases over the natural cycle of the disease, the initial diagnosis phase and the metastatic treatment phase. Both the initial phase costs and low-risk category costs are driven largely by the rates of radical prostatectomy. Our study provides comprehensive long-term estimates of PCa costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE--To examine trends in microvascular complications in adolescents with type 1 diabetes between 1990 and 2009 in Sydney, Australia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--We used analysis of complications in 1,604 adolescents (54% female, aged 12--20 years, median duration 8.6 years), stratified by four time periods using Generalized Estimation Equations as follows: T1 (1990--1994), T2 (1995--1999), T3 (2000--2004), and T4 (2005--2009). Early retinopathy was detected using seven-field fundal photography, albumin excretion rate (AER) using timed overnight urine collections, and albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and peripheral nerve function using thermal and vibration threshold. RESULTS--Retinopathy declined (53, 38, 23, and 12%; P < 0.001), as did borderline elevation of AER/ACR (45, 30, 26, and 30%; P < 0.001) and microalbuminuria (8, 4, 3, and 3%; P = 0.006). Multiple daily injections (MDI)/continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) use increased (17, 54, 75, and 88%; P , 0.001), median HbA1c decreased (9.1, 8.9, 8.5, and 8.5%; P < 0.001), and severe hypoglycemia was unchanged (6, 8, 10, and 7%; P = 0.272). Retinopathy was associated with diabetes duration (odds ratio [OR] 1.12 [95% CI 1.08--1.17]), age (1.13 [1.06--1.20]), HbA1c (1.16 [1.08--1.25]), systolic blood pressure (BP) SDS (1.31 [1.16--1.48]), socioeconomic disadvantage (1.42 [1.04--1.95]), and 1 to 2 injections per day (vs. MDI/CSII; 1.35 [1.05--1.73]); borderline AER/ACR with male sex (1.32 [1.02--1.70]), age (1.19 [1.12-- 1.26]), HbA1c (1.18 [1.08--1.29]), weight SDS (1.31 [1.21--1.53]), insulin dose per kilograms (1.64 [1.13--2.39]), 1 to 2 injections per day (1.41 [1.08--1.84]), and socioeconomic disadvantage (1.68 [1.23--2.31]); andmicroalbuminuria with age (1.14 [1.01--1.29]), HbA1c (1.20 [1.05-- 1.37]), diastolic BP SDS (1.76 [1.26--2.46]), and 1 to 2 injections per day (1.95 [1.11--3.41]). CONCLUSIONS--The decline in retinopathy supports contemporary guidelines that recommend lower glycemic targets and use of MDI/CSII in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rate-pegging has been in place in NSW for more than thirty years with broad support from all sides of politics. However, in late 2008 the NSW Government commissioned IPART to report on the adequacy of rate-pegging. IPART produced a Draft Report and then a Final Report, which has not yet been released by the NSW Government. Nevertheless, the NSW Government has made some changes to local government finance by way of capping developer charges, allowing IPART to make annual rate-pegging determinations, and enabling IPART to consider special variations in rate-pegging. Against this background, this paper considers the principles and practice of rate-pegging in NSW, the rationale for rate-pegging and counter-arguments on its desirability, as well as its economic effects on NSW local government finance relative to other Australian local government jurisdictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For much of its history in the twentieth century, television was conceived mostly in national terms. American television, British television, Australian television and so on were thought of as distinct systems, even if they frequently displayed significant degrees of overlap. Such a notion has always been a convenient simplification. Television exists at a series of different spatial levels and the nationwide tier is only one of these. Recent interest in the notion of media capital draws attention to the role played by broadcasting hubs in larger television formations, not only in the industrial sense of resource accumulation and density but also in terms of colonizing larger media environments. This paper addresses this matter in terms of the role that a Sydney metropolitan television service has played in the life of the Australian nation. It surveys the material and ideological dimension of this service as a means of further problematizing the connection of television and nation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gallstones and common bile duct calculi have been increasingly diagnosed in recent years in infants and children. The present study aims to review the spectrum of this disorder in the last two decades. Methods: During the period 1979–96 a total of 102 consecutive infants and children were diagnosed in Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children with gallstones or common bile duct calculi. A detailed retrospective analysis and follow-up of these children form the basis of the present report. Results: The median age at presentation was 10 years. Recurrent right upper quadrant pain was the most common clinical presentation. The male-to-female ratio was 3:2 and this male predominance was noted in all the age groups. Aetiologically three identifiable groupings were noted: idiopathic disease (n = 66), haematological diseases (n = 23) and specific non-haematological disease (n = 13). The incidence of idiopathic and haematological stones had increased two-fold in the second half of the study. The majority of children (86%) underwent surgical correction. Choledocholithiasis (CDL) was noted in 18 children (18%). Jaundice was commonly associated with abdominal pain in this group. A higher incidence of common bile duct calculi was noted in females and children less than 5 years of age (P < 0.01). Common bile duct calculi were accurately diagnosed by pre-operative imaging in all 18 children. Surgical correction was required in all except two. Conclusions: The present study suggests an increasing incidence of gallstones in children. Cholelithiasis in children occurs commonly in boys, is idiopathic in aetiology and presents with a vague right upper quadrant pain. Choledocholithiasis is not uncommon in children, occurs more commonly in girls aged < 5 years and presents with jaundice or abnormal liver function tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluates the use of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of children with pilomatrixoma (epithelioma) in Sydney, New South Wales. Concerns on symptoms of epithelioma; Statistics on children with tumors caused by epithelioma; Importance of ultrasound scans in determining pilomatrixoma.

Background: Whilst cannabis commercialization is occurring rapidly guided by highly individualistic public narratives, evidence that all congenital anomalies (CA) increase alongside cannabis use in Canada, a link with 21 CA's in Hawaii, and rising CA's in Colorado indicate that transgenerational effects can be significant and impact public health. It was therefore important to study Northern New South Wales (NNSW) where cannabis use is high. Methods: Design: Cohort. 2008–2015. Setting: NNSW and Queensland (QLD), Australia. Participants. Whole populations. Exposures. Tobacco, alcohol, cannabis. Source: National Drug Strategy Household Surveys 2010, 2013. Main Outcomes. CA Rates. NNSW-QLD comparisons. Geospatial and causal regression. Results: Cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal anomalies rose with falling tobacco and alcohol but rising cannabis use rates across Queensland. Maternal age NNSW-QLD was not different (2008–2015: 4265/22084 v. 96,473/490514 > 35 years/total, Chi.Sq. = 1.687, P = 0.194). A higher rate of NNSW cannabis-related than cannabis-unrelated defects occurred (prevalence ratio (PR) = 2.13, 95%C.I. 1.80–2.52, P = 3.24 × 10− 19). CA's rose more potently with rising cannabis than with rising tobacco or alcohol use. Exomphalos and gastroschisis had the highest NNSW:QLD PR (6.29(2.94–13.48) and 5.85(3.54–9.67)) and attributable fraction in the exposed (84.11%(65.95–92.58%) and 82.91%(71.75–89.66%), P = 2.83 × 10− 8 and P = 5.62 × 10− 15). In multivariable geospatial models cannabis was significantly linked with cardiovascular (atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, patent ductus arteriosus), genetic (chromosomal defects, Downs syndrome), gastrointestinal (small intestinal atresia), body wall (gastroschisis, diaphragmatic hernia) and other (hypospadias) (AVTPCDSGDH) CA's. In linear modelling cannabis use was significantly linked with anal stenosis, congenital hydrocephalus and Turner syndrome (ACT) and was significantly linked in borderline significant models (model P < 0.1) with microtia, microphthalmia, and transposition of the great vessels. At robust and mixed effects inverse probability weighted multivariable regression cannabis was related to 18 defects. 