Life Sciences Commons^™

Medicago Littoralis - Environmental Weed Risk Assessment 2022, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Environmental Weed Risk Assessments

Introducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Strand medic (Medicago littoralis). Strand medic is a temperate annual pasture legume native to the calcareous sandy soils along the coast of the Mediterranean. It is adapted to well drained soils with a slightly acid (pHCa >5.8), neutral and alkaline conditions (AAR 275-500mm). Used as a self-regenerating autumn-to-spring growing annual pasture. A minor pasture species …

Urochloa Mosambicensis - Environmental Weed Risk Assessment 2022, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Environmental Weed Risk Assessments

Introducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Sabi grass (Urochloa mosambicensis). Sabi grass is a creeping, tropical, perennial grass of variable size and growth habit usually with short stolons or tufted and sometimes rooting and branching from the lower nodes. Sabi grass is native to central and southern Africa (i.e. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland). …

Allium Cepa - Environmental Weed Risk Assessment 2022, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Environmental Weed Risk Assessments

Introducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Allium cepa. Onions are a root vegetable which are widely cultivated around the world. A. cepa is only known from cultivation, however onions are part of the Allium genus which contains over 300 species.

Vigna Radiata Subsp. Radiata - Environmental Weed Risk Assessment 2022, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Environmental Weed Risk Assessments

Introducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Mung bean (Vigna radiata subsp. radiata) There are two subspecies of Mung bean; V. radiata subsp. radiata (var. setulose) is the exotic Mung bean native to the Indian subcontinent and Vigna radiata subsp. sublobata which is native to northern Australia and the Kimberley Region in Western Australia including IBRA Regions: Central Kimberley, Dampierland, Northern Kimberley, …

Stylosanthes Guianensis Var. Guianensis - Environmental Weed Risk Assessment 2022, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Environmental Weed Risk Assessments

Introducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Common stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis var. guianensis). Common stylo is a tropical, erect to semi-erect, short-lived perennial legume adapted to acid infertile soils.

Trifolium Subterraneum - Environmental Weed Risk Assessment 2022, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Environmental Weed Risk Assessments

Introducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum). Subterranean clover is a grazing tolerant annual pasture legume from the Mediterranean Basin which is sown over 8 million hectares (ha) in Western Australia (WA) and 29 million ha across southern Australia. It is used in permanent pastures and in rotation with crops. A range of cultivars are available for areas …

Vicia Faba - Environmental Weed Risk Assessment 2022, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Environmental Weed Risk Assessments

Introducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Faba beans (Vicia faba). Faba beans are a winter growing pulse (legume) crop which are adapted to well-drained medium- to fine-textured soils with a neutral to alkaline pH. In Western Australia (WA), faba beans is a niche crop and production is currently around 6,000 tonnes. Vicia faba minor is grown under broadscale farming conditions in …

Megathyrsus Maximus - Environmental Weed Risk Assessment 2022, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Environmental Weed Risk Assessments

Introducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Panic grass (Megathyrsus maximus). Panic grass (Megathyrsus maximus) is a warm season (C4), perennial grass which is widely used in South America, Japan, India, and sub-tropical Queensland and more recently in the northern agricultural region of Western Australia. It is a productive forage grass for pasture, green-forage, hay and silage. The panic grasses are shade …

Bothriochloa Pertusa - Environmental Weed Risk Assessment 2022, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Environmental Weed Risk Assessments

Introducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Bothriochloa pertusa. Indian bluegrass is a stoloniferous, mat-forming, tropical (C4) perennial grass.

Ecological Risk Assessment For The State-Wide Small Pelagic Scalefish Resource, S. Blazeski, J. Norriss, K. A. Smith, M. Hourston

Fisheries Research Reports

In July 2021, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development convened an ecological risk assessment (ERA) of the fisheries that access the State-wide Small Pelagic Scalefish Resource. The ERA considered the potential ecological impacts of the West Coast Purse Seine Fishery, South Coast Purse Seine Fishery, Purse Seine Development Zones and the recreational fishers who catch small pelagic scalefish. The assessment evaluated the impact of each fishing sector/method on all relevant retained and bycatch species, endangered, threatened and protected species, habitats and the broader environment.

Sediment Budgets For Small Salinized Agricultural Catchments In Southwest Australia And Implications For Phosphorus Transport, Robert J. Wasson, David Weaver

Natural Resources Research Articles

Examples of sediment budgets are needed to document the range of budget types and their controls. Sediment budgets for three small agricultural catchments (7.6 to 15.6 km2) in southwestern Australia are dominated by channel and gully erosion, with sheet and rill erosion playing a subordinate role. Erosion was increased by clearing naturally swampy valley floors and hillslopes for agriculture and grazing, and episodic intense rainstorms. The proportion of sediment from channel and gully erosion in the sediment budget appears to be determined by the depth of alluvial fills. Dryland salinization caused by clearing native vegetation has connected hillslopes to channels …

The Potential Of Remotely Sensed Vegetation Indices For Monitoring Pasture Condition, Pouria Ramzi, Karen Holmes

Resource management technical reports

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is developing an integrated monitoring system using remote sensing and on-ground measurements to track pasture condition across Western Australia’s pastoral region. We extended and adapted the methods developed in the Pastoral Lease Assessment Using Geospatial Analysis (PLAGA) project (Robinson et al. 2012), which combined remotely sensed vegetation indices (VIs) with on-ground pasture condition observations to assess the potential of using different vegetation indices in a statewide condition monitoring system.

