Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Wa Soil Erosion Under Investigation, George Richard Dr

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

A survey of soil erosion at 70 sites throughout Western Australia, recently completed as a part of a National Reconnaissance Survey, has shown that erosion is occurring at an unsustainable rate. While still to be compiled into a national publication, Dr Richard George reports on the Western Australian results, and discusses options for management and further investigation.

Salinity Action Plan, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

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

In November, the Premier of Western Australia, Richard Court, released his governments strategy to tackle one of the State's most serious environmental problems - salinity. This article provides a summary of the action plan, full details are available in a two volum set 'Salinity - a situation statement for Western Australia' and 'Western australian salinity action plan'.

Copies of the reports are available from Publication Section, Agriculture Western Australia, 3 Baron-Hay Court, South Perth 6151. Phone (09) 368 3729

Rex ' 96 : An Expert Guide To Revegetation, David Bicknell

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

Agriculture Western Australia has provided coordination and technical input to a powerful source of information on plants for Australian conditions. David Bicknell outlines some of its features and uses.

Farmers, local government, advisers and even gardeners often have trouble finding the right plant for the right place for a given purpose. Rather than spend a lot of time, money and effort looking through scattered sources of information, many people stick with a limited number of species year after year. This neglects plants that may be much better suited to the purpose, and also fails to develop Australia's huge range of …

Weeds : A Curse For Native Plants In Farm Woodlands, Max Abensperg-Traun

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

Weeds have a mJOR IMPct on native Australian plants, particularly in the tropical north and the agricultural regions of southern Australia.

Maz Abensperg-Traun, and his clooeagues from the CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology, explainthe effects of weed invasion on the diversity of native herbaceous plants in faarm woodlands in the centeral wheatbelt of south-west Western Australia.

Abandon The Paddock : A Valid Method Of Rehabilitation?, Max Abensperg-Traun

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

The scale of the revegetayion needed to combat land and habitat degradation can only be achieved over a long period of time. An alternative to revegitation is to abandon parts oof the farm for passive regeneration. Max Abensperg-Traun, and his colleagues from CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology, report on some outomes from such a strategy.

Nature Conservation In The Western Australian Wheatbelt, Max Abensperg-Traun

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

Growing concern about the survival of flora and fauna in the Western Australian wheatbelt prompted CSIRO scientists to start a long-term study to moniter trends in populations. Max Abensperg-Traun and his colleagues reportt on their findings so far.

No-Tillage Sowing Decreases Water Erosion On Loamy Soils And Increases Earthworm Activity, Kevin Bligh

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

No-tillage sowing places seed and fertiliser in the soil without loosening all of the topsoil. Soil is cultivated only in the sown rows, leaving the inter-row areas largely undisturbed.

No-tillage sowing reduces both wind and water erosion. Soil structure is generally improved, and pasture regeneration is increased because seed is not buried too deeply for re-establishment.

Two long-term trials were establis_hed on loamy soils to determine effects of tillage and cropping on runoff and soil loss.

Managing Bushland On The Farm, Penny Hussey

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

Since the time of European settlement in Western Australia, the replacement of native vegetation with crops and pastures has led to problems for both agricultural production and nature conservation. The most obvious of these are hydrological changes leading to salinisation and waterlogging, and the extinction of some native plants and animals.

Protection of remaining remnants of native bushland, together with revegetation, is increasingly seen as important ways of achieving sustainable agriculture and maintaining our unique wildlife.

Stubble Retention For Control Of Wind Erosion, Dan Carter, Paul Findlater, Steve Porritt

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

The surest way to control wind erosion in continuous cropping systems is to retain stubble. Over the past ten years, Western Australian research has focused on the amounts of stubble needed to prevent that erosion.

How Stubble Affects Organic Matter, Plants And Animals In The Soil, Judy Tisdall

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

Cereal yields have not increased greatly in Australia over the past 30 years and they are still only about half the potential determined by rainfall. One of the reasons for these low yields is our fragile soils, worsened by traditional systems of tillage and the burning of stubble. These systems reduce the levels of organic matter and biological activity in soil

Stubble Handling Begins At Harvest, Ed Blanchard

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

Long stubble left in the paddock after harvest causes major difficulties at seeding time. To demonstrate the benefits of having short stubble at seeding, the Trayning Land Conservation District Committee created four stubble treatments at harvest in 1988 and sowed into these stubble treatments in 1989.

