Engineering Commons^™

Seepage Interceptor Drains And Topsoil Salinity, T R. Negus

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The Department of Agriculture established 121 trials in its Narrogin advisory district starting in 1972 to measure the effect of bulldozer and grader built seepage interceptor banks and drains on the topsoil salinity of the land downslope of them.

After 14 years of moniterin, there was no evidence that seepage interceptor drains and banks reduced the top soil salinity on 10 of the 11 sites in the Pingelly, Brookton and Wickepin Shires.

Mogumber Drainage Works Succeed, L K. Lenane

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The loss of arable farmland from soil erosion, waterlogging and salinity is a severe problem on some Western Australian farms.

When the arable land comprises only 40 per cent of the total area within the Mogumber Soil Conservation District, this loss is a real cause for concern. So too is the resulting damage to roads, siltation of railway culverts, and deaths of roadside trees from rising saline watertables.

However, drainage, contour and other works undertaken by the Mogumber Soil Conservation District have halted this degredation. Badly eroded areas that were fenced off now have a satisfactory ground cover. A wheat …

Laser Levelling Land For Flood Irrigation, M D. Green, J. P. Middlemas

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Since the introduction of laser levelling to Western Australia's South-West irrigation area five years ago, many farmers have benefited from this new and precise method of land-forming.

The use of lasser controlled earthmoving equipment to redevelop irrigated paddocks has led to improved irrigation efficiency and drainage. Less water is used for each irrigation, water is applied more evenly and less labour is needed. many older, grass-dominated paddocks have been reseeded to improve pasture species.

Effects Of Surface Drainage On Dryland Salinity, P R. George, T. R. Negus

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Areas which are salt-affected are often also flooded. Although flooding is not the basic cause of salinity, surface drainage may improve conditions for plant growth, and this article describes suitable methods

Design Standards For Farm Surface Water Supplies, J L. Frith

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Design is usually concerned with getting adequate return from limited recources. Farm dams which dry up represent dam failure. Less seriously, so too do dams which, although not drying out, never fill; they waste a recource.

Clay Cover For Roaded Catchments, J L. Frith, R. A. Nulsen

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

RECENT dry years have stimulated interest in improved catchments for farm dams. Although roaded catchments have been installed on many farm dams in Western Australia, most of them fall short of their potential for increasing run-off.

Water Conservation : The Storage Life Of Farm Dams, D J. Carder

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

HOW MANY stock can a dam of a certain size and depth be expected to carry and how long will the supply last?

What size of dam is needed in case the winter rains fail? How many stock can a dam support and still provide a drought supply?

West Midlands Development : Erosion Prevention And Control, G W. Spencer

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE prevention of soil erosion is essentially a matter of using each soil according to its potential, and treating it according to its needs.

Good land use and sound management practices are the best preventive measures.

West Midlands Development : Development Techniques, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Most clearing in the West Midlands is carried out by chaining, though the method chosen will depend on the country being cleared and on the resources of the farmer.

Controlled Environment Broiler Houses In Western Australia, D F. Hessels

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The three main features which contribute to the better returns from controlled environment broiler housing are higher density, better conversion and a reduction in labour.

The higher initial cost of housing and higher running costs are more than covered by these three advantages.

Planning A Dairy Farm, A W. Hobbs

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE average dairy farmer makes improvements to his property as opportunity offers, working towards a goal he has formulated in his mind.

This gradual development may eventually lead to his desired layout.

Fence Out Those Rabbits, J C. Rowbotham

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THERE is probably no more distressing sight to orchardists' eyes than two or three hundred young fruit trees that have been damaged by rabbits.

Attack The Rabbit At Home : Destroy Warrens And Harbourage, J S. Crawford

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Effective rabbit destruction often calls for a carefully worked out control programme consisting of poisoning, fumigating and warren and harbourage destruction.

Possibly the most effective means of not only controlling rabbits but ultimately eradicating them from holdings is the destruction of warrens and harbourage.

Planning New Farm Dams : Excavated Earth Tanks, J E. Watson, J. C. Grasby

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A GOOD farm dam is a valuable asset, and well worth its cost, but there are many aspects to consider when a new dam is required. Careful planning with adequate testing and checking will help to get the best value for money and reduce the chance of costly failures.

This article discusses these aspects in relation to the excavated earth tank type of dam.

Land Preparation For Border Irrigation, B Swan

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

LARGE amounts of water may be lost through excess run-off and deep percolation.

Proper preparation of irrigation land can help to minimise these losses.

This preparation is done by grading or levelling so that the original ground surface is shaped to allow for a more uniform distribution of water.

Firebreaks Without Erosion : Hints To Prevent Firebreak Erosion, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

AGRICULTURAL fire risks are now greater than they have been in the past and are steadily increasing with the advance of agriculture in Western Australia.

During the past 20 years the area of cleared arable land and the area under crop have more than doubled.

The area of established pasture is four times as great as it was. Pastures and crops are much more productive —and more liable to carry destructive fires than they were.

A Practical Guide To Building Contour Banks With A Road Grader, J E. Watson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THOUSANDS of miles of contour banks have been built in Western Australia, and most of this earthmoving has been done by tractor and disc plough* or by road grader.

This article describes the technique recommended for bank construction with the road grader.

Flooding And Salt Problems In The Wheatbelt, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

VALUABLE land has become salty in parts of the West Australian agricultural areas because most of the surrounding land has been cleared and developed for agriculture.

This salting of a small proportion of the land is part of the price paid for the development of agriculture in this State.

Drainage is not the answer to the wheatbelt flooding and salt land problems.

A more practical approach is to limit runoff from sloping land, and to make good use of salt-affected land by growing salt tolerant perennial pastures on it, says the Soils Division of the Department of Agriculture.

Water Conservation On The Farm, John W. Lewis

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

SMALL scale conservation of water for agricultural use is becoming increasingly important throughout Australia.

As land development intensifies, it is natural that farmers turn to more dams and earthen tanks for stock water and irrigation.

Adequate water is essential to supply the carrying capacities made possible by improved pastures, and where greater quantities of water can be stored, fodder crops, pastures, orchards and vegetables can be irrigated.

Flooding Of Salt Land, C V. Malcolm

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Many farmers have expressed concern and some have gone to considerable expense in trying to alleviate flooding problems on salt affected land.

Some consideration will be given here to flooding, its causes, effects on salt encroachment, methods of prevention and alleviation.

Irrigation In Western Australia : Report On Government-Controlled Areas : 1958-59, H K. Gibsone

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

IRRIGATION in the south-western portion of Western Australia is mainly confined to the coastal plain west of the Darling Range where the three main irrigation districts of Harvey, Collie and Waroona have been established by the State Government.

The Government-controlled irrigation areas extend southward from Waroona (70 miles from Perth) to Dardanup (120 miles from Perth) and have an average width of about five miles.