Agricultural Science Commons^™

Groundwater Trends In The North Stirling Pallinup Sub-Region, Ruhi Ferdowsian, Lisa Crossing

Natural resources published reports

The South Coast Regional Initiative Planning Team (SCRIPT) has divided the South Coast region of Western Australia into six sub-regions. This publication describes the groundwater trends, risk of shallow watertables, and technical feasibility of salinity management in the agricultural district of the North Stirling Pallinup sub-region.

This sub-region encompasses the Stirling Range National Park, the North Stirling Basin to the north-east of the Park, and the middle and upper catchments of the Pallinup River. Almost 90% (500,000 ha) of the sub-region's alienated land has been cleared for agriculture, and salinity has been identified as an important issue.

Soil-landscape zones are …

Groundwater Trends In The Fitzgerald Biosphere Sub-Region, Adam Lillicrap

Natural resources published reports

The South Coast Regional Initiative Planning Team (SCRIPT) has divided the South Coast region into six sub-regions. The Fitzgerald Biosphere sub-region is located in the centre of the South Coast region of Western Australia (Figure 1). It is bounded by the Pallinup River to the east, Jerdacuttup River to the west, and includes the catchments of the Gairdner, Fitzgerald and Phillips Rivers. The sub-region encompasses the Fitzgerald Biosphere Reserve and just over half (730,000 ha) has been cleared for agriculture.

This publication describes the groundwater trends, risk of shallow watertables, and technical feasibility of salinity management in the soil landscape …

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 Kent-Frankland Sub-Region, Arjen Ryder

Natural resources published reports

The South Coast Regional Initiative Planning Team (SCRIPT) has divided the South Coast region of Western Australia into six sub-regions. Kent-Frankland covers the catchments of the Frankland, Gordon and Kent' Rivers. Approximately two-thirds (450,000 ha) has been cleared for agriculture. This publication describes the groundwater trends, risk of shallow watertables, and technical feasibility of salinity management on agricultural land.

Soil-landscape zones are spatial units based on geology and geomorphology. Since most groundwater processes in WA are controlled by the geologic and regolith properties, these zones can be used for allocating hydrological attributes, such as groundwater characteristics and trends. The hydrological …

Groundwater Trends In The Albany Hinterland Sub-Region, Arjen Ryder

Natural resources published reports

The South Coast Regional Initiative Planning Team (SCRIPT) has divided the South Coast region of Western Australia into six sub-regions The Albany Hinterland is in the western portion (see Figure 1). It is bounded by the Pallinup River in the east. Stirling Ranges to the north and the Kent River catchment boundary in the west. Two-thirds (580.000 ha) of the sub-region has been cleared for agriculture This publication describes the groundwater trends, risk of shallow watertables, and technical feasibility of salinity management within the agricultural land

Soil-landscape zones are spatial units based on geology and geomorphology. Since most groundwater processes …

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.

Pig Industry Biosecurity Plan - March 2003 - Protecting The Pig Industry Is Everyone's Business, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

Farmnote 71/2002 - Farm Biosecurity

Farmnote 43/2002 - Biosecurity in the livestock industries

StockGuard has been initiated to develop a series of biosecurity plans for the animal industries in Western Australia. Through StockGuard, representatives from the animal industries have been working with the Western Australian Department of Agriculture to identify potential threats to each of the animal industries and to develop action plans detailing how these threats can be managed.

The overall purpose of StockGuard is to identify threats to the animal industries and to develop effective ways to minimise the potential impact of these threats.

If an emergency pig …

Property Planning Manual For The Swan-Canning Catchment - February 2002, Catherine Nind, Kylie Banfield, Brian Lloyd

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

Perth, its suburbs and adjacent semi rural and rural areas are part of the Swan-Canning catchment. Ona broad scale the Swan and Canning Rivers are part of a large drainage system that collects and drains water from across the catchment via a myriad of small channels, creeks, brooks and drains which, working together, concentrates the flow into a single water body, the Swan-Canning Estuary. This drainage system collects water both from the surface of the land and also from water, which seeps beneath the surface and moves underground.

The water may contain a considerable variety of potential pollutants, such as …

Declared Plant Control Handbook Recommendations For The Control Of Declared Plants In Western Australia, John R. Peirce, Rachael A. Pratt

Biosecurity published reports

Sixth Edition.

Reviewed October 2005.

