Digital Commons Network^™

Diagnosing And Ameliorating Problem Soils : Decision Tree On How To Diagnose And Ameliorate Problem Soils, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Agriculture reports

Most cropping paddocks in Western Australia have lower yielding areas within paddocks that perform poorly in most years. If the agronomy and management are good, the poor yields are usually due to soil-related problems. Some of these problems can be corrected or reduced by adopting certain proven practices. However, it is important to identify and quantify the problem so that decisions can be made on whether amelioration is possible and economically feasible. The objective is to provide a simploe decision tool for farmers and advisers to use in identifying and quantifying soil problems in agricultural soils in Western Australia. It …

Guide To Growing Summer Grain & Forages In The South Coast Region, Western Australia, Andrea Hills, Sally-Anne Penny

Agriculture reports

Growing summer grain and forages in the south coast region of Western Australia. Information is included for sorghum, millet family, sunflowers, and safflower.

Evaporation Basin Guidelines For Disposal Of Saline Water, Jda Consultant Hydrologists, Edward Hauck

Agriculture reports

The purpose of this guideline is to provide information and criteria for evaporation basin planning, design, construction, monitoring, and maintenance for purposes of disposal of water and storage of disposed salts in dryland agricultural areas of Western Australia. The application of the guidelines will assist in the management of saline discharge and the protection of natural resources. The guidelines have been tailored specifically for saline evaporation disposal sites located in the wheatbelt areas of Western Australia.

Spectacular Recovery In The Ord River Catchment, A L. Payne, I W. Watson, P E. Novelly

Agriculture reports

Regeneration work on severely damaged country in what is now known as the Ord River Regeneration Reserve (ORRR) commenced in 1960. The ORRR is in the East Kimberley area of Western Australia with an associated small area in the Northern Territory. The work included strip contour cultivation and seeding (which proceeded at various levels of intensity during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s), fencing and destocking of cattle by mustering over many years, and the eradication of donkeys.

Groundwater Trends In The Esperance Sandplain And Mallee Sub-Regions, John Andrew Simons, A Alderman

Agriculture reports

The South Coast Regional Initiative Planning Team (SCRIPT) has divided the South Coast region of Western Australia into six sub-regions. The Esperance Sandplain and Mallee subregions encompass the Esperance agricultural district, which contains about 1.5 million hectares of agricultural land. This publication describes the groundwater trends, risk of shallow watertables, and technical feasibility of salinity management in the soil-landscape zones within the Esperance agricultural district.

Greenhouse, Land Management And Carbon Sequestration In Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Wa, Department Of Conservation And Land Management, Forrest Products Commission, Department Of Environment, Water And Catchment Protection, Anne Bennett

Agriculture reports

This report examines options for greenhouse emissions abatement by changing land management practices and establishing terrestrial organic carbon sinks in Western Australia.

Sustainability Issues For Agriculture In Western Australia, Anne Bennett, Ross Kingwell, Ross George

Agriculture reports

This paper describes briefly the main challenges to the sustainability of agriculture in Western Australia and outlines some means of responding the the challenges: market-based approaches; agricultural and environmental research and development; accelerated adjustment; and global and national policy initiatives. Challenges include: land resource quality (salinity, soil acidity), biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, water availability, food safety, and pests and diseases.

Published Salinity Information And Wa Farmers. An Investigation Into The Effectiveness Of Current Published Salinity Information, Stephen Lloyd

Agriculture reports

Salinity is one of the greatest environmental threats facing Western Australia. Extension of salinity information to WA farmers is a key process in helping the rural community manage this threat. Published information is an important part of this extension. However, there has been very little research into the use and effectiveness of published salinity information. The aim of this study was to investigate:

• Effectiveness of current salinity information products and services in relation to decision making and practice change by WA farmers;

• Possible improvement in salinity publications to better assist WA farmers in decision making and practice change.