There were 6 regions in WA’s pastoral rangelands with DPIRD on-ground condition traverse points: Kimberley and Broome, Pilbara, Yalgoo and Sandstone, Goldfields, …

Recreational Fishing For Western Rock Lobster: Estimates Of Participation, Effort And Catch From 2018/19–2020/21. Fisheries Research Report 313, Claire B. Smallwood, Karina L. Ryan, Alissa Tate, Cameron J. Desfosses

Fisheries Research Reports

The Western Rock Lobster (WRL) (Panulirus cygnus) is one of the four Rock Lobster (RL) species found in Western Australia. It was the first fishery in the world to obtain Marine Stewardship Council Certification and the first in Western Australia to be managed under a resource allocation process. Catches from the commercial and recreational sectors are required to determine and monitor Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Total Allowable Recreational Catch (TARC) and proportion of Allowable Harvest Level (AHL) achieved. The TARC is set at 5% of the AHL and evaluated in the harvest strategy based on a 5-year average. Since 2018/19, …

Shore-Based Recreational Fishing In The Perth Metropolitan Area: 2014 – 2021. Fisheries Research Report 315, Alissa Tate, Claire B. Smallwood

Fisheries Research Reports

Recreational fishing is a popular activity in Western Australia, occurring throughout the state from private and charter boats, and from a variety of natural and man-made structures along the shore. Ongoing monitoring of the shore-based recreational fishery is essential to assist with monitoring, management evaluation and stock assessments for nearshore species. Especially for species such as Australian Herring and Southern Garfish who were the focus of recent management changes in 2015 (reduction of bag limit from 30 to 12) and 2017 (closure of Perth Metropolitan waters), respectively. An on-site roving creel survey to collect effort and catch data from shore …

2021 Assessment Of The Status Of The West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource, David Fairclough, S. A. Hesp, Ainslie Denham, Emily A. Fisher, Rachel Marks, Karina L. Ryan, Elaine Lek, Rhys Allen, Brett Crisafulli

Fisheries Research Reports

A recovery program for the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource was introduced between late 2007 and early 2010, based on the maintenance of retained catches of demersal species (overall suite and each indicator species) by both the commercial and recreational sectors below 50% of the catches reported in 2005/06 (original catch recovery benchmarks).

2022 Western Australian Crop Sowing Guide, B. Shackley, B. Paynter, J. Bucat, M. Seymour, S. Power

Bulletins 4000 -

Welcome to the 2022 edition of the Crop Sowing Guide for WA, which introduces 27 new variety releases: three wheat, nine barley (three recently accredited for malt and six currently under malt evaluation), twelve canola, two field pea and a lentil.

The Crop Sowing Guide for WA has been compiled by officers in the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. It provides information to support variety decisions for each of the major crops for the upcoming season.

In this edition, lupin agzones have been reduced from 8 agzones to 6 so that all varieties for each of the major …

Western Australian Broadacre Agriculture Regional Snapshots Goldfields-Esperance (Esperance Port Zone), Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Agriculture reports

The Goldfields-Esperance region spans over 95 million hectares, with agriculture, mining, and fisheries as key industries. The Esperance Port Zone produces mainly wheat, barley, and pulses, generating $800 million annually and exporting 2.25 million tonnes of grain. Rainfall declines threaten yields; livestock and aquaculture industries face challenges but show growth potential.

Western Australian Broadacre Agriculture Regional Snapshots Great Southern, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Agriculture reports

The Great Southern region spans over 3.9 million hectares, with agriculture, forestry, fishing, tourism, and viticulture vital to its economy. Key industries include broadacre crops, livestock, horticulture, viticulture, and aquaculture. Rainfall varies, impacting crop production, which has shifted from wheat to barley. The region demonstrates growth in free-range poultry, pork, and wine, with significant export opportunities and ongoing diversification.

Western Australian Broadacre Agriculture Regional Snapshots Mid West, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Agriculture reports

No abstract provided.

Western Australian Broadacre Agriculture Regional Snapshots Wheatbelt, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Agriculture reports

The Wheatbelt region in Western Australia covers 15.7 million hectares, mainly dedicated to broadacre farming generating 68% of $3.3 billion in agriculture, led by wheat, barley, canola, oats, and lupins. The economy also involves livestock, horticulture, tourism, fishing, mining, and emerging aquaculture. Rainfall varies, with recent declines affecting crop yields; land value is around $2,500 per hectare.

