Dealing with salinity in Wheatbelt Valleys - Department of Water

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2) Pen trials suggested that the combination However, we were also seeing more changes: of saltbush and chaff increased feed intake over either saltbush or chaff individually. • Monthly monitoring of two of the bores In addition to this, recent tissue test of some of the saltbush suggests that the high digestibility and protein and the lower salt levels in some species may make a significant contribution to the fodder available to the sheep (Norman 2001). Research carried out in Spain in the early 1990s showed that sheep grazed on saltbush and barley straw gained in weight and condition (Correal & Sotomayor1996). While we could see the changes happening with the return of the previous annual plants, the process was slow. There needed to be plants we could introduce to increase the amount of food available. The only plants then available (puccinellia, tall wheat grass and balansa and Persian clovers) were unsuitable for the lower rainfall areas. What we needed were plants that would tolerate some salinity and some waterlogging, but with a short enough growing season to survive and thrive in a low rainfall situation. 0 -500 -1000 -1500 -2000 -2500 Jan-97 Mar-97 May-97 Jul-97 Sep-97 Nov-97 Jan-98 Mar-98 May-98 Jul-98 Bundilla bores 8 & 9 Sep-98 Nov-98 Jan-99 Lloyd indicated saltbush was lowering the water table by about one metre. Another bore showed a dramatic fall in the water level following the wettest year on record. • During a flood event in January 2000, the only areas to suffer water erosion were those not planted to saltbush. • There is less wind erosion due to vegetation. • Increased numbers of fauna are evident, including kangaroos and small birds. • Improved aesthetics and increased farm value (Vigolo 2001). • Improved wool value from sheep with a longer period in saltland pastures. Mar-99 May-99 bore 8 bore 9 Figure 1: Relationship between two bores in the same area – 3 – Jul-99 Sep-99 Nov-99 Jan-00 Mar-00 May-00 Jul-00 Sep-00 Nov-00 Jan-01
Lloyd 0 -500 -1000 -1500 -2000 -2500 Jan-97 Mar-97 May-97 Jul-97 Sep-97 Figure 1 shows the relationship between two bores in the same area. Prior to August 1997, both bores were surrounded by annual (sparse barley grass) pasture. There was a difference of approximately 30 cm in the water levels between the two bores. Saltbush was seeded around bore 8 in August 1997. Within twelve months the relationship had changed with the water in bore 8 now lower than bore 9. This increased with the onset of summer, until a difference of 70 cm between the two bores was observed – a total turnaround of 1 m. In August 1999, saltbush was Nov-97 Jan-98 Mar-98 May-98 Jul-98 Sep-98 "Bundilla" Bore 10 Nov-98 Jan-99 Figure 2: Effect of saltbush on the watertable at bore 10. Mar-99 May-99 Jul-99 Sep-99 Nov-99 Jan-00 Mar-00 May-00 seeded around bore 9 and now the original differences observed prior to planting saltbush at either site are evident. However, since March 2001, both these bores have been dry. Figure 2 shows the effect of saltbush on the watertable at bore 10. Saltbush was planted around this bore in August 1999. In the 13 months to the end of January 2000, Bundilla recorded twice its annual rainfall, culminating in the area being flooded in late January 2000. The watertable is now the lowest it has ever been, and in fact, for the last 6 months the hole has been dry at 2.3 m. Table 1: Differences in wool value from sheep grazed for longer on saltland pastures Mob Wool cut Micron Yield Price Value per head A 6.5Kg/hd 22.7 64.8% 375c/Kg $24.38 B 6.5kg/hd 22.7 58.9% 342c/Kg $23.59 Table 1 shows the difference in wool value from sheep grazed for longer on saltland pastures. Mob A grazed saltland pastures for 4 months from December to March following 8 months (April to November) on annual pastures. – 4 – Mob B grazed saltland pastures only in December, being on annual pastures for the rest of the year. Both mobs were shorn in April. In addition, Mob B had supplementation of approximately $2.00 per head of lupins in February and March. Jul-00 Sep-00 Nov-00 Jan-01
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Foreword Dealing with Salinity in W
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1Day one: Monday 30th July. Field t
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Papers Dealing with Salinity in Whe
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Ali and Coles biggest challenges fa
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Ali and Coles erosion, maintenance
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Ali and Coles expected under these
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Ali and Coles Coles, N.A. & Ali, M.
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Commander, Schoknecht, Verboom and
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APPRECIATING AND CREATING OUR HISTO
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services. The Government responded
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WHEATBELT VALLEYS IN DIFFICULTIES T
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Page 49 and 50: 1990s, the wheatbelt valleys in par
Page 51 and 52: REFERENCES Agstats (1997). Agricult
Page 53 and 54: George and Coleman two to four fold
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Page 65 and 66: George and Coleman advantages of so
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Page 69 and 70: George and Coleman Venture Economy
Page 71 and 72: George and Coleman Lawrence, C. (19
Page 73 and 74: Hatton and Ruprecht WATCHING THE RI
Page 75 and 76: Since the mid 1970s annual rainfall
Page 77 and 78: Effect of clearing on runoff The ot
Page 79 and 80: Salinity Monthly streamflow (ML) 10
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Page 85 and 86: THE FUTURE In looking at the future
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Page 105 and 106: INTRODUCTION The Lake Chinocup Catc
Page 107 and 108: agriculture) in various stages, the
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Page 117 and 118: eliminates drainage through the nex
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Page 123 and 124: Pannell • the area of land protec
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Page 129 and 130: Pannell investments in long-term la
Page 131 and 132: Pannell Pannell, D.J. (2001). Dryla
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Page 139 and 140: Porter, Bartle and Cooper operation
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CASE STUDY - TOOLIBIN LAKE AND CATC
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• The distribution, storage and m
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Secondly, there is a set of practic
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within three categories: relationsh
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CONCLUSIONS Actions to protect and
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FIELD TOUR LOCATIONS FIELD TOUR NOT
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COLES FARM “Avon River Basin Over
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Conference Outcomes Dealing with Sa
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with Salinity in Wheatbelt Valleys:
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with Salinity in Wheatbelt Valleys
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Photo Gallery 2 Dealing with Salini
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APPENDIX 1 BACKGROUND HYDROLOGY AND
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WHEATBELT HYDROLOGY Flow in the Yil
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Flow (ML) STREAM SALINITY Salt Rive
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APPENDIX 2 WATER MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
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APPENDIX 3 MANAGING WATER AND SALIN
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SUMMARY- TIMELINE OF RECENT SIGNIFI
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RECENT HISTORY OF WATER AND SALINIT
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Figure 1. Hydrological cross-sectio
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Depth (m) 316 315 314 313 312 311 M
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FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS AND MANAGEME
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Dealing with salinity in Wheatbelt Valleys - Department of Water

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