Plants may be "declared" by the Agriculture Protection Board under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976.If a plant is declared, all landholders are obliged to control that plant on their properties. Declarations specifies a category, or categories, for each plant according to the control strategies or objectives which the Agriculture Protection Board believes are appropriate in a particular place.

Among the factors considered in categorising declared plants are:

* the impact of the plant on individuals, agricultural production and the community in general,

* whether it is already established in the area, and …

Burakin Focus Catchment Report, Mike Clarke

Natural resources published reports

The Burakin Focus Catchment Project was developed between farmers and Agriculture _ Western Australia. The project was designed to give farmers an understanding of the salinity processes occurring within the Catchment and suggestions on appropriate management.

Work began in the Catchment early in 1999 and was complete at the end of 2000. Intensive hydrological investigations formed the basis of the study, which was complemented by surface water control and revegetation strategies. Agronomic issues associated with sandplain soils were raised by the farmers at the initial meeting and this led to a soil survey to determine the pH status of the …

Farming Systems To Manage Salinity. Farmer Directed Research, Development And Extension. Research Results 2001, Richard Olive

Natural resources published reports

More and more of Western Australia's agnicultural lands are becoming saline. Currently it is estimated that about 18 milliion ha of land are affected to a greater or lesser degree by salinity causing production losses estimated at about $70 million a year.

Unless ways are found to halt and reverse the salinisation of land it is estimated that another 4.4 million ha could become saline over the next 50 years.

Grain growers and the Federal Government, through the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). are investing $12 4 million in R&D across Australia to develop productive solutions to the salinity …

Profiting From Adversity - Meeting The Challenge Of Salinity Through New Industry Development, Andrew Quinn, Tamara Law, Peter Rowe

Natural resources published reports

Salinity in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia is one of the most significant challenges facing the State's agricultural sector.

Efforts to manage the increasing effect of salt influenced and threatened farming land requires not only the implementation of new farming systems, but a new way of thinking and attitude to production more in tune with environmental and technological limitations.

While past environment lobby pressures have significantly focused on other production activities such as mining and forestry, the future is likely to see increased community interest in agricultural production systems.

Consumers World wide are becoming more environmentally sensitive, with global media …

Low Recharge Farming Systems. Case Studies On The South Coast, Arjen Ryder, Jamie Bowyer, Gerry Skinner, Clare Mccarron

Natural resources published reports

This booklet is intended as a guide to assist land managers to design or select low recharge farming systems. Options that increase water use are described with benefits and issues for each option.

Case studies describe the experiences of landholders who have had a go at establishing and managing such systems. Examples are included from different rainfall zones. The systems mentioned in this manual are only a guide.

Case studies describe the experiences of landholders who have hada go at establishing and managing such systems. Examples are included from different rainfall zones. The systems mentioned in this manual are only …

Eucalypt Woodlands A Guide To Management, Liz Brown, Colin Holt

Natural resources published reports

This guide was mainly developed using information gathered from studies in Salmon gum (E. salmonophloia) woodlands. However, the principles in this guide can be broadly applied as it considers the general ecological processes that occur within most woodlands.

If your goal is to restore a woodland to a healthy, functioning unit with a range of original species, this guide provides a way of diagnosing the health of individual woodlands and some of the causes of poor health. It also suggests some relevant management actions.

There is a huge array of different types of Euclaypr Woodlands in the Western Australian Whearbelr, …

Agriculture Western Australia's Great Southern Agricultural Research Institute Katanning, Agriculture Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

Agriculture Western Australia's Great Southern Agricultural Research Institute has been established as a centre of excellence for research, development and extension into sustainable farming systems The. agency has a long association with the town of Katanning dating back to 1925 when the agency provided a general agricultural advisor.

The new Institute is strategically located in the heart of key sheep and cropping production areas with significant growth potential.

Its role is to stimulate the contribution of ideas from individuals, groups and organisations with an interest in research, development and extension relating to innovative, profitable and sustainable animal and cropping based …

Community Support For Natural Resource Management. Future Frameworks: Future Needs, Fionnuala Frost, Wendy Dymond, Soil And Land Conservation Council Of Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

A report prepared for the Soil and Land Conservation Council of Western Australia.