16/17 E-Values in spatial models were > 1.25 ranging up to 5.2 × 1013 making uncontrolled confounding unlikely. Conclusions: These results suggest that population level CA's react more strongly to small rises in cannabis use than tobacco or alcohol; cardiovascular, chromosomal, body wall and gastrointestinal CA's rise significantly with small increases in cannabis use; that cannabis is a bivariate correlate of AVTPCDSGDH and ACT anomalies, is robust to adjustment for other substances; and is causal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Zero tillage is a philosophical ideal for soil conservation. • The ideal can be in conflict with the need to manage soil and agronomic constraints. • We measured the detriment caused by a single tillage and the subsequent recovery. • One tillage caused minor loss of wet aggregate stability and no effect on hydraulic conductivity. • Recovery time was generally 1–2 years but for one site-year exceeded 2 years. Occasional, strategically applied tillage within an otherwise no-till system conflicts with the philosophical ideal of zero disturbance of soil, yet is often needed to manage soil constraints, pests and weeds. This study reports the impacts of a single strategic tillage applied to long term no-till soils (10–16 years) with a scarifier or offset discs, compared with ongoing no-till, on soil conditions and crop growth over four seasons at three locations in southern New South Wales, Australia. The tillage occurred just prior to sowing in autumn and under different management conditions at each site. The effect of a single tillage on wet aggregate stability (WAS) ranged from 0 to 14% loss of macro-aggregates, and the recovery time was generally one or two years with the exception of one site-year. The effect of a single tillage on saturated hydraulic conductivity was not statistically significant. Crop establishment was decreased by tillage in some site-years but effects on crop dry matter and grain yield tended to be neutral or minor. In most cases, seasonal effects and crop sequence had a much larger effect on crop productivity than tillage. The results demonstrated that strategic use of tillage within an otherwise no-till system generated minor and short term impacts on soil conditions. Strategic tillage therefore provides a tool for more flexible management of soil, pest and weed constraints to ensure long term productivity and sustainability of dryland mixed farming systems in southern New South Wales, Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineralogical, chemical, and spectroscopic properties of chrysoberyl crystals recovered from sapphire placer deposits, related to Tertiary volcanic rocks, in the New England gem fields in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, are presented. The samples appeared yellow, yellowish brown, or brown in transmitted light, and some crystals revealed a distinct sectorial zoning between brown i (011) and yellow o (111) growth areas. In reflected light, the i sectors showed a whitish appearance, and cabochon-cut samples with larger whitish i sectors displayed chatoyancy. On the basis of morphological properties, trace-element contents, and absorption spectra, the chrysoberyl samples were subdivided into four different groups, possibly originating from different host rocks. The largest such group, comprised of samples with distinct sectorial color zoning, also revealed a pronounced variation in trace-element levels of titanium, niobium, and tantalum between the different growth sectors. Smaller variations were found for boron, magnesium, and iron, and almost no variation was observed for gallium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The common soil physical quality indicators are related to each other because they all reflect soil structure, but to measure all of these parameters would be very time consuming. Therefore, it is desirable to obtain one simple index for overall assessment. The soil physical parameter, S, may serve this purpose but the theory needs to be validated on soils affected by different management practices. Therefore, in this paper, soils from a long-term tillage/stubble experiment which commenced in 1979 in New South Wales, Australia were analysed for treatment effects on aspects of soil physical quality and on the S value. The treatments ranged from direct-drilling, stubble-retention through to multiple-cultivation stubble-burnt and also included a wheel track vs. non-wheel track comparison. Results showed that after 26years of different tillage and stubble management practices, significant changes in soil physical qualities were detectable at 0.05m depth. The direct-drilling soil had lower bulk density, higher soil organic carbon and improved water-stable aggregation (>0.25mm aggregates) and friability. The S values obtained from the soil water retention curves were well correlated with the other soil physical quality indicators determined in this research and covered the range of S values from 0.030 to 0.046 associated with soil physical qualities in the poor and good categories. It is concluded that S value can be used as an overall index of soil physical quality for soils under different tillage, stubble and field traffic treatments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]