Cost Effective Stubble Retention Practices, Andrew Green, Ed Blanchard

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

To increase the rate of adoption of stubble retention farming systems the Grains Research and Development Corporation is funding a three-year project with the Farm Machinery Unit to develop low cost, stubble handling systems from harvest to seeding

Wider Spaced Rows For Lupins, Ron Jarvis

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

In this farm scale trial at Wongan Hills, a lined combine was used to seed lupins into rows spaced 380 mm apart in wheat stubble.

The Pros & Cons Of Retaining Stubble, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

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

Few farmers in Western Australia today would question the desirability of retaining crop stubble. The problem usually is how to manage stubble so that it does not interfere with other parts of the farming system

Trees And Livestock : A Productive Co-Existence, Richard Moore

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

Trees, as part of farming can help to combat land degradation problems and produce a good economic return from timber at the same time. For example, there is now clear evidence that planting trees can help combat salinity by lowering water-table levels. Trees can also substantially improve overall farm productivity by providing shelter for pastures and livestock. The challenge is to find practical and economical methods of integrating trees and farming. A combination of widely-spaced trees and livestock is one promising method. This article describes the benefits of this type of agroforestry to farmers, suitable locations and how to practice …

Unique Co-Operative Landcare Venture In The Avon Catchment, Darrel Brewin, John Collett

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

The Avon catchment is bustling with landcare activity generated by a unique co-operative venture between farmers, the Department of Agriculture, the National Soil Conservation Program and Alcoa of Australia Ltd. The Avon Catchment Landcare Program was initiated by the Department of Agriculture and Alcoa, in support of the national Decade ofLandcare. The program provides financial, human and technical resources to undertake catchment and farm planning and demonstrations of rehabilitation techniques that tackle soil and water degradation problems. We know that without specially planned landcare programs and substantial changes in land management, land degradation will continue and further losses of agricultural …

Wildlife Corridors In The Wheatbelt, Richard Hobbs, Denis Saunders

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

Native vegetation in the Western Australian wheatbelt now persists mostly in small areas that remained uncleared for various reasons. (See 'Remnant vegetation on farms is a valuable resource' on page 43.) On their own, most of these remnant areas are difficult to manage, and too small to retain viable populations of many of the birds and other animals found in the wheatbelt. These patches of vegetation can be linked by wildlife corridors, which may increase the ability of the wildlife to move about and persist in the area

Remnant Vegetation On Farms Is A Valuable Resource, Richard Hobbs, Ken Wallace

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

Retention of native vegetation on farms is important both from an ecological and an economic point of view. Productivity in the paddocks ultimately will depend on the retention and replacement of trees and shrubs in the landscape. Remnants of native vegetation can play their part by helping to ensure the long-term viability of the agricultural system, as well as greatly enhancing the quality of life for those living on the land.

Regenerating The Rangelands, Adrian Williams, Ron Shepherd

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

Parts of Western Australia's rangelands have been degraded by inappropriately high stocking rates, often associated with large numbers of native or feral animals, poor seasonal plant growth, or the ravages of cyclones, floods or fire. Today, most pastoralists are keen to rehabilitate the degradation of the past, as indicated by the proliferation of Land Conservation Districts (LCDs) throughout the pastoral zones.

There is no 'quick fix' to regenerating the rangelands. It may take many years to achieve the desired result.

Reclaiming Sandplain Seeps Planting Trees, Richard George

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

Sandplain seeps affect large areas of agricultural land in Western Australia's eastern and northern wheatbelt and in the Great Southern. These seeps are estimated to account for about 10 per cent of dryland salinity in the agricultural area. Research and field observations show that seeps may be cheaply and quickly reclaimed using various types of drains or small blocks of trees (George 1990). This article discusses results of reclamation methods associated with tree planting on sandplain seeps in the eastern wheatbelt.