Emerging from the Decade of Landcare is growing recognition that regional and local community involvement is integral to the success of any natural resource management (NRM) outcome. It is integral for a number of reasons:

1. Community support provides the capacity to develop plans and strategies at local, regional scale which are owned by the community who review (technical recommendations, advice and information and adapt them to suit local need;

2. Community knowledge provides an important balance to research knowledge and State and regional level strategies and …

Bulletin 4418 - Nebru Focus Catchment Report, Agriculture Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

Nehru Focus Catchment is located in the upper reaches of the Arrowsmith Catchment. It is roughly bounded by Sunset Road in the north, the north-south Kadathinni Hills to the east, the Three Springs - Eneabba Road to the south and Reed Road in the west. It changes in elevation from 372 metres Australian Height Datum (AHD) at roughly the intersection of Nehru Rd the Kadathinni Hills to the east and 220 metres AHD near the outlet of the catchment into the Arrowsmith River.

The total area of the catchment is just over 7,400 hectares.

One of the prime areas of …

Degradation In The Brockman River And Ellen Brook Catchments, Western Australia, Brian Lloyd

Natural resources published reports

An eight day survey of degradation in the Ellen Brook and Brockman River catchments revealed several areas of concern. Key concerns are:

Erosion and sedimentation

Various forms of erosion were observed during the survey that would cumulatively have an effect on the quality of both the Ellen Brook and the Brockman Rivers, and ultimately the Swan River. Erosion resulted from many situations including landholder management, subdivision design and infrastructure maintenance. Raising awareness as to consequences of erosion and sedimentation, along with remedial techniques and best management practices is recommended for the various levels of stakeholders.

Eutrophication

Eutrophication has been established …

Bulletin 4446 - Ord Land And Water Management Plan 2000, Agriculture Western Australia, Community Of Kununurra

Bulletins 4000 -

The wise use of the land and water of the Ord has become an imperative driven by increasing awareness of the impacts of current uses on ground water and the on the quality of the Ord River itself.

We have been lucky as a community that these resources are still in reasonable order and that we have the time to address the resource management challenges associated with our use of them. There is a wide range of land and water management issues to be addressed and all those involved have responsibilities to address some of those issues.

Dalyup Catchment 2000, Esperance Catchment Support Team

Natural resources published reports

This 'State of the Dalyup Catchment' document is a snapshot of the condition of the Catchment in the year 2000. It records the current level of knowledge of the natural resources in the Catchment and discusses some of the management issues and options. This document is a benchmark and through ongoing monitoring, trends in the condition of the Catchment can be identified.

Its primary purpose is as a tool for resource planning such as a surface water management plan, river action plan or revegetation plan. It can also be used in the preparation of funding applications.

Bulletin 4396 - Byenup Hill Focus Catchment Benefit: Cost Analysis, Allan Herbert

Bulletins 4000 -

The main text of this document concentrates on the costs of the proposed strategies, and the on-farm financial benefits from forecast production changes - in particular the production differences between the 'do nothing' and 'with strategy' scenarios.

Members of the catchment group indicated however that their main focus was on preserving their capital base. Hence some discussion of the values of land lost to salt and premiums/discounts for 'landcared' vs 'unlandcared' land appears later in the report. Economics literature suggests that including changes in land values into these analyses is incorrect. It is argued that production differences are actually captured …

Bulletin 4359 - Soils Of The Swan Coastal Plain, Mike Bolland

Bulletins 4000 -

Almost all the soils of the Swan coastal plain are formed by material deposited by sea, rivers and wind. The Yilgarn Block, east and south of the Scarp bordering the Swan Coastal Plain (Fig. 1), rose about 40 to 50 million years ago. This caused erosion of the block by rivers and streams, and the eroded material was either deposited onto the Swan Coastal Plain or washed into the sea. The eroded material formed new soils on the Plain.

Broadly there are two major types of soils on the Coastal Plain. The first is a series of dune system near …

Bulletin 4357 - Fertilisers For Pastures On Sandy Soils Of The Swan Coastal Plain, K. W. Angell

Bulletins 4000 -

When newly cleared for agriculture, the sandy soils of the Swan Coastal Plain were acutely deficient in phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), and the trace elements copper ( Cu) and zinc (Zn) and sometimes molybdenum (Mo). Phosphorus deficiency was overcome by applying single superphosphate. Trace element deficiencies were overcome by adding Cu, Zn and Mo to superphosphate during manufacture, allowing P, Cu, Zn and Mo to be applied to the pasture in the one operation.