Otoliths Of South-Western Australian Fish: A Photographic Catalogue, Chris Dowling, Kim Smith, Elaine Lek, Joshua Brown

Fisheries Research Reports

Due to the species-specific nature of otoliths and given they are often the only part of the fish preserved when fish die, otolith catalogues can be used in numerous applications, such as diet studies in fish eating animals, including pinnipeds, fish and sea birds; archaeological purposes such as reconstructing indigenous people’s diets from otoliths found in middens or evolutionary history of fish species by comparing fossilized otoliths. Given the unique mixture of subtropical and temperate fish, including many endemic species that occur off the southwest corner of WA having a catalogue for this area is extremely important for people working …

Biosecurity Council Of Western Australia Annual Report 2020/2021, Biosecurity Council Of Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

Understanding the needs and challenges of industry, community and government is key to ensuring relevant and constructive advice to government. During 2020/21, the Council continued to monitor biosecurity-related developments at national and State levels and proactively engaged with industry, community and government on biosecurity matters. The key areas of advice that were progressed during the year were:

• mechanisms for funding biosecurity in WA
• the effectiveness of WA’s border biosecurity system
• how Western Australians perceive ‘biosecurity’ and their role in pest, weed and disease prevention, surveillance and response; and
• the quadruple bottom line of biosecurity.

Kikuyu (Cenchrus Clandestinus) For Dryland Salinity Management, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

Kikuyu (Cenchrus clandestinus) is a subtropical, perennial C4 grass that is widely used as a pasture and turf.

It has some salinity tolerance, and moderate waterlogging tolerance. Kikuyu is commonly established from seed and can also be grown from vegetative plantings, unlike marine couch, saltwater couch and Distichlis (vegetative only).

We recommend that any dryland salinity management is part of a whole farm, and preferably a whole catchment, water management plan.

Imputation Of Missing Count Data Of Recreational Boat Retrievals From Remote Camera Surveys In The Perth Metropolitan Region, Western Australia, E. Afrifa-Yamoah, S.M Taylor, Cameron J. Desfosses, U. A. Mueller

Fisheries Research Reports

In Western Australia (WA), remote cameras have been used to monitor boating activity at boat ramps since 2006 to assist in ongoing recreational fishing surveys. These monitoring schemes are useful tools to validate boating activity (defined here as the number of retrievals) and to corroborate estimates of recreational fishing effort obtained from other surveys. This is because remote cameras (also referred to as digital cameras) can provide complete coverage (i.e. 24 hours, 365 days) of boating activities.

Administrative Guideline No.3: The Management Of Errors In Reported Entitlement Taken In The West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development

Fisheries Administrative Guidelines

These Administrative Guidelines address how errors in the submission of reported net weights in the West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery (the Fishery) are to be managed. There is an onus on the Master and the Registered Receiver to provide accurate information when submitting the weight (in kilograms) of rock lobster taken for each consignment, under the West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery Management Plan 2012 (the Plan).

Samphires (Tecticornia Species) For Dryland Salinity Management In Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

Samphire is the common name for native plants from the genus Tecticornia (synonym Halosarcia). Although slower growing than saltbush and bluebush species, samphires have higher tolerance to saline conditions and waterlogging, and are common in waterlogged saline areas of south-west Western Australia.

Samphire is not a desirable grazing species.

Rhodes Grass (Chloris Gayana) For Dryland Salinity Management In Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) is a subtropical/summer active perennial C4 grass. It is a tufted grass that sends out strong, above ground runners (stolons), allowing it to spread rapidly. This can be a great advantage on saltland where soil salinity often inhibits recruitment from seed. However, it has low salt tolerance, and low-moderate waterlogging tolerance.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development recommends that any dryland salinity management is part of a whole farm, and preferably a whole catchment, water management plan.

Pasture Legumes And Grasses For Saline Land In Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

The productivity of saline and waterlogged land can be markedly increased by using salt tolerant legumes and grasses, in mixtures. The mix is particularly important for increasing the productivity and profitability of saltbush-based pastures. The information is relevant to the south-west agricultural region of Western Australia.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development provides this information on the tolerance and establishment of salt tolerant legumes and grasses to improve the productivity and profitability of saline land.

Saltbushes For Dryland Salinity Management In Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

Saltland pastures always have a range of plant species, even in dense saltbush plantations. Saltbush will often change the watertable and surface soil characteristics enough for other plants to colonise. The understorey plants are often the most productive component of saltbush pastures.

This page provides information about each of the saltbushes that can be used in these mixed salt-tolerant pastures.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development recommends that saltland management is part of a whole farm – or preferable whole catchment – plan.

Tall Wheatgrass (Thinopyrum Ponticum) For Dryland Salinity Management, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

Tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum) has been widely planted in Western Australia on saline land in the southern agricultural areas, on land that shows signs of salt and is not permanently waterlogged.

The information provided here assumes that tall wheatgrass is being grazed effectively by livestock.