Sustainability Commons^™

Set Stocking Has A Place In Soil Conservation Farming, J E. Watson

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

Set stocking of sheep at increased stocking rates is rapidly becoming popular with farmers in the agricultural areas of Western Australia.

But will set stocking increase soil erosion hazards? It should do just the reverse, according to Soil Conservation Adviser J. E. Watson, B.Sc, who claims that set stocking has a place in soil conservation farming.

Saltland Notes : Don't Put Sheep In Yet, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

If you have sown bluebush or saltbush this year, keep the sheep out.

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.

Progress In The Control Of Cotton Fireweed, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

Cotton Fireweed (Erechtites quadridentata) is native to Western Australia and was first collected by Drummond before 1850. In its natural habitat it is quite insignificant and passes unnoticed.

Cotton fireweed, a native perennial plant, has become a serious weed in the south coastal districts and is now one of the most widespread weeds in the State.

Profitable Returns From Saltland, C V. Malcolm

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

The recent saltland survey disclosed that about 305,000 acres of land previously cleared and sown had become salt affected.

This represents a serious loss in production but is offset by the fact that much of the land is capable of producing high yields of good quality fodder.

A Review Of Agriculture On The Esperance Downs, J L. Shier, T. C. Dunne, E. N. Fitzpatrick

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

Esperance is approaching a period of rapid development based on the results of research at Esperance Downs Research Station and on farmers' properties in the area.

This article reviews the soils, vegetation, climate, agricultural development and development costs of the area.

Farm Dams In The Wheatbelt, J E. Watson

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

MANY new farm dams are sunk each year in the wheatbelt and much money is spent on them.

With continued development of new land, and increasing stock carrying capacity of older land under legume pastures, the need for more water supplies will continue for a long time.

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.

Water For Agriculture. 2. Plants For Salty Water, C V. Malcolm

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

ALL natural water supplies contain dissolved salts. In wet climates these salts are usually not present in sufficient quantity to cause plant damage.

However, in Western Australia many natural water supplies contain harmful amounts of dissolved salts.

Water For Agriculture. 3. Watering Plants With Salty Water, Stanley Thomas Smith

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

In Western Australia it is often necessary to use saline water for irrigation and gardening because of the lack of better water.

Two factors influence the results achieved. One is the selection of suitable plants, the other is the way in which the water is used.

Paspalum Vaginatum For Salty Seepages, C V. Malcolm

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

Paspalum vaginatum, aptly termed "sea shore paspalum" has over the last fifteen years shown an amazing ability to thrive in wet salty situations.

Seed of the grass is not available but it may easily be established by planting pieces.

This article reviews where and how the grass may be used.

Water For Agriculture. 4. Clearing Cloudy Or Muddy Water, R C. Gorman

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

Water made cloudy by finely divided clay, silt or organic matter in suspension may be cleared by simple chemical treatment.

The selection of a satisfactory treatment is often a matter of practical testing.

Plan For The Pilbara, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

A DOUBLE-BARRELLED plan for pasture regeneration and vermin control put into action by the Department of Agriculture this year gives promise for the rehabilitation of the run-down pastoral country in the rugged Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Winter Management Of Salt Land, T C. Stoneman

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

WITH the emergence of crops, many farmers will again be seeing bare patches or thin stands of cereals due to salt accumulation.

Would these areas be better left out of cultivation, or should they have been planted to saltbush and bluebush?

Light Lands In Western Australia. 1. History And Future Prospects, F L. Shier

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

BECAUSE of the scattered distribution of light lands of the agricultural areas of Western Australia among the better soils, and their large total area, it is not surprising that attempts to develop these unattractive soils for agriculture started many years ago.

Bluebush Seed : Cleaning, Drying And Storing, C V. Malcolm

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

BLUEBUSH (Kochia brevifolia) is a perennial plant which occurs naturally in Western Australia.

In the past it has attracted little attention, but in recent years it has created interest as a highly nutritious and salt tolerant plant well adapted to certain salt affected soils in the wheatbelt.

A previous article (Bulletin No. 2630) by Smith and Malcolm drew attention to its use. One of the problems in establishing bluebush is to obtain seed supplies.

Good Pasture On A Problem Soil, R Sprivulis

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

The acid peaty sands of the South-West have always been problem soils, and are often considered useless.

But, by following recommended establishment methods, farmers like Mr. F. E. Bellanger, of Nornalup, have shown that it can carry valuable pasture.

Reclaim Salty Soils With Bluebush, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

BLUEBUSH (Kochia brevifolia) is an Australian plant which can produce good yields of excellent feed when grown on grown well drained salty soils in the 12 to 15-inch rainfall districts of Western Australia.