It was subsequently found that low sulphur (S) and potassium (K) were limiting production and persistence of subterranean clover-based pastures on the sandy soils of the …

The Use Of Bauxite Residue As A Soil Amendment In The Peel -Harvey Coastal Plain Catchment - Environmental Monitoring Report August 1999, Mark Rivers

Natural resources published reports

The Peel-Harvey Coastal Plain Catchment is located immediately south of Perth in Western Australia and covers approximately 190,000 ha. It extends from Forrestdale in the north to Harvey in the south, and west from the Darling Scarp to Mandurah on the coast. The boundary of the catchment, as illustrated in Figure 1, represents the area which has been approved by the DEP for the broadscale application of Alkaloam as a soil amendment. (This figure also indicates features and regions of importance in this project).

The region experiences a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters with most …

An Inventory And Condition Survey Of The Sandstone-Yalgoo-Paynes Find Area, Western Australia, A L. Payne, A M E Van Vreeswyk, K A. Leighton, H J. Pringle, P Hennig

Technical Bulletins

The inventory and condition survey of the Sandstone-Yalgoo-Paynes Find area, undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) between 1992 and 1993, describes and maps the natural resources of the region’s pastoral leasehold land. This survey report provides a baseline record of the existence and condition of the area’s natural resources, to assist with the planning and implementation of land management practices. The report identified and described the condition of soils, landforms, vegetation, habitat, ecosystems, and declared plants and animals. It also assessed the impact of pastoralism and made land management recommendations. The area surveyed covers about …

Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy. Weeds Target List, B. M. Waterhouse, A A. Mitchell

Biosecurity published reports

Second edition.

The Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) was established in 1989 as an outcome of a major evaluation of quarantine in Australia (AGPS 1987, 1988). NAQS activities include surveying for weeds,insect pests and diseases of plants; and pests and diseases of animals in northern Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The primary goal is to provide early detection and warning of new quarantine threats or incursions.

A targetted approach was adopted for all pests, diseases and weeds. For each category of pest, experts in the discipline compiled lists of organisms not known from Australia but known to occur in …

Yuna Farm Improvement Group - Conservation Farm Planning Manual, Mike Clarke, Cecilia Mcconnell, Nancye Gannaway

Natural resources published reports

A landcare group formed on Tuesday, 30 June 1998 due to growing concern about land degradation. The main interests and objectives of the group where discuss and were outlined as follows:

1. Wind Erosion

2. Soil Acidity

3. Soil Degradation

4. Remnant Vegetation Decline

5. Tree Placement and Survival

6. Oil Mallees

7. Water Erosion

8. Non Wetting Soils

9. Salinity

10. Waterlogging

The first step toward addressing these issues was to organise two workshops with Mike Clarke, Cecilia McConnell and Nancye Gannaway from Agriculture Western Australia. The first workshop was held on the 4/8/98 and the second on the …

Bulletin 4328 - Soil Testing For Vegetable Production On The Coastal Plain, Ian Mcpharlin, Murray Hegney

Bulletins 4000 -

Vegetable growers need to use fertiliser efficiently. Under-fertilising can reduce yield, which results in economic losses. Over-fertilising can reduce yield and contribute to nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of ground and surface waters. Concerns have been expressed that fertilisers applied to horticultural crops contribute to the phosphorus pollution of the rivers and estuaries of the west and south coast of Western Australia.

Soil testing is a technique that can be used by growers to make better fertiliser decisions. When soil tests show high levels of nutrients, growers can reduce fertiliser application for the current crop. This should enable growers to maintain …

Bulletin 4333 - Furrow Sowing On Water Repellent Soils, Paul Blackwell, Grant Morrow

Bulletins 4000 -

This Bulletin discusses the benefits that furrow sowing brings to crop growth and production on water repellent sand, based on research and farm observations in Western Australian. By understanding the benefits and risks of several key processes, producers can better evaluate the potential role of furrow sowing in combating water repellency. This is true whether one is using direct drilling, no-till (narrow points or discs) or zero till (single, double or triple disc openers) methods.

Western Australian Salinity Action Plan, Agriculture Western Australia, Department Of Conservation And Land Management, Department Of Environmental Protection, Water And Rivers Commission

Natural resources published reports

Salinity is one of the State's most critical environmental problems, threatening major economic and social consequences. It is preventable and, in the long term, reversible. Complete elimination is not realistic, but we can dramatically reduce its impact.

Salinity is caused by replacing deep-rooted native plants with shallow-rooted crops and pastures. More rainfall passed below the root zone and accumulates as groundwater so that watertables rise. The groundwater mobilises natural salts in the soil as it rises and carries them towards the surface, eventually degrading land and streams.