Variable Quality Of Saltbush Seed Influences Establishment, Stephen Vlahos, Donald Nicholas, Clive Malcolm

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

Farmers are using niche seeders to direct-seed saltbushes (Atriplex spp.) cheaply on large areas of salt affected land. While many factors influence successful establishment of these shrubs, fanners can control the quality of the seed they use. Too often, the lack of knowledge of saltbush seed quality has resulted in extremely poor establishment. The importance of seed quality is well recognized in the establishment of grain crops and pastures, but it is often overlooked when farmers buy or select seed of saltbush. If farmers know the quality of the seed they buy, they can make appropriate adjustments to the sowing …

The Greening Of Australia, Martine Scheltema

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

Many urban Australians have little understanding of the problems of land degradation because it's an extremely slow process that doesn 't directly influence their day-to-day lives. Understandably, they would have trouble relating to sub-soil compaction, waterlogging, increased soil acidity and salinity. They also have trouble comprehending why fencing according to soil type is an important management tool for farmers, or what role contour banks, drainage systems, the addition of gypsum and planting trees have in reversing land degradation. But given that tree loss "has been at the core of almost every aspect of land degradation in Australia ", and that …

The Tammin Alcoa Landcare Education Centre, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

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

The town is home of the Tanimin Alcoa Landcare Education Centre. This is an ambitious concept by the Shire of Tammin and the Tammin Action Group to use the whole shire to demonstrate land conservation practices on farms, and to show urban and other communities what Western Australia's farmers are doing to conserve the land and practise sustainable agriculture.

Using Trees To Reclaim Land Lost To Saline Seeps, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia, Arthur Wright

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

The National Soil Conservation Program (NSCP) has tapped the vigorous community support for landcare initiatives through its demonstration sites for reclaiming sandplain seeps in the Western Australian wheatbelt. The demonstrations, which use tree plantations to reclaim seeps, began in 1989. The sites are being keenly monitored by participating farmers and members of land conservation districts (LCDs).

Plant Growth And Survival In Saline, Waterlogged Soils, Ed Barrett-Lennard, Neil Davidson, Richard Galloway

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

Waterlogged soils in Western Australia are often salt-affected. Recent research has shown that the interaction between waterlogging and salinity has a far greater adverse effect on plant groivth and survival than either of these two factors individually. The consequences of the combined effects of salt and waterlogging for most plant species are increased salt uptake, reduced growth, chlorosis (yellowing of leaves), defoliation, and death. Salt sensitive agricultural species (nonhalophytes) are more severely affected by this interaction than salt tolerant species (halophytes).

The 1989 Saltland Survey, Richard George

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

In March 1989, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) surveyed farmers in Western Australia to determine the area of previously arable land that was now too saline for conventional agriculture. Farmers reported that 443,441 ha, or 2.83 per cent, of the 15.7 million hectares of cleared farm land in south-western Australia, was saline. This was an increase of about 180,000 ha on the 1979 survey figure.

The worst affected areas were in the 350 mm to 600 mm rainfall zone and included the Shires of Tammin (9.26 per cent arable area saline), Katanning (7.96 per cent), Goomalling (7.93 per cent), …

Rangeland Surveys : A Basis For Improved Land Use, P J. Curry, Alan Payne

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

In mis 1988, the Department of Agriculture started a three-year programme to assist pastoralists in the Murchison River catchment to update land management planning of their stations. This Project, which is funded by the National Soil Conservation Program, will use interim results from a recent rangeland survey which has investigated and mapped the grazing recources throughout the region.

Elsewhere in Western Australia's pastoral areas, information on the productive potential of each area - and the management problems inherent for each class of land - are being used to help pastoral managers of Soil Conservation Districts rehabilitate degraded areas. This information …

Plant Regeneration And The Control Of Dust On The South Common, Carnarvon, I W. Watson

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

No abstract provided.

Wind Erosion And Sand Blasting, E E. Rowley

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

Wind erosion and sand blasting of crops and pastures have been frequent hazards to many south coast sandplain farms ever since land clearing started there. In 1980 and 1981 the problems were particularly severe, resulting in widespread crop and pasture losses. Pastures are at risk as the amount of available dry feed declines in late summer, autumn and early winter, but cultivated paddocks with emerging crops usually suffer the most serious economic and physical effects. Wind-caused problems have serious implications for agriculture on these sandplain areas. Apart from the serious annual production losses, four or five consecutive years of serious …

Windbreaks In The Wheatbelt, D J. Carter

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

No abstract provided.