Pasture Condition Guides For The Pilbara, A L. Payne, A A. Mitchell

Agriculture reports

These pasture condition guides are relevant to about 192 000 square kilometres of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The rangeland of the Pilbara can be separated into 12 very broad pasture types. The ‘pasture type’ is not strictly a botanical classification because, in determining such a class of pastoral lands, the perennial plant species that contribute to stock production have an over-riding importance. Even so, each pasture type represents a broad group of similar vegetation associations or ‘site types’ which will have similar management requirements for pastoralism. The aim of this publication is to provide pastoralists with descriptions and …

Rangeways - Community Based Planning For Ecologically Sustainable Land Use In The Western Australian Goldfields, Alec Holm, Margaret H. Friedel, Donald Burnside, Jennifer Duffecy, David Fitzgerald, Greg Brennan

Agriculture reports

Ways to identity and reconcile opportunities tor different land uses while protecting biologically sensitive areas were researched within the Western Australian rangeland from1995 to 2000. The research was undertaken within a framework of community-based regional planning and was underpinned by policies of ecological sustainable development.The research and community structures arising from the work were collectively named the Rangeways project. The purpose was to resolve land use problems through a structural approach to land use planning and the development of processes rather than to devise 'The Plan'.

Developing An Environmental Management System (Ems) For Viticulture, Catherine Nind

Agriculture reports

This guidebook outlines one approach that may be used to develop an Environmental Management System (EMS) for a vineyard. The system described in this guidebook facilitates a continual improvement in environmental management and can be used to demonstrate a commitment to responsible land management. The system is generally consistent with the requirements of ISO 14001: the internationally accepted standard for an EMS.

Revegetation Information And Training Needs Of Western Australia's Extension Intermediaries : A Qualitative And Quantitative Market Research Report, Stephen Lloyd

Agriculture reports

Report on a survey conducted in 2001 for the Department of Agriculture Western Australia's Farm Forestry and Revegetation (FF&R) Project, of 'Intermediaries', that is, those persons who mediate between those with expertise in revegetation and those who require the information. The survey was instigated in order to improve the flow, quality and utility of information as required by intermediaries, and to identify further training needs.

Agwest Revegetation Monitoring Activity, Caroline Hatherly, Tony Allen, Neil Guise

Agriculture reports

This annual report summarises the landcare vegetation and revegetation projects that were completed at the end of 2000 in the Peel Harvey, Leschenault and Geographe Catchments, Western Australia. Revegetation activities included: streamlining, vegetation belts, alley farming, tree lots, revegetation, . Activity was recorded for Coolup, Harvey River, Dandalup Murray, Serpentine Jarrahdale Land Conservation District Committees.

Pastoral Resources And Their Management In The Sandstone-Yalgoo-Paynes Find Area, Western Australia, A M E Van Vreeswyk, P. T. Godden

Agriculture reports

This report covers about 94,700 square kilometres of rangelands in the Sandstone-Yalgoo-Paynes Find area of Western Australia. The area lies within 27°S and 30°S latitudes, and 115°30'E and 120°E longitudes and includes the towns of Sandstone, Yalgoo and Paynes Find. The northern, southern, and eastern limits of the survey area are largely defined by the boundaries of the 1:250,000 scale series map sheets.The western limit is the boundary between the pastoral and agricultural area.

Phosphorus And Nitrate Loss From Horticulture On The Swan Coastal Plain, Neil Clifton Lantzke

Agriculture reports

(En) The extent of nutrient loss from nine horticultural properties located on the sandy soils of the Swan Coastal Plain was examined. On three of the properties phosphorus (P) loss was measured by monitoring nutrient loads in shallow drains. On the other six properties networks of monitoring bores were installed and both P and nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) concentrations were monitored. All of the properties except one were located on the low phosphate fixing Bassendean sands. The level of nutrient loss was depend l production areas. High to very high N03-N concentrations were found in the shallow groundwater beneath the production …

Soil Information Sheets For The Northern Agricultural Areas, Natural Resources Assessment Group, Agriculture Western Australia, Landcare Western Australia

Agriculture reports

These soil information sheets are produced for farmers in the Northern Wheatbelt. Each sheet summaries information on the particular soil's characteristic properties and associated land use suitability and management. A photograph of a representative profile is provided for each soil. Technical terms are defined in the glossary. Information is presented under the following headings: Soil series and group, occurrence, native vegetation, soil profile description, characteristic soil properties, soil classification (Australian Soil Classification and Northcote Principal Profile Form).