Natural Paddocks Help Soil Conservation, G W. Spencer

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

ON most farms, particularly in the cereal and sheep districts, the paddocks as we know them are fenced off into neat squares or rectangles.

The original fencing was done in such a way that the paddock layout, as well as the fences, completely disregards the topography or natural features of the land. Often this has encouraged soil erosion.

In properly laid out paddocks there should be a very close relationship between the natural features of the farm, the fence plan, and soil conservation.

Soil Salinity In Western Australia, Stanley Thomas Smith

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

The background to Western Australia's soil salinity problems, and a description of the main types of salt-affected land, by Senior Soil Research Officer, S. T. Smith, B.Sc. (Agric.)

Establishing Saltland Pastures, C V. Malcolm

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

WITH the approach of winter, thoughts are turning to the seeding season. It will therefore be appropriate to discuss methods of establishing saltland pastures.

This discussion will be restricted to "bluebush," creeping saltbush, and old man saltbush. Seed of these plants is available from local stock firms.

Healthy Pastures, F E. Ryan

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

IN sweeping away forests to make room for pastures we have taken on the responsibility of maintaining these areas in a condition suitable for the growth of pasture plants.

This is done by a choice of suitable species, fertilising, cultivating, drainage, control of grazing and by weed and insect control.

Salty Seepages Can Be Productive, C V. Malcolm

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

MUCH has been said and written concerning the use of Paspalum vaginatum for growing on seepage areas, but the general production to be expected from seepage areas has not received much attention.

The fact is that properly handled, seepage areas can be quite productive, and can be valuable for summer grazing.

Manage Your Rainfall For Maximum Production, J E. Watson

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

TTOW much would an extra inch of rainfall be worth to you? Much sloping land loses this much and more by run-off every year.

The soil is the main asset of your farm, but your profits depend on how you manage the rain which falls on it.

Drought Feeding Of Sheep, Laurence C. Snook

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

WHEN this talk on drought feeding of sheep was suggested conditions were very serious over large tracts of pastoral country.

Many stations had not received a worthwhile rain for over 12 months and it appeared that grazing animals would have to be fed if they were to survive.

Requests have been received for advice on the cheapest way to keep sheep alive. Drought feeding in any form is a gamble. There is always the risk that the stock will eventually die despite the consumption of much costly feed.

It follows that if an effort is to be made to save …

Reclaiming Salt Land With Bluebush, Stanley Thomas Smith

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

IN Western Australia there are approximately a million acres of salt land, some of which is a serious economic problem to individual farmers, unfortunate enough to have the major portion of their properties affected by salt encroachment.

Overcoming Stock Watering Problems In The Kimberleys, B Swan

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

ONE of the ever-present problems of the pastoral areas is that of providing: watering-points in reasonably close proximity to the grazing areas.

All too frequently, the country on the river frontages and that in the vicinity of the water-holes becomes eaten out and although there may be ample feed on other portions of the run, it is too far distant from the available water to be effectively utilised.

Soil Conservation In The Kimberley Area Of Western Australia, K Fitzgerald

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

OFFICERS of the Soil Conservation Branch of the West Australian Department of Agriculture, have not been engaged in soil conservation work in the Kimberleys prior to this year, not because a serious erosion problem did not exist, but rather because with limited trained staff available they were too fully occupied elsewhere.

The recent arrival of a senior Soil Conservation Officer in the area to assist and plan an approach to the problem of soil erosion in the Ord River catchment area is therefore very welcome.

Water Usage Trials With Bananas On The Gascoyne, W M. Nunn

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

THE banana industry at Carnarvon is an unusual one by most agricultural standards.

Normally a tropical plant liking relatively humid conditions in a high rainfall, the banana is cultivated at Carnarvon in an area of extremely low rainfall and with relatively low humidity throughout the year.

Water is pumped to irrigate the crop from the sands of the Gascoyne River bed or from bores adjacent to the river course.

Studies In The Mulga Pastoral Zone. 1. The Grazing Of Wandarrie Grass Associations, D G. Wilcox

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

THE establishment of the Wiluna office of the North-West Branch marked the commencement of a series of investigations into the pastures of the mulga zone.

Unlike the agricultural areas where a fund of knowledge exists on the growth habits of the pastures, the pastures of this area were completely unknown.

The preliminary investigations had to be aimed at forming an understanding of the reactions of the various plants to rain, to temperature and seasonal conditions and to grazing in an area of extremely low rainfall reliability.