Environmental Water Quality - A Guide To Sampling And Measurement, Richard J. George, Davie Weaver, James Terry

Agriculture reports

The guide covers the problems associated with sampling water in the field and suggestions to overcome them. The main types of water pollution that potentially occur in the south west of Western Australia are discussed and for each contaminant, the origins and environmental effects are briefly described and where available, water quality guidelines are provided for major water uses. This is followed by specific requirements of the collection, storage and analysis of samples. The guide also includes further reading and details on suppliers, analytical costs and web resources.

Soil Information Sheets For Part Of The Jerramungup Agricultural Area, Tim D. Overheu, Landcare Western Australia, Jerramungup Land Conservation District Committee

Agriculture reports

Each sheet summarises information on the soil's characteristic properties, and associated land use suitability and management. A photograph of a representative profile is provided for each soil. Technical terms are defined in soil sheet glossary. Information is presented under the following headings: soil series and groups, occurence, native vegetation, soil profile description, characteristic soil properties, soil classification and agricultural land use and management.

Soil Information Sheets For The Mount Beaumont, Mallee And Esperance Agricultural Areas, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Landcare Western Australia, Esperance Land Conservation District Committee, Mount Beaumont / Howick Catchment Group (W.A.)

Agriculture reports

Each sheet summarises information on the soil's characteristic properties, and associated land use suitability and management. A photograph of a representative profile is provided for each soil. Technical terms are defined in soil sheet glossary. Information is presented under the following headings: soil series and groups, occurence, native vegetation, soil profile description, characteristic soil properties, soil classification and agricultural land use and management.

Soil Information Sheets For Ravensthorpe And Part Of The Jerramungup Agricultural Areas, Tim D. Overheu, Landcare Western Australia.

Agriculture reports

The soil information sheets produced for the Ravensthorpe Land Conservation District provide an easy reference guide to the soils for part of the Jerramungup and Ravensthorpe agricultural areas, and provide land use and soil management recommendations. Soil data are shown on the front of the sheet, and land use and land management information is given on the back. The information should be used as a guide, and encourage the user to seek further information through the relevant people and organisations.

Pastoral Resources And Their Management In The North-Eastern Goldfields, Western Australia, H J. Pringle

Agriculture reports

This report commences with a brief section in which rangeland survey information is put into a pastoral management context. It then describes the environment in terms of types of rangeland and climate. Types of rangeland are described in terms of pasture types, land systems and land types. A pasture type is a kind of land at a plant community or landform scale. It is what is seen out of the window of a vehicle and what monitoring sites are located on. A land system can be seen as a pattern of pasture types in a characteristic position in the landscape. …

Installing Photographic Rangeland Monitoring Sites In Grassland Environments, Andrew Mclaughlin

Agriculture reports

Photographic monitoring offers pastoralists an inexpensive management tool that can help to better understand how varying management practices affect the rangeland. Using a monitoring system also helps take the guesswork out of knowing what changes to vegetation and soils have occurred over time.

Conservation For Production : Kings Rocks Catchment Report, William Oldfield

Agriculture reports

The aim of this report is to bring together current information on the land and ideas which will provide landholders of the King Rocks catchment group with a basis to make more informed decisions about managing the land. The report contains information on how the landscape was formed, how areas become degraded, what are the present recommended ways of fixing land degradation and what are the most productive means of farming the land.

Rangeland Management In Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Agriculture reports

Grazing the rangeland - towards and understanding, by Alec Holm and Donald Burnside Rangeland surveys, a basis for improved land use, by Peter Curry and Alan Payne. Monitoring Western Australia's rangelands, by Ron Hacker, David Beurle and Gorge Gardiner. Regenerating the rangelands, by Adrian Williams and Ron Shepherd. Station management planning in the rangelands, by John Morrissey. Planning for future development in the Murchison. Rangelands have many users. Plant regeneration and the control of dust on the South Common, Carnarvon, by Ian Watson. Mine dumps and dust towns, rehabilitation of mined areas and control of dust in the Goldfields. Rehabilitation …